Hello All.
I have a Key Lime bush that I started from seed a few years ago and it grows well for me and looks great. However, it's getting a bit leggy indoors over this winter. Can I prune it back somewhat before it goes out in the garden this spring, or don't Key Limes like that? Is there anything I can do to encourage it to bloom in the future?
Logee's sells their Key Limes in 4 1/2" decorative gift baskets with the following hype..."For all the bakers on your shopping list, this gift plant will award (sic) you with an abundant supply of wildly aromatic limes."....LOL! I'm hoping my bush will eventually help to supplement my income, as fresh Key Limes are a real treat here in Minnesota. (By the way, no disrespect is intended to Logee's - I am a big fan).
Any advice will be appreciated. Thank you.
Erick
Key Lime Pruning Advice Please
Hi Erick,
I think pruning is a good idea, but since pruning encourages new growth, I would wait until just before you set it outside. I have a Meyer's lemon which is very old and very wide, because I didn't prune properly. Now I have two Meyer's babies grown from seed, and I am training them to be taller by clipping branches off the lower trunks. Good luck with the key limes; I would keep funding my 401k, however, if you get as many key limes as I get lemons. The Meyer's is in full bloom now, and the room smells wonderful, so maybe it is worthwhile just for the blooms. In the winter, if you want fruit to set, I believe that you have to hand pollinate.
Susan
Hello Susan.
It's nice to hear from you. Thank you for the most helpful advice! I hope you are well.
I will keep funding my 401K, at least for meantime!
Erick
Nothing smells as good as citrus blossoms of ANY kind! I have a small key lime/meyer lemon combo (they came planted in the same pot) I don't know if they need to cross-polinate to be productive? I'm used to normal yard citrus that the bees take care of for me, but really wanted key limes......now that Erick has informed us that we can put our kids through college off of these beauties, what's not to love, eh?
:)
I appreciate your enthusiasm MerryMary! Every day I look at my Key Lime and dream of the riches to come!
Now, if I can just get it to produce a first flower....
Erick
Don't despair just yet Erick....I live in the citrus capital and mine hasn't bloomed yet....with a daughter in law school I go out and BEG it to every morning!
:D
I have a Meyer Lemon that I LOVE. Last year I harvested 3 lemons, year before only 1. It has budded up, only on some of the branches. Would I wait until I'm sure all the blooms have 'set' then prune what doesn't have fruit?
Why do you want to prune it? Generally, citrus don't need pruning unless branches are rubbing against each other, you root pruned and need to remove some of the top or to trim down an overly long branch.
For shape and size. I take it into the gh winters.
I have a pruning question for a very young key lime. I planted mine from seed last spring. Now it's about 14 inches tall. Do I prune to encourage side branches or just let it keep growing on its' own. It has no branches at all that I can see.