Key Lime Bush for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

Planting and Care

by Mary Van Keuren | Gardener (30+ Years Experience) – last update on September 29, 2022

Planting instructions

If planting your Key Lime outdoors, site it in soil that drains well and receives at least four hours of direct sun a day. Unpot your plant and tease out any encircling roots, which can girdle the tree and slowly kill it. Dig a hole that’s as deep as the root ball and twice as wide. Place the shrub in the hole, spreading out the roots. Holding it upright and steady, fill in around it with topsoil, tamping down as you go to eliminate air pockets. Water thoroughly. Apply a two- to three-inch layer of organic mulch such as bark chips around the root zone, but keep them from touching the trunk to avoid rot problems.

Watering and nutrients

When newly planted, water your Key Lime bush every few days until you see vigorous new growth starting to appear. Then taper back to once-a-week waterings. A mature Key Lime needs water whenever the soil two inches below the surface is dry. Never let the bush stand in a puddle, however, when watering. Fertilize in spring and summer with a product that’s designed for citrus trees and shrubs. Taper back on feedings during the winter months.

Pollination

Key Lime bushes are self-fertile, meaning you may have a harvest if you only have one tree. However, your tree will produce more bountiful fruit if planted near another Key Lime. If you are growing your bush indoors, you can pollinate it by using a paintbrush to take some of the pollen from one flower to another. Repeat the process with all blooms, without cleaning the brush.

Pruning

Citrus plants such as the Key Lime don’t need a great deal of pruning. The best time to prune is after a harvest. At that time, remove any dead, diseased, or damaged limbs, as well as any suckers that have sprung up from the base of the trunk. You can also prune lightly for size if necessary.

Pests and diseases

Insect pests that you may see on your Key Lime include red spider mites, scale insects, and whiteflies. A minor infestation shouldn’t bother a healthy tree. If you’re growing your Key Lime indoors, wipe down the leaves occasionally with a damp cloth to keep insects away. Key Limes are largely disease-free, and will only rarely show signs of such diseases as blight and root rot. Avoid overwatering, and always water at the base of the trunk rather than the leaves. Keep the area around the trunk free of leaf litter and debris.

Harvesting

You may be able to harvest fruits from your Key Lime bush throughout the year, but they are most abundant from spring through fall. The fruits are usually harvested when they are green, although they will eventually turn pale yellow and become softer. They will not continue to ripen once they are off the tree. Harvest by cutting the stem above the fruit with a clean set of pruners. Keep fruit in a cool place, and use it within several days.

Achieving maximum results

In much of the continental U.S., you will need to grow your Key Lime bush in a container, bringing it inside in the winter or growing it entirely indoors. The good news is that these sturdy bushes adapt beautifully to being pot-grown. Choose a container that is roughly twice the size of the root ball with good drainage holes in the bottom.

Plant your shrub in good-quality potting soil, spreading out the roots as much as the pot allows. You may need to root-prune longer ones, but don’t leave them encircling the root ball. Note that container-grown plants may need more water than those grown in the ground and more regular feeding. Bring your Key Lime indoors whenever the temperatures are near 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

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