Key Lime Tree - USDA Organic for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

Planting and Care

by John Haryasz | Horticulture Writer and Landscape Designer – last update on December 20, 2022

Planting instructions

Although this plant survives in partial shade settings, it performs best when it receives full sun. The Key Lime Tree also grows best in soils that have great drainage. If you live in zone eight or warmer, you should plant your Key Lime Tree in a container that is wide and allows for good drainage and bring it indoors during the cold weather months. Those in warmer regions can plant this tree in a hole that is as deep as the root ball is tall and about twice as wide.

Watering and nutrients

Typically, the Key Lime Tree needs a relatively high volume of water throughout its life. During the establishment period, you should water this plant often enough to maintain consistent soil moisture. After establishment, you can water whenever you notice that the first two inches of soil have dried out. Often this means watering once per week or once every two weeks. For the best results, you should apply a citrus-specific fertilizer, or one that is high in nitrogen, about once per month during the growing season.

Pollination

The Key Lime Tree is a self-fertile species, meaning that a single plant is capable of producing fruits on its own. This plant often relies on flying insects to conduct pollination. However, if you wish to guarantee that pollination takes place, it is often best to perform hand pollination. To do so, wait until the flowers open. Then, use a small paintbrush to manually transfer the pollen from the male flower structures to the female ones.

Pruning

Regular pruning will help keep your Key Lime Tree healthy and as productive as can be. When pruning, use a set of sharp and sterile pruning tools and focus first on removing any branch that is dead, damaged or diseased. After that, you can thin the canopy to ensure proper air circulation and remove any suckers that appear at the base of this plant’s trunk. Pruning can take place at any time of year for this plant.

Pests, diseases, and animals

Like most other citrus plants, the Key Lime Tree can run into several pest and disease issues during its life. Some of the most common pests to harm this tree are leaf miners, scale insects, aphids, citrus thrips, whiteflies and citrus bud mites. Along with those pest issues, infections can also take place. Some of the most prevalent diseases a Key Lime Tree may encounter include black spot, fruit scabbing and canker. The Key Lime Tree can also experience different forms of rot, especially if it lives in poorly draining soils.

Harvesting

The harvest time for a Key Lime Tree can vary from year to year, but it will generally take place any time from late summer to mid-winter. As such, the best way to know when to harvest these fruits is based on visual and physical cues. When a Key Lime fruit is ready for picking, it will have a light-yellow color and a somewhat leathery texture. Notice that not all fruits will mature at the same rate, which means that you should be selective when choosing which limes to pick during the harvest season.

Achieving maximum results

If you are one of the many gardeners who must grow their Key Lime Tree in a container for the sake of overwintering, then you should be ready to transplant this plant when needed. As your plant’s root system expands, it will eventually run out of space in its container. Before this occurs, you should move your Key Lime Tree to a wider container to prevent root binding. Typically, the best time to perform transplanting is during the spring season.

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