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When Do Lime Trees Fruit?
When Do Lime Trees Fruit?. Lime trees are a fragrant addition to the garden with their aromatic flowers and pungent fruit. Although not winter-hardy in the colder regions of the United States, limes grow well in USDA plant hardiness zones 9 through 11. Limes ripen between October and December in these zones.
Lime trees are a fragrant addition to the garden with their aromatic flowers and pungent fruit. Although not winter-hardy in the colder regions of the United States, limes grow well in USDA plant hardiness zones 9 through 11. Limes ripen between October and December in these zones.
Types
Mexican lime is also known as key lime and West Indian lime. This small, thorny tree produces green fruit that turns yellow when ripe. Persian lime is also called Bearss or Tahitian lime, and grows to about 20 feet tall. This early fruit is about 2-1/2 inches in diameter and dark green when it ripens from May to late autumn.
Limes for Containers
Some limes, such as the Mexican lime and the limequat, are small and attractive enough for container or patio gardening. The Mexican thornless variety is also suitable for containers. Dwarf varieties are becoming more available for both indoor and outdoor container gardening. Many dwarf varieties range from as little as 2 feet high to as tall as 10 feet. Container-grown limes can generally stay outside year around in zones 9 through 11. In other zones, bring the containers indoors as soon as the temperature drops below 40 F.
Ripeness
While some lime trees set fruit for several months and others produce flowers and fruit at the same time, most limes are ready to harvest in the autumn and winter months. Mexican limes may ripen twice -- once from April to May and again from November to December. The best way to determine if your limes are ripe is to feel the fruit. If the fruit seems to be softening, pick one, cut it open and taste it. Fully ripened limes are yellow.
