Perhaps there is nothing extraordinary about a lime … at first glance. However, limes come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and even colors! From the shocking red skin of the blood lime to the long tubular Australian finger lime that oozes caviar-like balls, linden species are a whole world apart.
Limes are warm hearted citrus trees, but if you live in colder climates, don't despair! There are a few ways that you can bring this wonderful fresh fruit into your garden. Growers in Regions 3-8 can choose to grow in a container and simply bring the tree inside for the colder months. For gardeners who want a classic lime, try growing the Persian linden or key lime. For the adventurous chef, the kaffir lime may be the tree for you.
Linden, like any citrus tree, has some important needs in order to grow well. Make sure they are getting enough warmth, not too much water, well-drained soil, and add fertilizer to the soil a few times a year. With this kind of loving care, they sometimes grow up to 20 feet tall with heaps of lime to use in the kitchen for everyone to enjoy!
Types of limes
Mexican lime
Key limes are a form of Mexican lime. Source: Skakerman
Mexican linden trees produce one of the most abundant linden trees in the United States and have many names, including the key linden. Their fruits are the most common limes in the supermarket with green pulp and slightly smaller than a lemon. Also known as the West Indian lime, the Citrus aurantifolia can grow into a 15 foot tall tree that can live up to 150 years! A very cold-sensitive tree with a dense crown. This is a great option for growers in warmer climates looking for a tree that will provide both fruit and shade. This is a great variety of citrus to add to guacamole or pico de gallo!
Get a Key Lime Tree
Castelo Lime
This slightly larger lime variety is a rare Indo-Malay variety of lime. It is actually slightly larger than the standard lime and only ripe when it turns light yellow. With a width of 6 centimeters, it is in season from autumn to winter. This rare type of lime can be used interchangeably with a type of lime in making lime cake because of its tart yet sweet taste.
Australian finger lime
Finger limes are long and slim, filled with many round, juicy pieces of pulp. Source: Premshree Pillai
The Australian finger lime or Microcitrus australasica is also known as caviar lime for the small spherical insides of the fruit, called vesicles, which swell out after a ripe finger lime is cut. This type of citrus tree is native to Australia and has a tubular dark green outside about 3 inches long and a very light green inside. This type of linden tree is new to the American market but is becoming increasingly popular because of its very strong taste. It is more and more common for these fruits to be found in cocktails and other gourmet drinks.
As an ornamental lime, this fast growing fruit tree can reach heights of up to 20 feet and is very beautiful. The leaves are quite small and compact with thorn-covered branches and delicate white flowers.
Get a Finger Lime Tree
Tahiti Lime: Persian lime
The Persian lime is also a type of Tahitian lime tree and, along with the bears, is the most popular type of lime in the USA. This widespread linden is also a cross between a key lime and a lemon tree and turns yellow when it reaches full maturity. For the home grower, this tree can grow up to 20 feet tall and even grow branches with thorns. It grows well in zones 9-11 and is less acidic than other species of linden.
Tahiti linden comes in two main types. One of them, the Bearss linden tree, which grows in California and is seedless, is a dark green lime that ripens to a light green, almost yellow, color. It is a cross between a key linden tree and a lemon tree. The main harvest arrives in winter and goes through late spring. It has a long shelf life and helps it dominate the commercial market. It is closely related to Persian lime, the Florida-grown variant of the Tahitian lime tree.
Get a bear linden tree
Blood lime
The blood lime is clearly red in color when it matures. Source: cskk
A very rare type of citrus fruit, limes, Citrus australiasica var. Sanguinea, are grown almost exclusively in Australia. Named for its blood-red skin, this was a hybrid designed to be salt-resistant for a specific region of Australia. With smaller and sweeter fruits than the standard lime, this interesting citrus tree can also be grown as an ornamental plant.
Kaffir lime
The kaffir linden tree is also known under its more politically correct name "makrut linden tree" due to the racist origin of the word "kaffir" by English colonists. Be sure to wear gloves when collecting these fruits from these linden trees! The Latin name Citrus hystrix is derived from the word hystrix, which means hedgehog and refers to the thorny branches that grow all over the tree. Be careful when harvesting the fruits of this linden tree as these thorns can get quite sharp!
Originally from Indonesia, both the limes and the leaves of the plant are used. Unlike most other linden trees, this fruit is not grown for its juice, but for the peel, the strange-looking bumpy peel and delicious leaves that are widely used in both Thai and Indonesian foods.
The kaffir linden needs a lot of warmth and moisture and grows in zones 10-12. It can grow up to 25 feet tall.
Rangpur
Rangpur limes are an unusual hybrid with a sweet and sour taste. Source: Forest & Kim
The Ranpur linden tree or the tangerine linden tree, which is also known by two different names, is more like a tangerine than a lime. The color of an orange inside and out, the Citrus x. Limonia osbeck is native to Bangladesh and, surprisingly, can be used interchangeably with fruits from other linden trees.
Calamansi Limes
This hybrid type of lime, sometimes called the calamondin linden, is native to the Philippines and also has orange flesh. The juice of this citrus fruit is sour, but it is valued for the sweet peel. While it looks like a tangerine, it's actually a lime!
Lemon Linden Tree
The lemon lime is actually two trees in one. This modern amenity is actually a mix of Meyer lemon trees and fragrant linden trees. This plant was created for the family garden to maximize space and taste. These trees are often grown in a container in cooler areas and brought indoors in the fall. This self-fertile plant grows both limes and lemons.
Get yourself a lemon lime
Linden tips
Feed
Bear limes are among the most common on the market. Source: Rigid
Linden trees are heavy feed and need to be fed regularly. If you are using chemical fertilizers or an organic granular fertilizer, apply it around the base of the plant and water it in the soil three times a year. Linden trees need nitrogen to support leaf growth and phosphorus to produce flowers. You also need magnesium, boron, copper, and zinc for the fruit to develop well.
If you plan to maintain your linden trees using an organic fertilizer such as compost or manure, it is best to fertilize more often. As with most citrus trees, don't fertilize until the plant is established and a few inches of growth appear at the tips of the branches.
irrigation
Linden trees generally do well for infrequent but deep watering with more care in a hot summer and much less in winter. Since a linden tree can easily die in standing water, less is more.
One way to determine that your linden trees need water is to check the top few inches of soil. When it is dry, pour it slowly but deeply so that the soil has time to absorb the water. If you are growing in containers, make sure the container is not in a bowl of standing water. To water deeply, install a drip line or waterer hose to allow the water to slowly sink through the bottom.
clipping
Make sure your linden tree is pruned regularly. Generally only once a year or any other is all that is needed, but some important parts of the tree need to be removed.
As with other fruit trees, remove wood that is growing crossed or tangled, as this can create a habitat that will attract pests. Also, remove dead or diseased wood. Be sure to use clean and disinfected pruning shears, as cutting diseases can be transmitted through a dirty blade.
Cold protection
Calamansi are technically limes, although they don't look like limes. Source: Rosa Say
Many types of citrus trees suffer from cold damage, and limes are no exception. Most limes are not hardy and need to be grown in a pot or container in zones below zone 9 and brought indoors before a frost. The key lime can cause serious damage in just 30 minutes of cold air!
Be sure to keep an eye on the evening temperatures, as this is where the cold temperatures drop the most. If you can't bring in your linden trees, you can protect them by wrapping sheets or frost blankets around the branches and trunk of the tree.
When to plant
Finding a sunny spot is the most important rule to keep in mind when planting your linden trees. Remember that different parts of the garden can get more sun at different times of the year. Be sure to create a planting area that will drain well and free of pool water.
Planting should be done in either late spring or early fall for the plant to thrive at its best. Linden trees need moderate weather conditions to encourage root growth before they can survive the cold winter or particularly hot summer.
Multiplication
Kaffir limes are clearly bumpy with fragrant leaves. Source: Wallyg
Citrus trees, including limes, can be propagated by pruning the plant and placing it in a rooting medium of soil or sand with good drainage.
You want at least 6 to 8 inch long cuts from a healthy and sturdy branch. Remove most of the leaves except 2 or 3 to allow the cut to put its energy into growing roots. It is common for roots to develop after two months. At this point, you can harden them up and transplant them outside.
Pest Control
Linden trees can be attacked by a wide variety of pests, from miners to aphids, mites, and even scale insects.
One of the best ways to prevent infestation is to prune the linden tree well so that air can circulate between the leaves and branches. Try using organic methods to control pests like neem oil and insecticidal soaps to kill and prevent dandruff, mites, and aphids.
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