Key/Mexican/West Indian Limes - Now in Bunnings (forum)

Ilijas starts with ...
Bought one of these very recently, and have chucked in one of those plastic mini-greenhouses against a sunny wall here in Melbourne.

If anyone is looking for them try your local Bunnings store, as that's where I got mine a week ago, and I just went to another store that had about 7 of them.

They are small shrubs only about 45cm high, and are labelled as "West Indian Limes" only, and look hard for them as the staff tend to wedge them between two rows of tall Lemon and Orange trees to protect them from frosts and cold winds (presumably.)

Whatever you do don't get the "Sublime" dwarf patio lime if you want the Key/West Indian/Mexican lime.

It is a plain old Tahitian lime and a quick scrunch of its leaves will give away its Tahitian aroma.

Time: 9th April 2012 4:50pm

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About the Author Ilijas
Melbourne
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J says...
I've got two growing in the front and back yard over the last year and half and just so you know LLijas, the west indian limes bunnings sells don't need to be a green house during winter. They can handle Melbourne winters.

Time: 9th April 2012 5:04pm

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About the Author J
upwey, Melbourne
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Ilijas says...
OMG are you serious....? Do you think it's a bad idea that I put mine in one? Now I'm thinking I've done something that may do more harm than good.

The thing is that whilst I do have a sunny wall, it's very wide and very very wind-blown.

I've noticed that all the W. Indian limes are grafted, but there's no mention of what sort of rootstock it's on, so I'm not sure if that has any impact on its cold tolerance.

Time: 9th April 2012 5:10pm

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About the Author Ilijas
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J says...
Yep, both my west indian limes are grafted and I suspect that's what gives them more cold tolerance, especially to grow in the ground.
I don't think you have done your west indian lime any harm by putting it in a green house. I should say that while both my west indian limes did fine during winter, they did have some leaf drop during early spring, nothing major. Having said they made a big comeback in summer and are still growing and flowering like crazy right now in autumn. I'm in the dandenong ranges, so normal melbourne suburbia should be fine for the west indian lime. Another forum member Jujube4Sale has a 7 year old west indian lime that is HUGE and loaded with fruit every winter (she is in melbourne as well). That's where I got my inspiration/motivation to grow mine.

Time: 9th April 2012 7:44pm

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Original Post was last edited: 9th April 2012 7:56pm

About the Author J
upwey, Melbourne
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amanda says...
Great to hear J! (mine is grafted also) I might take it down south with me now :) A great lime tree...

Time: 9th April 2012 7:47pm

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About the Author amanda19
Geraldton. 400km north of Perth
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Ilijas says...
Oh wow, thank you J!

Mine's only tiny, much like the size of the Sublimes in Bunnings. It's in a pot so I figured I'd look after it for this year and perhaps by the end of the year repot it if it grows much and by then is big enough to handle the winter cold.

I can't wait for it to fruit and flower.

And Jujube4Sale, I'm looking at you until it does.

;)

Time: 9th April 2012 9:31pm

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About the Author Ilijas
Melbourne
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