Growing Lemon and Lime Trees

April 26, 2022 by Paul Guzie citrus plants, Perennials No Comments

Last updated on December 17th, 2024 at 06:37 am

Growing Lemon and Lime Trees in the Southwest Region? Will they survive? Arizona and Southern California are ideal places to grow and harvest Lemon and Lime trees. But in the higher elevations of the Southwest, it is a challenge.

The weather plays a huge role here. When winter temperatures drop below 32°F, outdoor growing becomes nearly impossible. Most plants can’t survive those conditions, and trying to protect them often requires expensive setups or constant monitoring. Of course, you can grow them indoors or in a controlled temperature greenhouse.

Lemon and lime trees do well outdoors in USDA zones 9-11. In colder zones, you can plant them in containers but move them indoors before the first hard freeze in your area. All are evergreen and produce fragrant white flowers. Find out more about Growing Citrus in other Zones.

Lemon and lime trees thrive in slightly acidic soil, which helps them absorb nutrients more effectively. If your soil lacks the right pH, many locally owned nurseries stock soil acidifiers to adjust it. These products are often easy to find and come with clear instructions to help you create the ideal conditions for your citrus trees to flourish. Below are some of the most common lemon, lime, and grapefruit trees.

Growing Citrus Indoors

Growing lemons and limes indoors isn’t as tricky as it sounds, but it does take some planning. Choose a dwarf variety like Meyer lemon or Key lime since they’re better suited for pots. Place the plant where it gets at least 8-12 hours of bright sunlight daily—south-facing windows work best, or use a grow light if needed. Keep the soil slightly moist, but don’t overwater; soggy roots can rot. Use a well-draining citrus potting mix and a pot with drainage holes. Fertilize every few months with a citrus-specific fertilizer for healthy growth and fruit production. Do you notice flowers? Hand-pollinate them to help the fruit develop, especially in a closed indoor space. With steady care, you’ll have fresh citrus for cooking and drinks right at home.

After the last freeze, you can place your Citrus plants outdoors in a warm area. Water about 2-3 times per week during the spring and fall seasons. More often during the hot summer months.

The Eureka Lemon

Citrus x Limon ‘Eureka’ Will produce lots of Lemons after the third season. If planted outdoors it will reach about 20ft. in height and about 10 ft. wide. It is best to use good loamy soil if you plant it outdoors or in containers. They like to be well-watered every other day during the sweltering summer months. A heavy bearer of lemons and ready to harvest once they turn yellow or yellow-green usually in late fall.

USDA Zone 9-10

Meyer Improved Lemon

A small citrus tree that bears fruit about 4″ inches in diameter. Like most citrus trees it has a strong fragrant white flower and will attract butterflies and hummingbirds. It will grow from about six to 13 ft. tall and 7 ft wide. It does not like temperatures below 30° Fahrenheit. But you can plant them in containers with good soil and then move them indoors when temperatures drop below 30° degrees.

If planting more than two trees, make sure they are spaced out about 7-8 ft. apart. Water every other day from spring until early fall for the best results.

USDA zones 9-10.

Mexican Lime Tree

Citrus aurantifolia. A short lime tree grows to 14 ft. tall and 8 ft. wide. It is a fast-growing citrus tree that produces small limes and is used for drinking Tequila and other drinks. The rind color of these limes is greenish-yellow and produces a white fragrant flower. They ripen around late summer into late fall. It is best to plant in a container if you live where there are chilly winter temperatures. Bring it indoors before the first frost hits your area. Anything below 32° and they will not produce limes. The USDA hardiness zone for this plant is 10-11.

Bearss Lime Tree

Citrus x latifolia. A bearer of juicy, lemon-sized fruit in winter into early spring. Grows into a densely branched shrub or small tree with a full rounded crown. Excellent container plant for the patio or indoors in cold areas. This one will grow up to 20 ft tall and wide. It loves full sun but can tolerate afternoon shade and does not produce seeds.

Growing Lemon and Lime Trees

Oro Blanco Grapefruit

The Oro Blanco Grapefruit is another small citrus grapefruit tree. It will grow up to 17 ft. tall and wide. Produces sweet fruit. If you are going to plant, it in a container use good loamy potting soil. Make sure you water every other day during the scorching summer months. Only needs fertilizer about twice per year and you should purchase fertilizer formulated for citrus trees.

Insects that kill Citrus Trees

The following insects will kill or damage your citrus trees if you don’t act quickly armored and soft-scale spider mites, whiteflies, Leaf miners, mealybugs, and aphids. Find out how to kill insects and remove fungus on your trees at Insects and Diseases on Plants.

What about fungus on Citrus plants? There are several problems when it comes to fungus. Here are three of the biggest problems.

Phytophthora
Brown Spot
Greasy Spot

Using a good shrub fungicide will control these fungi. Avoid these diseases by watering during the daytime. Clean and rake up debris in early spring and mid-fall. There is no fungus control for Phytophthora but with proper watering and avoiding over-head sprinkler systems and there will be less chance of fungus diseases.