Meyer Lemon/Mexican Lime Espalier
missinformation
16 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (24)
missinformation
16 years agoeventfarm
16 years agoRelated Discussions
Mexican thornless lime, bloom initiation requirements?
Comments (1)fireweed22, you're probably better off posting your question over on the Citrus forum. And, post photos as well, which are always helpful, along with your potting mix, what brand fertilizer you're using and how frequently you fertilize, whether the trees is on its own roots (seedling or rooted cutting), or grafted, how much sun it gets indoors, as well as where you live and your zone (your zone and location can be added to your "Zone" field, see mine). Sometimes it can take a year, two or even three for citrus trees to bloom and set fruit, a little longer for seedlings. Patty S....See MoreNew Meyer Lemon and Mexican Lime Tree. Need Help!!
Comments (10)jkom has given you great advice. The Meyer looks great, well planted, no grass to compete, etc. I would recommend placing them on a drip system, since citrus do need a fair amount of water, especially in the hotter areas of the country. They also need well draining soil, which you probably have based on where you are. If planted in clay soils, they should be elevated, and the water well provided at the drip line lower than the tree crown. You may need to expand the wells as your trees grow, as you really want the water to pool in a circle around your tree at the drip line (edge of the canopy), as that's where your tree's feeder roots reside. Use a good fertilizer formulated for citrus, which will be higher in nitrogen and will contain micronutrients. You'll want to fertilize at regular intervals, and for you that should be February, May, and early October, but you can check with your local Master Gardeners for any additional timing for your specific area. It also would be beneficial for you to mulch your wells with compost or composted manure. That will do two things for your citrus: provide some water retention in your very arid climate, and also provide additional slow release nitrogen, both very helpful for growing citrus in arid climates on sandy or DG soils. I mulch my citrus at least once or twice a year with a small amount of chicken manure (very hot, so use sparingly), and then top with compost and wood chips as I'm on nearly pure DG, so very little organic material in my soil. For us here in S. California for the most part, iron deficiency is actually rarely an issue, as our soils have plenty of iron (but possibly jkom is in an area that is deficient - California is a gigantic state with some fairly wide differences in soil makeup). It is usually a manganese deficiency we see here, and that tends to be the same for AZ. I would check with your local Master Gardeners, again, though, to find out what your soil issues are, and fertilize accordingly. You can also use a micronutrient foliar spray too, which works very well if you notice your leaves getting pale or yellowish. Grow More Citrus Grower's Blend is a good micronutrient product. And do support your branches on your young trees, especially the Meyer, as Meyer's tend to be very prolific producers (my Meyer has no less than 50 to 100 fruit on it at any given time, I have Meyer lemons coming out my ears). Lastly, you are very fortunate to have quite a bit of online support for citrus in your state. I've included a link below, which also has additional links for you. Definitely check out Arizona Cooperative Extension's web site, it is a great resource for those growing citrus in AZ: http://extension.arizona.edu/maricopa/citrus-publications Your Master Gardeners are part of the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, and are a great, great resource for home gardeners. Here's a link to your AZ Master Gardener manual: http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/mg/ Good luck, looks like you're off to a good start! Patty S. Here is a link that might be useful: AZ Citrus...See Morenewb question grafting key lime to meyer lemon
Comments (2)To the above excellent advice, I would add the following: 1. Any Mexican/Key lime grafts will be *significantly* less hardy than the "Meyer" lemon stock. So any grafts would probably do better if they were protected by "Meyer" lemon growth above -- such growth would tend to act as a protective umbrella during freezes. However, as mentioned above, the grafts would probably be less vigorous than the "Meyer" branches and shoots. So the best practice would be to graft the lime onto apically dominant stock shoots. The problem is, of course, that the most apically dominant portions of your existing tree will be found at the top of the plant! So you need to find a balance. You might, for example, find a vigorous, watersprout-type shoot, and then trace it down to its base, cut it off low, and put a graft on there. (Or, if you prefer, t-bud some lime down there, and then cut the shoot off.) 2. Meyer lemons are quite ornamental. Mexican/Key limes are much less attractive. They're rather twiggy/scrubby in appearance. Even if you like that look, any lime grafts would be quite difference in appearance than the stock plant growth -- so they would probably stand out, and might mar the ornamental value of your tree. The ideal way to get around this is to put the lime grafts on whichever side of the "Meyer" that is least visible from your house or yard....See MoreMexican lime won't flower
Comments (9)Well then, Chrissy, lucky you to live so close to the NG! Bop on down there and get some 8-2-4 and maybe some seaweed for the micronutrients ~ bet that'll have your tree blooming in no time (again, provided it wasn't seed grown). The compost and alfalfa have some N, but likely not enough. Feathermeal, bloodmeal and corn meal all have high N as well, but I think the 8-2-4 has more (that's what John told us to recommend anyway). And while you're there, look for me if you have time. I'm Linda and I'm in the herb section Tues-Thurs. I'd love to meet you! :) Isn't that wild, Petzold? I didn't know all that much about citrus before John gave us the crash course, so would have offered the same advice as you otherwise. I'm a vegetable gardener mostly along with a few flowers, so too much N means few flowers and fruit to me, too. Citrus apparently are just the odd ducks. Basilette, any well draining potting soil will work. That's the other thing about citrus ~ they do NOT like wet feet and will get foot rot if they stay that way too long. So get some pea gravel, decomposed granite or expanded shale to mix in with your potting soil when you repot (pea gravel in the bottom is also good to give weight to the pot so your tree doesn't blow over). And this is a great time of year to repot anything. If you do it now, just as warm spring temps are starting (though you wouldn't know it this morning *sigh*), it'll happily put on loads of new roots and settle into the new pot/soil nicely. I'll be repotting a lot of my plants in the greenhouse soon, right before I put them outside for the summer. AAMOF, I'll be repotting my own Key Lime this next week or two, so I'll be mixing in liberal amounts of turkey manure along with using that 8-2-4 in the hopes that I'll get lots of blooms again, too....See Moremissinformation
16 years agoeventfarm
16 years agomissinformation
16 years agorioritarae
16 years agobobbi_p
16 years agomissinformation
16 years agobobbi_p
16 years agomissinformation
16 years agoeventfarm
16 years agobobbi_p
16 years agotimintexas
16 years agored_geranium
16 years agobobbi_p
16 years agomissinformation
16 years agomissinformation
16 years agotimintexas
16 years agomissinformation
16 years agoAubergine Texiana
15 years agokc1968
15 years agowally_1936
15 years agoBrad Edwards
11 years ago
Related Stories
FARM YOUR YARDIf You Have Room for Only One Fruit Tree ...
Juice up a small garden with one of these easier-care or worth-the-effort fruit trees for a mild climate
Full StoryEDIBLE GARDENSHow to Grow 10 Favorite Fruit Trees at Home
Plant a mini orchard in fall, winter or early spring to enjoy fresh-off-the-tree fruit the following year
Full StoryEDIBLE GARDENSHow to Grow Your Own Peaches and Nectarines
Make gardening a little sweeter with these juicy fruits, which you can eat after plucking or preserve for later
Full StoryKITCHEN APPLIANCESConsidering a New Kitchen Gadget? Read This First
Save money, time and space by learning to separate the helpers from the hassles
Full Story
stoneunhenged