There's a universal appeal to the idea of wandering into a garden
in the evening, and picking a fresh lime, orange or lemon from a
tree as the sun sets.
While it is possible to fulfil this dream here in the Travis and Hays
counties, in truth it can be a challenge. Here are a few tips to help
your citrus dreams come true.
Growing citrus from seed may be easy but it is not the right way to
go, unless you're a very patient gardener. It can take up to 10 years
for a seedling reach a mature age to blossom and fruit.
I always suggest choosing a grafted tree as the starter plant. These
trees have mature scions (blooming wood) grafted to hardy root-
stock. This eliminates 10 years of waiting.
Should you grow your citrus tree in a container or plant it in the
ground? Since most citrus is hardy to the low twenties, container
planting allows us to bring our trees inside when the weather drops
below 25. Inside should be kept to a minimum and outside locations
with a least 6 hours of sunlight is best.
If you decide to plant your tree in the ground, a protected south wall
with lots of sun is best. Plant as close to the wall as possible. A south
wall gets the most sun and is protected from the cold north wind.
This location is the warmest around the house.
In case of extreme low temps, lean a couple of two-by-fours against
the wall and above the plants to provide a temporary structure for
a thermal blanket. The addition of old fashioned Christmas lights
wrapped around the branches can add enough heat to protect the
tree.
The next time you pass the Santa Cruz Catholic Church on Loop 4
in Buda (1100 Main Street), check out the 15 foot citrus tree which
is thriving on their south wall.
Some of the best varieties of citrus for central Texas are Meyer lem-
ons, Mexican Key Limes, Changshou Kumquats, Persian limes, Pal-
estinian Sweet Limes, Navel oranges, Mandarin oranges and Thai
(Kaffir) Limes.
Of these my two favorites are Meyer lemons and Thai limes. Meyer
is super-sweet and seems to be everyone’s favorite. (It is a cross
between a lemon and an orange.)
Thai Lime is popular for its leaves and fruit. Known in Thai as
Magrood, the leaves are an essential ingredient in many Thai dishes
such as Tom Ka, a traditional coconut soup served over rice. Good
luck, and happy gardening everyone! ❦
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We have 5 gal. citrus for $60, including Meyer lemons, mandarin,
Valencia and navel oranges.
