How to Grow Limes in Michigan
- 1). Purchase a dwarf lime tree seedling such as a dwarf key lime tree from a local or online nursery. If possible, purchase a plant that is about 2 to 3 years old.
- 2). Fill a 10- to 15-gallon pot that has drainage holes in the bottom with a 2-inch layer of coarse gravel or small stones. Fill the remainder of the pot with potting soil and plant the lime tree in it. The soil should be barely covering the top of the root ball because the trunk will rot if it is too far underground.
- 3). Water your lime tree every couple of days for the first couple of weeks after planting. After this time, wait until the top of the soil is dry to the touch before watering the lime tree.
- 4). Position your lime tree outdoors in a sunny location while the temperature is reliably above freezing, usually from about mid-June through late August in Michigan. Limes grow best at temperatures of about 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and no lower than 55 at night. Although the plant can survive temperatures of 34 to 54 degrees F, the plant will go dormant at these lower temperatures.
- 5). Move the lime tree to a shadier location when you are nearing the time when you will need to bring the tree indoors. The first frost in Michigan usually occurs between mid-August and mid-September, and you should move the tree to the shade at least two weeks before the first expected frost in your area. Transitioning slowly into a low-light environment is healthier for the lime tree.
- 6). Bring the lime tree indoors before the first frost and keep it in a sunny location, ideally near a window facing west or south. If the tree is not doing well, use a 40-watt grow light for eight to 12 hours per day.
- 7). Move the lime tree outdoors again after the risk of frost is over, usually sometime in June. People living in southern Michigan will be able to move the tree outdoors sooner than those in northern Michigan, where frost is still possible through the end of June. Start with the tree in a shady location for a few weeks before moving it into full sunlight again.
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