A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2004 Limes or lemons?

So last summer I purchased a dwarf Bearas lime tree in a 15 gallon container. I planted it in a sunny spot and gave it lots of I know you do a lot of trees. What do you think?

Hi Kristen,
I don't grow any citrus, but my first thought is
was wait for Papito!!! Definately!!

The second was, sometimes, I get oranges in the mail, and there's an extra note with them that says, don't be alarmed at my color, something about the temp or sun or something they got or didn't get, I read it fast and tossed it, cause I know every year they're good... but that might be something with their color too, the temp or sun...

Did you try one yet???

Weezie

Gardengal,

How to tell if you have lime or lemon? Simply cut the fruits in half. 1. Bearss lime are seedless, lemons have seeds. 2. Limes have more wedges (about 7 to 10 wedges)lemons will have 1 or 2 wedges less than lime.

If you leave the lime on the tree past maturity, the green (skin) will turn yellow.

Other info from an Ortho book "All About Citrus & Subtropical Fruits":

When all the growing conditions are favorable, the size, shape and juice content of the lime or lemon (and other citruses)depends on the climate.

In hot-humid climate, the fruits (size) are usually largest, becoming progressively smaller in hot-arid and cool-arid climates.

The fruits (shape) tends to be longer in relation to width in hotter climate and flatter in cooler climate.

The citrus becomes juiciest when grown in hot-humid climate and less juicy in hot-arid or cool-humid climates.

This weekend, we picked Chandler pummelos, Oro Blanco grapefruits, Dancy mandarin oranges, Eureka & improved Myer lemons, Bearss limes and Calamondin.

Thanks Papito! I knew you would know.

It's a lime! They are really juicy and good too, just yellow. Thanks for your help!!

Gardengal,

I forgot to tell you that there is another way to tell if the fruit is lime. When cut, the flesh is green or greenish even if the skin is yellow. Lemons will have yellow colored flesh.

As for picking time, that really depends on what you want to use the lime fruits for. The green or yellow shaved skin could be used in recipes for either baking or cooking . The juice could be used for making "limeade", or fish/poultry/meat marinade, or cut in wedges for cooked seafood.

From experience, if the citrus falls easily when tugged, they are either mature or ripe. If I tug and it held, then I leave it and wait a little bit.

You are right about the swirl color of blood orange. We have the "Moro" variety (swirl of red/yellow/orange), the deep red juice is very sour.

Hey, have u ever skinned a fish and then had to deal with that stinky smell afterwards?

Take a lime and squeeze the juice out and rub it all over your hands. It removes the smell!
I tried it last week. A Vietnamese family, who grew limes in an orchard, showed me. I was helping them prepare some fish for dinner and got that smell all over my hands. It really worked! Couldn't believe it!

Bob,

Thanks for tip on lemon juice. If you are out of lime or lemon, just squeeze toothpaste and rub them all over your hands for a minute or so, then rinse (the hands) with water.

....and...if you're out of limes, lemons AND toothpaste...
Rub your wet hands all over the bottom of a stainless-steel mixing bowl. It works!