Key Lime (Everbearing)

Key lime is a citrus tree with small round fruit 2.5–5 cm across. Its limes are smaller, tangier and more aromatic than Persian limes, with a thin peel, and are usually picked green. It bears almost all year round – which is why it is called "monthly" (shahri) in Arabic.

Why a key lime?

• Bears fruit almost all year round.
• Strong aroma and high acidity for cooking and juice.
• Thin peel and small fruit.
• A small tree that suits home gardens.

Where to plant it

Home gardens, sunny courtyards, in front of villas and along wide paths. Leave about 4.5 m between it and other trees or buildings.

Care in the Saudi climate

• Light: full, direct sun; in light shade it gives less fruit.
• Water: twice a week in the first month, then whenever new leaves wilt in the afternoon. In a Saudi summer it needs more water.
• Soil: best pH is 5.5–6.5. In the alkaline soil common in Saudi, yellow leaves with green veins mean iron deficiency – treat with chelated iron in the soil and a yearly manganese and zinc spray.
• Feeding: in the first year, a balanced fertilizer about every 6 weeks from February to October, kept away from the trunk.
• Pruning: remove shoots growing from below the graft; the tree needs little pruning, and too much reduces fruit.
• Roots: its roots are shallow – plant it out of strong wind, with good air flow.
• Cold: it is cold-sensitive – protect young trees on cold Riyadh nights.

Sizes

• 1.0–1.5 m: Young tree. Home gardens – settles in easily.