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 fulfill this dream here in Hays County, 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 to 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 rootstock. 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°. Time 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 lemons, Mexican key limes, Changshou kumquats, Persian limes, Palestinian 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’s 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. Spring (proper!) will be arriving soon.
If you have a question for Chris, send it via email to [email protected]. Or mail a postcard to It’s About Thyme11726 Manchaca Road, Austin, TX 78748 www.itsaboutthyme.com
