Key limes, like all citrus, do not ripen off the tree. The peel may turn more yellow, but that will have no effect at all on the internal juice quality. However, if they had begun to change color when picked, they're likely already fully mature.

The juice freezes well, especially if you plan to cook with it later. As is true for orange juice, when you thaw it, it will separate into a clear layer and a cloudy layer, unlike never-frozen juice. But you simply stir it up to use it.

To prevent separation of the "cloud" from commercial juice, the processors flash-pasteurize the juice prior to freezing, and then it won't separate later.

MM, since Key Limes were brought up, I've a question..Last Sat I spotted a small bag of key limes for sale.
First do they have seeds and if so can they be sowed? TIA, Toni

Toni yes they do & yes they can. Takes 2-3 years to produce fruit from seed.

Laaz, I forgot to ad, the limes are partially refrigerated..will this make a difference? Harm the seeds? Thanks, Toni

Not at all. The only way they will not be viable is if they were frozen.

A guy in Europe posted that he wanted key lime seeds. He had no source for key limes where he was. I bought some limes & sent him a bunch of seeds--he sent me cherimoya seeds in trade (never heard of cherimoya before that) and pics of his small healthy lime trees! He was very happy with them. They are also true to seed. Geeze, if I can find his old addy somewhere on this puter (had AOL then), I'll email him & ask if he got fruits & how the trees are.

Yep, Ive got 1 seedling, Id thinned to the 2 best, and one of them died with my calamondin last I was out of town. D'oh!

The leaves are the darkest of any of my lil trees, and theyre quite round. Teeny thorns on mine.

to the original Q- if the juice is good, pop it in icecube trays and freeze that way- citrus is acidic, which will keep it foodsafe longer, but for the best quality, id get what youre going to save frozen as soon as you squeeze it.

You could always make mojitos! (if you care for mixed drinks)

Two years from seed to fruits??? You must have hyper-turbo-charged seedlings!
I've never yet had any fruit from any citrus in less than seven years - and I've been planting seeds for around 20yrs.

I've had Ponderosa Lemons and Calamondins fruit within 2-3 years, from seed, but I have not been fortunate enough to experience 2-3 year old fruiting Citrus aurantifolia. But what do I know?

Outdoor Florida average for Key lime is probably about 3 years. I can believe 2 years, with very good care which stimulates more frequent growth flushes.

Malcom - If outdoor Florida average is about 3 years, what would indoor/outdoor culture be in Iowa, for example? Ballpark figure?

AAE, good point.
2-3 yrs isn't a long wait..I've always heard citrus started from seed takes at least 7 yrs.
Were these grafted plants? I do NOT know hot to graft...I openly admit this..Toni

then learn with me hon. Ive got most of my FD seedlings either comittied to grafts, or im giving a few away (seed was given to me) so I cant help you there right now.

Ive been told these will be a bit too small to graft this spring, so Ill grow them up till 2 springs from now. Im going to do key lime, meyer, and im starting tangerine seed soon. I dont know if Ill chance the calamondin, since I only have one left. Ill wait till she branches.

Ive always wanted to learn to graft, but never had anything I could grow/ get scion wood on an indoor scale. Were moving at least one more time when my fiance graduates, and I just couldnt make an orchard then have to leave it. (Maybe if it was a donation to a community garden tho)

Garn, getting FD isn't a problem..it's what you do w/it afterwards..LOL..worldplants sells 1' FD for 4-5.00. I don't understand if you'd use the whole plant to graft or a piece..do u know?
I wish someone here in IL knew how it was done, then show me..I'd be grafting everything..LOL
That fruit cocktail tree sounds interesting. I'd like a tree w/various fruits growing on it.
Maybe one day..but not anytime soon..At least you understand the concept..
BTW, how tall does your FD have to be before grafting?

read this! I found it probably a month or 2 into being here. its a pretty good explanation.

there are also several good websites if you search citrus grafting.

You use whatever dwarfing or resistant bottom (rootstock) and put a bud on it a few inches above soil line. then snip off the rest of the bottom tree, and the bud scion takes over. Its more complicated than that....

Joe Real has done some neato multi trees too, but since citrus grow at different rates, youre less likely to be highly sucessful at a complicated multigraft right off.

Im interested in learning it, and I want to make a greenhouse some day, but a dwarf- fits into the window kinda orchard is about my speed right now.

Here is a link that might be useful: Mr. Manners!

That is MrTexas site not Dr. Manners. Yes it has some very useful info.

FD only has to be about 1/4 " --pencil size, and then you can Tbud a graft onto it. This doesn't really give directions, but shows what T bud looks like.
Patty

http://classes.aces.uiuc.edu/NRES103/tbud/

duh. sorry!

heres some more info

Here is a link that might be useful: step by step

Not all seedling citrus varieties take 7-15 years to flower and fruit. Some varieties flower/fruit much quicker. Especially when grown in a tropical greenhouse setting. - Millet

Hi all.

I have a key lime (I think it is from seed). They make a very nice plant. My parents brought mine back from their FL vacation this spring. When I opened the box it was packaged in, I was sadden at the trees condition. It looked like a green stick with one leaf attached planted in a small pot. Although I was not expecting it to survive, I planted the tree it a bigger pot and gave it some TLC. I still have the key lime, and have to admit it is my favorite (just donÂt tell my other trees :-)). It has only grown a little bit vertically, but has branched out and put on lots of leaves. Each time I look at it, it amazes me how far it has come.
I to admit I do not know how to graft, and would like to learn how. It is a shame that north does not have a Citrus Expo like the south. Yes, I do know that northern weather is not the best for citrus, but it hasnÂt stopped many of us from growing citrus. A northern expo could be a place where us northern citrus growing addicts can get together and learn new techniques (like grafting), add to are citrus family, Â. I know, I know, itÂs a nice dream, but it will never happen.

Jessica

Jessica - One of our former members here (Dale) lives in your neck of the woods. Perhaps ya'll can put one together. Contact your area Master Gardeners. Having spoken at a number of their events, I can assure you that they would be very interested in helping out. The southern expo is a relatively new and small affair. It began as a side event within a zoo just a couple years ago. So, keep your options open, and you can have one just as nice as the one Stan McKenzie co-hosts.

Jessica, I agree with you..There are many issues that trouble me about living in the midwest..(mainly the cold but that can't be helped.)LOL..We don't have semiars, expo's, most plant classes only relate to annuals/perrenials grown in our neck of the woods. Trying to find citrus is almost impossible. I don't know if you go to nurseries; I do. Most sell Calamondins..And the few nurseries that do sell other citrus charge 200.00+
Home Depots in warm climates sell so many varieties of tropicals, inlcuding citrus. I swear, it's depressing. Toni

It is even worse here in Canada. There are not many citrus varieties to choose from.

Susan