AUSTRALIAN FINGER LIME GROWING GUIDE

New Arrival: Keep your newly purchased Finger Lime in a sheltered and lightly shaded position for a few weeks to acclimatise. Let it almost completely dry out between waterings and do not sit it in a saucer.

Position: Morning sun or lightly dappled shade. Protected from hot afternoon sun and cold winter wind.

Planting in pots: Select a pot 50cm tall and wide, no smaller. Half fill with Martins Native Planting Mix®. Carefully remove your Finger Lime from its pot without disturbing the roots and place it in the centre of the new pot. Fill the pot with Martins Native Planting Mix® to 5cm higher level than when it was in its pot – this will allow for settling of the new mix. Add controlled release fertiliser – Troforte®, Bush Tucker®, or Healthy Earth All Purpose Fertiliser® at 1/5 recommended rate and water in with Seasol®.

Planting in the ground: Dig a hole 1/2m wide and deep, rough-sided and rough-bottomed. Remove 2/3 of the existing soil and replace with Martins Native Planting Mix®. Also add 1x12L bag of Perlite or Vermiculite for added aeration as Finger Limes need a light, airy and very free draining soil. Thoroughly mix everything together in the hole. The preferred pH (acidity) is 7.5 – slightly alkaline. You may need to dig in Garden Lime to get the pH right. We have pH testing kits available. Do not use any Animal Manures, Composts, or regular fertilisers – these will likely burn the roots of your Finger Lime. Carefully remove your Finger Lime from its existing pot without disturbing the roots and set it in the centre of the newly prepared hole. Back-fill with soil/Native Mix/Vermiculite blend so the soil level is 5cm higher than its original pot – this will allow for settling. Add controlled release fertiliser– Troforte®, Bush Tucker®, or Healthy Earth All Purpose Fertiliser at 1/5 recommended rate and water in with approx. 5L of Seasol® solution. Do not water more frequently than once a week and check soil moisture before watering. If damp, don’t water. Allow the soil to almost dry out between waterings.

Fertilise: Finger Limes have a low-fertiliser requirement. Use 1/5 of the recommended rate of low phosphorus, controlled release fertiliser such as – Troforte®, Bush Tucker®, or Healthy Earth All Purpose Fertiliser® during spring and summer. Do not fertilise when the tree is flowering or fruit is less than 1cm.

Flowering and fruiting: Your grafted tree will probably flower in its first year. Remove any fruit which appears in the first 2 years, until your tree is fully established and has doubled in size and maturity. Regular crops will be produced in 3-4 years.  

Fertilise: Finger Limes have a low-fertiliser requirement. Use 1/5 of the recommended rate of low phosphorus, controlled release fertiliser such as – Troforte®, Bush Tucker®, or Healthy Earth All Purpose Fertiliser® during spring and summer. Do not fertilise when the tree is flowering or fruit is less than 1cm. 

Flowering and fruiting: Your grafted tree will probably flower in its first year. Remove any fruit which appears in the first 2 years, until your tree is fully established and has doubled in size and maturity. Regular crops will be produced in 3-4 years.