Finger limes are often referred to as citrus caviar due to the delicate “crystals” of pulp contained within the fruit. They are a small leafed, spiny native citrus with insignificant flowers, that do not have the usual beautiful citrus perfume.

So why would you want to grow them?

Several years ago I tasted native finger lime on some oysters and was utterly entranced by the fresh, crisp, effervescent sensation that happened when I tasted the pulp.

Having then seen the outrageous prices being asked for the fruit in the shops, I was keen to try and grow one, so when I saw plants for sale two years ago, I purchased one.

I didn’t really know anything about them, so I did some research and found that the native lime occurs naturally in subtropical to tropical areas of Australia, so I did not attempt to grow it in the ground in the Southern Highlands as it would have been too cold for it to survive well. I did, however, pot it up into a 40cm x 40cm pot and used the best quality potting mix I could find.

This allows me to put it into a warm spot (glass house) in winter. But for anyone on the east coast, a warm sunny north facing protected area would be fine during the colder months.

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In late spring I move it into the garden where it gets full sun. I water it regularly and fertilise it with Powerfeed ever couple of weeks. I tip prune it whenever it puts on new growth to keep it nice and compact. I intend to repot it into a slightly larger container next autumn after harvesting the fruit.

So far it has not been troubled by any pets or diseases.

It flowered prolifically last spring and in autumn I had about 6 small 8cm long brownish fruit that contained pale pink flesh.

The pulp was delicious and we used the small amount we had as a garnish on oysters, in both sparkling mineral water and champagne to add and citrusy bite and added it to salads to add texture and that lovely citrus taste.

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The finger lime is flowing again at the moment and I am looking forward to harvesting fruit again next autumn.

BUY MY COMPLETE GUIDE TO GROWING FINGER LIME’S HERE

So if you see one for sale, have a go at growing one. They are easy to grow, relatively simple to maintain and will give you a lovely and interesting addition to your annual harvest.
If you do decide to give a Finger Lime a go, I want to know about it! You can post a picture or review on my Facebook page, or show me a pic over on Pinterest.

Learn more about growing citrus trees in pots here.

Learn how to prevent fruit fall in finger limes here.

Happy Gardening

Kathy