Lemon tree (on the left) and lime tree (on the right) have never produced fruit except for directly after we got them from the store. I live in central Texas and despite them dying once or twice due to a big freeze in winter, they have been going strong for 2 years just without any fruit.
My dad says they could be a variety that doesn’t produce? I’m also wondering if it could be that they need a certain kind of fertilizer, they get plenty of water and sun so I don’t think that’s the issue
by Witty-Composer-6445
10 Comments
Lime tree I can understand never producing fruit since it’s pretty small and hasn’t grown much, but the lemon tree has gotten really big lately and is growing excellently
This isn’t required and it may not help at all, but citrus likes to be pruned, not too much, just don’t let it get too tall. I’d top each branch that is reaching over 6-8 feet tall (your choice). That way harvesting fruit is easier and it promotes more side growth from the tree, meaning more fruiting zones.
The MAIN problem is that grass. Citrus roots are shallow and that grass is pulling most of the nutrients from the soil and the citrus is starving. Remove all grass within a 1-2 foot radius and add a good mulch. Citrus loves pine needle mulch or a hardy wood chip mulch. You want about 2-3 inches of mulch. Once you remove the grass don’t add any soil, you don’t want to bury the trunk at all, just add mulch where the grass was.
Gotta use citrus specific fertilizer(fertilize early spring, never late fall, depending on zone)
needs slightly acidic soil (ph 6.0-7.0), and full full sun, like 8 hours direct sun. Also, they need to grow for 4-5 years before consistently fruiting.
Also, tree rings and mulch for their feet.
Do they flower?
Both look like rootstock has taken over. I see groups of three leaves where there should only be single leaves. If that’s the case these will require replacing with new trees to get edible fruit.
these are no longer lemon and lime trees. you are growing from the rootstock now, likely sour-orange, and it won’t produce good tasting fruit
My uncle used to graft lemon or lime branches onto a grapefruit tree, he said that was the fastest way to produce fruit. Took a few months as opposed to several years. He had dozens of trees. Called them his “Sprite Trees”
Are these homegrown?
You have to graft some trees before they produce
Stop pruning them
Do they flower?