How to Fertilize a Persian Lime Tree

Its origin surrounded in mystery, the first recorded appearance of a Persian lime was in California in 1875. It is believed to be a hybrid, grown from the seed of a citrus imported to San Francisco from Tahiti sometime during the middle of the 19th century. Also commonly called the Tahiti lime, the Persian lime is known botanically as Citrus latifolia "Miller." Persian limes are larger than the Mexican lime (C. aurantifolia), a selection known for its more intense lime flavor and aroma. They grow in tropical and subtropical areas around the world, with Mexico the largest commercial producer. Withhold fertilizer immediately after transplanting your Persian lime, until the tree begins active growth.

Granulated 6-6-6-2, 8-3-9 or 4-2-12 fertilizer
Citrus nutritional spray
Iron fertilizer, if needed

Instructions

- 1
  Apply 6-6-6-2, 8-3-9 or 4-2-12 granulated fertilizer in three to four separate applications during the tree's first year of life in your landscape, evenly spaced from March through September. Scatter 1/4 to 1/2 pound at the tree's root zone. Do not let the fertilizer granules touch the tree trunk.
- 2
  Fertilize during the tree's second and third years of life with the same fertilizer formulation, in the same manner -- spread 1/2 to 1 pound of fertilizer at the tree's root zone in three to four separate applications beginning in March and ending in September.
- 3
  Increase the amount of fertilizer per application during the tree's fourth year of life to 1 or 1 1/2 pounds. Continue applying this quantity two to three times, evenly spaced, from March through September.
- 4
  Apply 1 1/2 to 2 pounds of granulated fertilizer two to three times per year beginning in the tree's fifth year. Continue to apply fertilizer at this quantity in subsequent years.
- 5
  Spray the foliage with nutritional sprays specially formulated for citrus, containing minerals such as molybdenum, boron, manganese and magnesium. Spray the trees on two to four separate occasions from March to October.
- 6
  Feed with iron fertilizer, if needed, at anytime during the period from April through September.

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