How to Grow a Lime From a Frozen Seed

Growing lime trees from seed can be quite successful, but the results ultimately depend on a bit of luck. If the fruit from which the seeds were acquired was a hybrid variety, the resulting tree will sometimes fail to produce fruit. Even if it does produce fruit, the tree will not necessarily be identical to its parent, and the fruit may be significantly different from that of its parent plant as well. Since limes are adapted best to warm climates, the chances of successful germination of frozen seeds will be lower than seeds that have not been frozen. It is still possible, however, that these seeds will be productive.

Lime seeds
Tree-potting soil
Small planting pot
Large planting pot
Mixed fertilizer

Instructions

- 1
  Thaw the seeds in a dry area. Excess moisture from accumulated ice crystals can cause the seeds to rot. Once the seeds have thawed, rinse them and allow them to dry again.
- 2
  Fill a small pot with soil and plant the seeds no more than 1/2-inch deep. Water the soil so that it is moist but not soggy. If you are planting the tree outside, the best time to do this is early spring.
- 3
  Place the pot in a warm area with a lot of sunlight. If you keep the soil moist, the seeds will usually germinate in 10 to 14 days. If more than a month passes and your seeds still have not germinated, it is probable that the seeds have been damaged by freezing and will not grow.
- 4
  Once the seedling has reached 6 inches in height, transplant it to a larger pot. Continue to ensure that it obtains plenty of water and sunlight.
- 5
  Plant the tree in the ground when and if desired. No specific timeline for this step is required, as limes can be grown both in large pots and in the ground, but the tree should be growing robustly before transplantation. Wherever you keep it, ensure the tree is protected from cold (especially cold north winds) and is in a sunny location. If you plant the tree in the ground, ensure that the soil is well drained.
- 6
  Water the tree three times a week for about three weeks, and then reduce frequency to once or twice a week. The leaves will start to wilt if you are watering too little.
- 7
  Obtain fertilizer suitable for trees (in consultation with your local plant nursery). Apply 1/2 a pound of this fertilizer to the tree every six weeks, starting only after the tree has manifested its first seasonal growth. Continue this process for the first three years of the tree's life. If the tree produces fruit, it will not do so until it has been growing anywhere from three to 10 years.

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