Meyer lemon/lime trees in WI!
Several years ago I bought some dwarf lemon/lime trees from Home Depot knowing they were hybrids but also knowing that here with the cold WI winters, no citrus can survive outside. I got some really big containers, planted them and put them out on our then deck in Chicago and waited. Sure enougn I got enough that 1st year to keep me in gin and tonics haha. They are of course loaded with vitamin C and are now organic as the soil was replaced each year and we don't use chemicals.
Next year I bought 2 more so have 4 now. I bought them when they were 1/2 price at end of season - about $12/each. All have made it and they spend the summer outside and then I have to fully transplant them into clean bug free soil and keep them in the sunroom over winter. At this point the 1st two are fairly bushy, and about 3' tall. The newer ones are still filling in but one has 8 limes on it already at only 2' tall. Apparently they will get about 6' tall.
They still produce a lot over winter without any pollination from the bees of course and the flowers smell great.
I am going to research how to save the produce in some method next year when I will have enough at one time to maybe make lime curd or lime jam/jelly.
For now, I no longer need to buy limes!
One thing to be aware of is since they are 'hybrid' trees, you get offshoots that are not true to the plant. They will have thorns or some odd leaves. I just clip those back each winter and the trees seem fine, even stronger.
Ok just thought I would post this as I never thought I could grow these things inside over winter and get a crop.
