sandy0225

I have a Eustis limequat tree, more like a plant really, 3 feet tall with several limequats about the size of a golf ball. They are starting to get slightly yellow. Does that mean they are ripe?
The smaller ones are still darker green.

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Sandy Burrell



Northern Tropics Greenhouse
1501 East Fuson Road
Muncie, IN 47302
www.northerntropics.com


specializing in bananas, heirloom tomatoes and water gardening plants~
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The Hollyberry Lady

Richard

If you want the lime flavor -- pick them green. Otherwise, wait until they are yellow-orange for a distinctive and somewhat sweeter flavor.

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sandy0225

Thanks for your response, Richard!
They're a cross between a key lime and a kumquat. They look just like a key lime. thorns and all. Since the largest fruits are starting to yellow, I guess they'd be sweeter. Supposedly you can eat the whole thing peel and all. I'll let you know.
It's only about 2.5 feet tall or maybe 3. I'll take a picture tomorrow when I'm out goofing around in the greenhouse.

__________________
Sandy Burrell



Northern Tropics Greenhouse
1501 East Fuson Road
Muncie, IN 47302
www.northerntropics.com


specializing in bananas, heirloom tomatoes and water gardening plants~
check out our new online store at our website!

Richard

In the previous century, Limequats were bred as an intermediate step to obtaining a Lime hybrid that cropped multiple times per year. From those we have the well-known multi-cropping Lime varieties sold commercially today. Limequats have also been intentionally and unintentionally bred over the centuries. An outstanding cultivar is "Tavares".

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Caloosamusa

I used to grow them in Central Florida. Like a Persian Lime, or a Key Lime, you can harvest them at various times of ripeness, depending on how tart you desire the juice to be. I grew them about 18 miles from where they were developed. They are are great fruit for "marginally cold" areas where it is too cold to grow limes.

Epicatt2

Limequats, first bred back in 1909, fortunately proved to be like a more cold tolerant version of the Key Lime.

Unhappily a fully mature Key Lime tree, even at six-feet tall, will freeze to the ground at 32ºF & won't come back afterwards.

But a Limequat, mentioned earlier on, is a hybrid of the Key Lime & the Kumquat & is cold tolerant down into the low- to mid-20s, whoopee!

A small Limequat tree, even in a 5-gallon container, can be very productive once established. I use the juice to make limeade or to add to iced- or hot tea.

I picked my largest fruit which were starting to show some yellow. They are continuing to ripen on the kitchen table and 2 days later are almost all yellow now.

I guess for the other, green ones I will just leave them on the tree 'til they're mostly yellow before picking them.

My Limequat is the 'Eustis' cultivar (not 'Lakeland') in a 2 gallon pot & only 18-inches tall, but has at least a dozen and a half fruit set on it right now, plus it's in bloom again!

OK — Hope this is helpful for the OP in Muncie.

Cheers!

Paul M.
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Who's hoping his Double Mahoi banana will fruit earlier this year before the cool temps in November set in & stops the fruit from finishing their ripening process.
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