Large Limequat Tree

This little tree has both tasty fruit and fragrant flowers – sometimes both at once. It is a cross between a lemon and a kumquat, also known as a ‘Limonella’. The fruit is smaller but tastes very similar to a lime with a sweet edible rind and is great for flavouring cooked dishes or slicing in cold drinks.

Citrus trees need lots of direct light throughout the day and are best kept next to a window, skylight or patio door. As soon as the frosts have passed your limequat will enjoy being outside in full sun but needs to come back inside as soon as the temperatures are close to 5 degrees Celsius. Try to keep your plant away from cold draughts and a heating source.

These potted citrus need regular watering, but it is important not to let the roots get waterlogged. Once the top of the soil is dry to the touch, remove the pot from inside its basket or container. Water thoroughly from the top until excess water drains right through the pot and out of the bottom. It is important to allow it to drain for a while too as citrus hate sitting in water. If the leaves start to droop or curl you know it is thirsty, so water straight away. You will need to water much less in winter.

Citrus trees will benefit from being fed every fortnight from October to March with winter citrus feed, and weekly from April to September with summer citrus feed. Limequats grow quite slowly; if you need to, only repot in the spring, and only go up one pot size at a time, i.e. If your tree is in a 5-litre pot, repot into a 6-litre pot. Ensure you use a plant container with holes in the bottom for good drainage. As a general rule they flower in spring and fruits ripen in the winter. The fruits are ready to harvest when they turn yellow and are slightly sweeter than limes with an edible rind.

Problem Solving

The most common problem with a limequat is leaves dropping due to over or under watering. If a few leaves are falling regularly the plant is being overwatered, on the contrary a mass leaf drop indicates underwatering. A return to a consistent watering routine should help your plant recover, but in severe cases it may be necessary to cut off any dead growth and be patient while it recovers.

Our limequat trees are grown in a pesticide free environment. In the unlikely event that you find pests e.g. aphids these can be removed by hand or with a soap and water spray.