Australian Finger Limes

[DumbFalang]

A couple of years back I started on a quest to grow Australian Finger Limes in Thailand. It's been slow progress and although last year we had flowers, we did not get any fruit. This year the flowers have turned to small fruit and have managed to remain on the trees after the hottest part of the year and a couple of recent storms...

 

 

 

It's all a learning curve and I am growing on a mixture of Flying Dragon, Troyer and local Pomelo to find out how they perform.

 

We are also growing in different locations to find out how the climate effects growth. I am growing in Chiang Mai and a 'friend farm' has 500 trees in Kampang Phet. Another 'friend farm' is starting in Lampang (another 500 I think).

 

I'd be interested to hear from anyone who is growing in Thailand or has grown anywhere else in the past. If anyone has experience grafting them, then you need to become my best friend ;-)

[IsaanAussie]

Hands up anyone who hasn't been tempted by finger limes, economically at least. Consider yourselves crossed off the list, LOL.

If you DF, or anyone who contacts you, has the secret, mark me down on the required mates list. 

[DumbFalang]

Yes, there's certainly an exciting market out there and I already have a queue of companies in Thailand and a few other countries waiting for whatever I can produce. We have had a bit of luck with Papuana, but it's just not the same....

 

 

I have a small number of rootstock and trees at my Mums in the UK but even though fruit costs Bt15000 per kilo in Harrads, I don't think I'll be able to produce any over there (especially where I'm from in rainy Manchester). Could easily sell trees either direct or through garden centres, but as I have no interest in spending any time in the UK, it's all just an experiment.

[fruitman]

I can graft finger lime, mine is growing on pomelo rootstock..It never bloomed since 2 years.

 

[JungleBiker]

Hi DF,  I noted earlier that you have a website selling finger lime trees - where are they shipped from? I'd never heard of them before. What climatic conditions do they prefer? 

JB.

[DumbFalang]

Fruitman: Most people over here grow on Pomelo but I have yet to hear about any fruit on them. Let me know if you ever get to Chiang Mai and we may be able to work something out.

 

JungleBiker: Everything is shipped from our Nursery in Chiang Mai. They can grow in a wide range of climates but anything close to Queensland Australia's climate is a good starting point. Anywhere in Thailand is fine.

[fruitman]

Pomelo rootstock likes a load of fertilizers but i don't see any effect on the grafted fingerlime which is on pomelo roots.

 

I have never seen a fingerlime fruit in my life, do i have to grow it in full sun all days or only half days? Mine gets half days now.

 

Would like to taste one after eating miracle fruit first.

[DumbFalang]

Some growers say full sun but they tend to grow in 'dappled' sunlight in their natural environment. On mine, flowering has been triggered at the hottest time of the year when the plants have been in full sun, so they can definitely handle it.