Finger Lime
Common Name
Finger Lime
Australian Finger Lime
Caviar Lime
A small shrub
Belonging to the citrus family
Native to
Subtropical rainforests
Of Australia
Its fruits are edible
And it is currently
Being developed
As a promising
Commercial crop
The shrub is medium-sized
With relatively small leaves
And thorny branches
It produces white flowers
During summer
The flowers are smaller
Than those of other citrus species
The tree begins fruiting
After 3 to 5 years
If grafted
Onto another rootstock
And after 4 to 6 years
If grown from seed
The fruits are slender and long
They resemble fingers
The peel color at full maturity
May be black
Purple
Or red
Depending on the variety
The pulp consists of
Small juice-filled vesicles
Resembling caviar pearls
The flavor is distinctive
And slightly different
From other citrus fruits
Harvest season begins
From November
Until March
The shrub requires
Full sun exposure
And well-drained soil
Planting should be avoided
In areas exposed
To strong winds
And in locations
Subject to severe frost
It is preferable
To plant it
With sufficient space
And avoid crowding it
With trees that have
Strong root systems
As this reduces
Its growth rate
Finger lime can be grown
In containers
In this case
Good drainage
Is essential
Along with regular fertilization
It is necessary
To replace the potting soil
In spring
Every two
To three years
The shrub should be watered
When the soil dries
While avoiding waterlogging
Keeping in mind
That container-grown plants
Dry out faster
Than those grown in the ground
It should be fertilized regularly
During the growing season
Especially
When grown in pots
With attention
To supplying
Micronutrients
The canopy should be pruned
Annually
To remove dry
Or overlapping branches
And to open the center
Of the shrub
To improve light
And air circulation
Care should be taken
During pruning
Due to the sharp thorns
