On 1/2/07 23:54, in article
, "Jeff Taylor"
wrote:

Dave Poole wrote:


Not wishing to have a dig ;-) but ironically I'm sitting in front of
the screen, sipping a glass of Shirnoff that has several chunks of
lime floating with the ice . Nothing unusual about that, but before I
poured the 'snifter', I popped outside to pick the lime and there are
plenty more on the bush for future forays into ethyl oblivia!


Dave, I'm sure your garden exists in a parallel universe not connected
to this one ;-)

It's real, honest - we've seen it! And it's wonderful.
snip

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/
(remove weeds from address)

Jeff Taylor wrote:

Dave, I'm sure your garden exists in a parallel universe not connected
to this one ;-)

Well I've been accused of living in another universe and occasionally
in a different time-warp, but the garden is firmly tucked away in the
Torquay of the same planet that most (but by no means all) who
contribute here inhabit. I do 'daft' things to see if they are
possible and am often surprised when they work. This year, a stag's
horn fern (Platycerium bifurcatum) sitting in my utility room and a
chunky 'Cheese plant' (Monstera deleciosa) presently set aside at Ray
and Sacha's are due to go out. The Platycerium will be mounted on a
tree fern and the Monstera will nestle beneath. The fronds of the
tree fern will provide overhead cover on clear winter nights so their
chances of survival are good. 'Dafter' things are planned, but I'll
keep them to myself for the moment.

Do you happen to know what variety of lime it is?

Actually it is a hybrid of the a West Indian Lime and a kumquat,
raised many moons ago in Florida and still quite popular there. It is
known as a 'Limequat' and serves as a lime when green and unripe or a
lemon when yellow and fully ripe. The fruts are small, plum-shaped,
of excellent quality and produced in quite large quantities. It
flowers throughout much of the year whenever there's a few days of
decent weather In the UK (or at least here on the south coast) it
'flushes' several times from late spring onwards, producing a
succession of fruits. Elsewhere it's an excellent subject for a cold/
frost free greenhouse. If you can get hold of one, you must try it -
you will not be disappointed.

I have a 'lime' tree that I bought in Florida about 10 years ago.
It flowers regularly each winter but the flowers always drop :-(
I'd love a lime tree that would actually set fruit (in conservatory)

Quite a few limes are very tender and susceptible to both cold and
arid conditions. They often react to dry or cold night air by
dropping embryonic fruits. Most prefer it warm and humid.

Also, Have you heard of Lemon Eureka?
It's available from T&M for £50 :-O but is supposedly hardy to -10oC

Yes and it's rather more reliable than Meyers, which has always been
considered to be the hardiest of lemons, but often a bit finnicky with
regard to keeping it growing well. 'Eureka' is very widely grown and
you've probably eaten it or had a slice of one in your G&T before now
- especially down in the Med. Well worth having and a relatively easy
'doer'. 50 quid seems very steep though - you should be able to get a
fruiting sized plant on a citrange stock for much less than that. I
wouldn't pay more than 20 - 30 quid for one so it might be an idea to
hunt around. Let's face it T & M have never been known for making
bargain offers. They were expensive 30 years ago and they ain't
likely to change now ;-)

I'm thinking of buying it for the conservatory.

It should do very well with you and will carry several flushes of
flower and fruit each year.

Good to see you back here - I find your knowledge and advice invaluable!

Thanks Jeff, since Christmas it has become more comfortable to read
this NG again. Being an 'old stager' for well over 10 years, I prefer
this to other groups provided tantrums, rudenessm and spitefulness are
kept to a minimum.