With the right filth and feeding docket , the proper stool , some trade protection from the cold , and a sunny indoor windowpane or patio , any urban gardener can successfully grow citrus in container year - round . In fact , many citrus and dwarf citrus kind bloom , efflorescence or yield in the colder months , happily chirk up up many a disconsolate winter .
Just about any variety of citrus yield tree diagram will grow promptly in a container — for some clip at least . level-headed specimens often outgrow their containers within a few years and will involve larger accommodations to extend to thrive . The urban nurseryman ’s best bet for container citrous fruit achiever is to begin with dwarf or other varieties desirable for the confines of a pot . Here are some seek - and - true cultivar pure for container or indoor horticulture — or both .
1. Calamondin (includes Variegated Calamondin)
grow more as an ornamental than a rightful citrus tree diagram , the calamondin ’s soft - skinned orange yield is pretty and edible with a high-pitched dot content . An excellent container variety — for awhile , anyway — the calamondin ( pictured above ) does best outdoors with covered protection and is one of the hardiest varieties , hold temperatures as humbled as 20 degrees F.
2. Australian Finger Lime
Technically a citrous fruit - relative , the Australian Finger lime ( pictured aois a prickly plant that produces an unusual fruit : The lime hydrate are oblong in shape ( hence the “ Finger ” in the name ) , with slender skin and contain pallid yellow vesicle , lending to the soubriquet “ Caviar Citrus . ” The lime - same flavor is great in drinks , marmalade , sauce , jams and chutneys .
3. Dwarf Bearss Seedless Lime
hand down , one of the good indoor citrus varieties useable to home growers , the fruits of the Dwarf Bearss seedless lime are rather large and mature in tardy winter to former spring . This tree makes an excellent container and patio plant and is felicitous to show off its dark - greenish evergreen plant leaves in a bushy , glossy signifier with its large and heavy - bearing fruit that is great for cooking and beverages .
4. Improved Meyer Lemon
The Meyer lemon is arguably the most popular citrus fruit to turn in container , and most initiate have great success with this variety . Meyers bear sweet , aureate yield most prolifically in the winter , but are known for their tendency to fruit year - round . This bon vivant stinker has a frail peel and a delicious smack .
5. Kieffer (Kaffir) Lime
Also sleep with as Makrut , the Kieffer lime ’s leaves and fruit succus and zestfulness are noted for their software in Thai , Indonesia and Cambodian cuisines . The yield is dark green with a bumpy grain , about the sizing of a Western calcined lime and incredibly fragrant . This is a great container yield for the urban gardener and abode chef .
6. Kumquat
The kumquat is a small , fresh ( but tart ) orange fruit that has lenient , edible flesh . The trees are evergreens native to China , and like several other citrus sort , are ego - fertile , so you may prefer to only grow one plant life . They ’re tolerant of cool conditions , as well . Kumquat industrial plant are outstanding in container , but do n’t do well once root - bound , so maintenance should be use up to repot when needed .
7. Minneola Tangelo
The Minneola tangelo is a tangerine - Citrus paradisi cross that produces a adorable tangerine - like yield with a deep orange - red chromaticity . Its fruit ripens in winter with very few seeds . Another lovely and adaptable container variety , the Minneola tangelo can be successful indoors or out .
8. Owari Satsuma Mandarin Orange
This multifariousness ’s deep - orangish , seedless fruit peel easily , taste rattling and contrasts beautifully with the works ’s dark - green evergreen plant leave of absence . While it is the most cold-blooded Oliver Hardy of mandarin varieties , the Owari Satsuma does best in clime where summers are mild . It is best to pick the early ripen fruit before the first frost in November or December ; thankfully , it hive away well .
9. Wekiwa Tangelo
Despite deal a name with the Minneola tangelo , the yield of the Wekiwa most tight resemble the pinkish grapefruit , but is largely remindful of the tangerine in flavor with only a small mite of grapefruit . Growers find the Wekiwa juicy and sweet . This loan-blend does well in pots with prudent and diligent pruning .
10. Yuzu (Japanese Citron)
The Yuzu fruit is beloved for its fragrance and tartness that retains its savor during cookery . The fruit itself is dark yellow with a chunky grain , and the zest is coveted because of the extremely aromatic rind . This thorny plant ’s exceeding cold hardiness — down to temperature as low as 5 to 10 degrees farad — build it an appealing citrus fruit to grow , but experience it to blossom can be dispute for novice growers . Still , many gardener find it is well worth the travail .
Few container fruit are as rewarding and beautiful to give care for as citrus . While their needs are unique , many growers ascertain that their hard work and attentiveness to their plants is worth it when reward with sweetened , tiny , tart fruits from their own household .


Australian Finger Lime. Photo by Malcolm Manners/Flickr

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