Seasonality

SparklesJD

Looking for a calamondin lime (aka calamondin orange, calamansi lime, musk lime or limoncito), which are grown as houseplants in the UK, and allegedly available to buy pretty-much anywhere.

I can't find any, except on Amazon and a couple of specialist online retailers, which have large specimens and seem quite expensive.

Do I just need to wait until later in the year? I can see that it would make sense for outdoor plants to be sold seasonally, but is it the case for some houseplants too?

Dovefromabove

Hi Sparkles

I've a feeling they're usually in the garden centres in the autumn/run up to Christmas - that is the main fruiting season for citrus so it's when they'll be looking at their best.

Why not contact these people and ask them?http://www.spaldingbulb.co.uk/product/calamondin-tree/

The contact details are under the Customer Service tab.

 

 

pansyface

My calamondin orange and Tahiti lime trees are both in flower now. I think garden centres will usually sell plants like these when they are in flower. I noticed the other day that the citrus trees at my local garden centre had "gone over" and were in the sale corner. I'd agree with Dove. I think they are quite pricey things and likely to be given as Christmas presents.

 

Are you sure that a calamondin lime exists? I've only ever seen the orange.

LeifUK

 I've noticed that plants tend to be available when they look their best which is as they flower. It makes sense, see a nice plant, and you buy it on impulse. 

Dovefromabove

But I think the calamondin are thought to look their best when they're covered with fruit

pansyface

Mine have both flowers and fruit now. The limes made a lovely marmalade last year and the calamondin make a good cake. 

Dovefromabove

This site (which I've never used so cannot vouch for) says they have them in stock from the beginning of September until the end of April https://www.gardencentrekoeman.co.uk/fruit-trees/citrus-mitis-calamondin.html

SparklesJD

Thanks all. I used to have one when I was a teenager and I loved it, then James Wong mentioned it in 'Homegrown Revolution' and I thought I'd get another one.

He says in Asia they eat them as limes rather than oranges.

Butterbear

We have them in the unheated greenhouse at the garden centre I work at, they've been there since I started in September, not sure if they stay in stock all year or not, its a small independent garden centre so maybe try one like that near you?