- 1). Select an unblemished, ripe (yellow) key lime fruit in the late fall or early winter. Peel it.
- 2). Open the fruit into segments, using your fingers. One segment at a time, squish the fruit with your fingers until the seeds come out.
- 3). Wash the seeds in cool water, after placing a stopper at the bottom of the sink (so you won't accidentally loose seeds down the drain).
- 4). Drop the seeds in a glass filled with cool water. Allow them to soak for about 24 hours.
- 5). Place the seeds on several layers of paper towels. Cover the seeds with several additional layers paper towels. Be sure the seeds aren't touching each other.
- 6). Sprinkle water over the paper towels. The towels should be damp, but not soggy.
- 7). Place the paper towels (containing the seeds) in a sandwich bag. Do not seal the bag.
- 8). Set the bag on a warm window sill or other location that receives indirect sunlight. For best results, keep the seeds at a constant temperature of 75 to 85 degrees F, using a seed warming mat (available at gardening centers).
- 9). Check the seeds ever day, adding water to the paper towels when they begin drying. Again, the towels should stay moist, not soggy.
- 10
Sterilize some pots when seedlings appear. To do this, wash the pots in warm water and soap and rinse well. - 11
Fill each pot with a one part loam, one part sand and one part peat. Water well and allow to drain. - 12
Transplant the seedlings into the pots, filling in around the seed-roots with additional potting mix. - 13
Place some gravel in a bowl and barely cover it with water. Set the pots with the seedlings in them inside this bowl. Place in a warm location that receives bright, indirect sunlight and keep the water level constant in the gravel-bowl. - 14
Move the key lime seedlings outdoors in the spring when the outside temperatures will not drop to 50 degrees F or less. Begin by placing them in part shade. Slowly ease them into full sun.
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