Friday, June 18, 2010

Kaffir Lime Blossoms

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I'm really fascinated by my potted Kaffir lime tree at the moment. This is the first time it has flowered since I purchased it a year and a half ago. The buds have shades of hot pink, and as the petals open up, they stay interestingly cupped. Hopefully some of the fruits will set this year. From what I've seen on other blogs and sites, the fruit itself looks pretty wacky - the outer skin is wrinkled making them resemble little green brains.

I am a bit ashamed to admit that I have never harvested any of the leaves to cook with. Maybe I should make a point of doing so soon. They add an interesting lime flavor to stir-fries and soups and are very popular in Thai and Indian cooking.

Temperatures are supposed to get into the 90's here during the next few days. Hopefully, the warm weather crops will enjoy it. The peas on the other hand will start to melt away...such is the nature of things as summer fast approaches.

Happy growing everyone!

13 comments:

  1. Citrus blooms are so beautiful and usually smell just heavenly. Very beautiful flower on that lime.

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  2. How lovely.

    Still weird to see the word out in the open, even though I know it's perfectly proper - it was a horrible racial epithet in South Africa (still is).

    I have a yummy recipe for a South African, Malay-influenced marinade for braaied lamb chops which includes lime leaves, onion, milk, and chutney (!). Makes them unspeakably delicious. Except very hard to find lime leaves around here.

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  3. Thomas if you need another great citrus tree, I highly recommend the Bearss Lime. Mine produces regularly and I move it inside in the winter to a south-facing window. It fares much better than my anemic looking Meyers Lemon.

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  4. You were very patient with this tree. Year and half is a long time to wait for first flower, especially with plants in pots. But it was worth it - flower is lovely.

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  5. That is pretty. I'll be interested to hear how you like the fruit. I think the leaves have a much nicer flavor.

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  6. These are beautiful. I dont think it would grow in the uk and ive only seen the dried leaves so its amazing to see them like this.

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  7. OK...you have convinced me! I guess "The Italian" is going to have a lemon and a lime tree in his office....in the winter

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  8. Yes, kaffir limes look very funny, all warty. I like the leaves mostly, and I don't use them much in my cooking either, so I didn't plant a tree, but a container might be the way to go...

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  9. A lovely plant, I'm with michelle, I prefer the scent of the leaves over the fruit, sometimes I just crust some leaves and let the scent flow through the kitchen or bathroom. I was told to harvest the leaves occasionally otherwise you won't get new leaf growth.

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  10. This sounds like an interesting tree I haven't heard of. Is it a dwarf plant?

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