Small, oval and eaten whole, skin and all, the fruits of the kumquat (Fortunella japonica) ripen on an evergreen shrub of 6 to 13 feet. It is the rare citrus that needs no peeling, but it only crops in full sun, and the first frost brings the fruit down.
| Name | Fortunella japonica |
|---|---|
| Family | Rutaceae (Rue family) |
| Type | fruit shrub |
| Foliage | evergreen |
| Height | 6 to 13 feet (2 to 4 meters) |
| Exposure | full sun |
| Harvest | late autumn to midwinter |
The planting, repotting, care, watering and pruning of kumquat are steps to take to grow a very nice plant.
Most often, kumquat is grown in pots as a beautiful houseplant. In mild climates, you can grow it outdoors and harvest fruits!
It is recommended to plant kumquat in a blend of soil mix preferably enriched with fertilizer.
An ideal solution is to pour in a layer of gravel, clay pebbles or rocks. This ensures excess water drains well to the bottom.
Make this layer about 1 to 2 inches (3 to 4 cm) thick.
Anticipate repotting in a pot that is slightly larger than the previous every 2 or 3 years on average.
It will only grow directly in the ground in Mediterranean-type climates or tropical climates.
Although it has been seen to resist temperatures as low as 17°F (-8°C) and even 14°F (-10°C), it must necessarily be planted under wind shelter and in full sun.
In which case, mix soil mix into your garden soil and ensure that your soil drains well.
If it doesn’t drain well, dig a hole that is slightly deeper, and layer gravel, rocks, sand or clay pebbles along the bottom.
It isn’t really necessary to prune it.
To rebalance the silhouette of your kumquat, prune lightly in spring after the harvest, or just after repotting if it is a potted specimen.
You can also input citrus plant fertilizer during the entire growing phase.
In winter, if you fear particularly strong freezing and it is grown in a pot, bring it in a cool and well-lit room where it never freezes.
Although the kumquat can resist to freezing temperatures, its fruits will fall with the first frost.
Indoors, water regularly but not too much as soon as the soil is dry.
In winter, space the watering in order to let the soil dry up deep down before watering again.
Kumquat is a small fruit shrub that bears edible fruit, and, which is rare for a citrus, the entire fruit is edible.
Indeed, not only the flesh but also the skin of the kumquat is edible.
Indoors and in a pot, simply set it in a well-lit spot but avoid direct sunlight during the hottest hours.
In winter, it needs relatively lower temperatures and would not resist the heat inside a house or apartment. Ideally you’d find a luminous room for it where the temperature won’t drop below freezing. A greenhouse or lean-in would be perfect, for instance.
Kumquat can be grown as a potted plant almost anywhere, but it only fruits outdoors year-round in warm climates. The table sums up what each situation asks of you.
| Situation | Climate needed | Where to place it | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pot kept indoors | Any climate | Well-lit spot, out of direct sun at the hottest hours | Space out watering and let the soil dry deep down |
| Pot brought under cover for winter | Cold winters with hard frost | Outdoors in full sun in summer | Cool, luminous room that never drops below freezing |
| Planted in the ground | Mediterranean-type or tropical | Full sun, sheltered from wind, free-draining soil | Fruits fall with the first frost |
Whichever situation you choose, regular citrus fertilizer during the growing phase is what drives flowering and fruit.
Regular adding of citrus plant fertilizer will greatly increase blooming and fruit formation of your kumquat.
