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citrus: kumquat

Member profile details

PLANT PROFILE SHEET PDF

http://leafnetworkaz.org:80/resources/PLANT%20PROFILES/Citrus_Kumquat_profile.pdf

IDENTIFICATION

Common Name

citrus: kumquat

Photo #1

Scientific Name

Fortunella japonica (Thunb.)Swingle; Fortunella margarita Lour.; Fortunella crassifolia Swingle; Fortunella obovata Tanaka

Family

Rutaceae

Spanish Name

naranja china

Species Description

Kumquat are grown for their small, sweet-tart fruit that may be eaten completely with the rind. The rind is usually sweeter than the acidic flesh. Kumquats have a compact, low-moderate growth habit, and may reach only 8-15 feet tall and 5-10 feet wide. They have a long winter dormancy period, and though not technically a citrus, are considered to be among the most cold-hardy of the citrus, frost tolerant to 10ºF. The trees prefer sunny, open areas to reach full height and production. Leaves are dark green, simple, alternate, glossy. Sweetly fragrant flowers are 5 borne singly or 1 to 4 together in the leaf axils. Fruits are oval-oblong or round with green to yellow to red-orange peels and light orange inner flesh in 3-6 segments that contain few seeds.

NATURAL / CULTURAL HISTORY

AZ Native or Introduced

Introduced to Arizona

Natural Range

Native to east Asia to southern China.

Cultural-Historic Notes

Native to east Asia to southern China. They were introduced to Europe in 1846, and shortly thereafter into North America. Kumquats are cultivated in China, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, Japan, the Middle East, Europe (notably Corfu, Greece), and the southern United States.

GROWTH FORM & RATE

Growth Form

Tree

Tree or Understory

Tree

Growth Rate

Slow-moderate

Canopy Diameter

5-10 feet

Tree Height

10-15 feet

Lifespan

50+ years

Years to Bearing, if nursery tree is 1-2 years old; grafted

1-2 years

Chill Hours

None required

Freeze Tolerance

Among the most cold hardy of the citrus, frost tolerant to 10 degrees F. They have a long winter dormancy period.

Site, Micro-Climate, and Growing Considerations

Prefers sunny, open areas.

Appropriate Arizona Elevation Categories

MID DESERT: Tucson, Ajo, Safford, Casa Grande - USDA Zones 9a-9b (20-30ºF)
LOW DESERT: Phoenix, Lake Havasu City, Yuma - USDA Zones 9b-10a (25-35ºF)

USDA Interactive Plant Zone Map for Arizona

USDA Interactive Plant Zone Map for Arizona

WATER

Relative Plant Water Use

High: 35-60 inches / year

Post-Establishment Irrigation Needs

2 X Month in Growing Season

CARE

Pollination

Insect pollinated.

Soils

Grows in a variety of soils from light sandy to heavy clay, prefers moist and well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. Kumquats are prone to zinc deficiencies, which results in smaller leaves.

Propagation

Can be grown by seed, but to preserve cultivar, graft cuttings onto hardy rootstock. In China and Japan, they are grafted onto the trifoliate orange.

Pest & Disease Control

Kumquats are prone to spider mites, white flies, scale insects, citrus viruses, stem blights, leaf spot, and root rot.

Pruning Notes

Citrus trees should be trained to a suitable shape with open center. Three objectives: increase total leaf area, improve airflow through canopy, and increase light to branches. Proper training keeps tree the correct size for ease of care and harvest. Remove long, vigorous upright shoots to control tree size. Dead and crossing branches should be removed. Watersprouts should be removed from the base of the tree, as should branches that touch the ground. Prune citrus in January and February. When pruning, cut all limbs flat to the branch at the point of attachment.

HARVEST & PROCESSING

Edible Parts

The whole fruit, including the rind is eaten raw, cooked, or candied, and can be used in jellies, marmalades, and preserves or as a flavouring. It is best to first squeeze and massage the fruit in order to combine the flavours of the flesh and the rind. After ripening the fruit gradually loses water content, becomes richer in flavour and is then best for making preserves. Fruit is rich in pectin. Kumquats are typically harvested from November to April in the northern hemisphere.

Harvest Months

January
February
March
April
May
December

Harvest and Processing Guide

Harvest and Processing Guide

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PO Box 65122, Phoenix, Arizona 85082-5122

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This website and other LEAF Network products shown here was prepared under the Diverse Urban Forest grant, WCG 14-501, administered by the Arizona Community Tree Council. Funds for this project were provided by the Urban and Community Forestry Financial Assistance Program administered through Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management – Urban and Community Forestry Program and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service. In accordance with Federal law and USDA policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability (Not all prohibited basis applies to all programs). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.