Kumquats

[Carl]

Just wondering if anyone has any words of wisdom on Kumquats. About 5 or 6 months ago I bought a load of the fruit cheaply (makes a great relish) and sowed some of the seeds. I now have about 40 seedlings that are mostly doing well - the biggest are about 4 inches, the smallest barely an inch, I have recently repotted them using a mixture of ericaceous compost and sharp sand in 10x10cm square pots - the larger ones seem to appreciate the extra space and have sent out new growth. I was wondering if anyone has any ideas on how long before they may fruit, how likely that the seed will come true and how big they may end up - also I'm a bit worried about temperature as our house is not particularly warm in winter and I don't know how hardy the seedlings might be - they are currently scattered around the various windowsills both north and south facing.

[Flummery]

Welcome to the grape vine Carl. I know many people grow fruit from pips with varying degrees of success. As to whether your kumquats will come true I couldn't say. It depends on the variety with these things. You can't lose by trying though. I would try one or two plants in each room. They may not mind if it gets cold. Oranges were grown in an orangery which was a sort of posh greenhouse and taken out for the summer. I know some grapes have grown lemons from pips - I'm sure someone can give you advice from experience.

[SarzWix]

Welcome to the Grapevine Carl
A Google search found the following;
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/kumquat.html
which might help?

[Carl]

Thanks for the link - I'd missed that in my own searches - a very useful site

cheers!

[veg4681]

Hi Carl,

I bought one many years ago as a small bush (about 20 inches high) with quite a fair bit of fruits on them from a garden centre. I paid quite a fair bit too around £18-£20 (can't remember exactly) but it's long dead.

If I had looked after it, it might have survived. I think best to bring indoor during the wintry season...which of course I didn't (or there must be other ways you're bound to find out). I wasn't so very committed into gardening then. Good luck, it's worth it because you can get the fruits, even though they're citrus type of fruits that you imagine growing in warmer countries.

[Polly Fouracre]

All I know of them is that they are delicious dipped in good,plain chocolate.

[momol]

Hi Carl,

Sorry being late for your thread but you seems to have some idea about it by now. I grow them too ( elongated fruit and the giant fruit type ) when we were in Singapore, they fruit like crazy all year round. I had to give him away when we move back to Europe.
I later on got 1 small plant, around 0.5 m tall (it was a X-mas present from 2 years ago ),it overwinter very well and if you can provide them southern facing window it will be great but west facing is also ok. Don't over water them during winter, they will stay dormant (most of the leaves will stay ever green). As yours are from seeds, they will take some years to reach maturity as they grow pretty slow ( reckon 3 years or more ). You can trim them to your desire shape during autumn. They love slightly acidic soil, rich in organic and well drain ( gritty vulcanic soil is the best ).I fertilize mine with citrus fertilizer and once a year, I change their pot to the bigger size ( during early spring ).
Hope it help.

Momol

[Flummery]

All I know of them is that they are delicious dipped in good,plain chocolate.

Ohh! Isn't everything?
(OK maybe not mackerel! )

[Carl]

thanks for all the advice, if any good comes of them I'll let everyone know