Fruits · Hard
Kumquat
Fortunella margarita (syn. Citrus japonica)
Tub of well-draining growing medium, outdoors in summer, bright sunroom in winter; the hardiest citrus in a pot.
- EC (mS/cm)
- n/a
- pH
- n/a
- Cycle
- perennial
- Difficulty
- Hard
Sound origin
Fortunella margarita (syn. Citrus japonica)
The kumquat (genus Fortunella, now often included in Citrus) grows wild in China. Its fruit is eaten fresh and whole, or cooked into compote and candied.
Source: Wikipedia
What it provides nutrients
Per 100 g, raw · Kumquat, seedless, raw
- Rich in vitamin C
- Source of fiber
% of an adult’s reference intake (EU Regulation 1169/2011). “Source of”: at least 15 % per 100 g, “high in”: at least 30 % (thresholds of EC Regulation 1924/2006).
Key steps
- The most cold-hardy citrus along with poncirus: down to -12 °C (10 °F) when fully dormant in the ground (University of Florida); in a pot, the roots are far more vulnerable to frost.
- Only grows in warmth: it stays semi-dormant from late fall to spring (University of Florida) and drinks little during that time.
- One of the citrus trees recommended for indoors (University of Minnesota): around 18 °C (64 °F) during the day, a little cooler at night, direct sun.
- In hydroponics: free-draining growing-medium tub, light solution from April to September, moved outdoors for summer with a gradual transition.
- Shake the flowers indoors for pollination; watch for mealybugs and mites.
- The fruit is eaten whole, skin and all: the skin is sweet, the pulp tart.
In which system?
| Tower | NFT | Growing medium | Kratky |
|---|---|---|---|
Approximate calendar
| Sowing | none |
| Plants | Apr., May |
| Harvest | Jan., Feb., Nov., Dec. |
Garden, patio, balcony: Belgian and northern French climate, earlier farther south. Estimates to adjust with your own dates.
Frequently asked questions
Kumquat in hydroponics: what pH?
No specific range is published for this crop in the Oklahoma State table: we do not force an unverified figure. Start from the common range of 5.5–7.0 and write down your results.
Kumquat in hydroponics: what EC?
Oklahoma State has published no value for this crop. Start low, watch the growth and record your measurements in a log.
Kumquat: which hydroponic system?
Best suited: growing medium (Dutch bucket). Free-draining growing medium tub, outdoors in summer, bright sunroom in winter; the hardiest citrus for containers.
Kumquat: when to set out plants in Belgium?
Start from plants, set out in April and May (garden, patio or balcony, Belgium or northern France).
- L. K. Jackson and T. R. Fasulo, University of Florida IFAS, Cold Hardy Citrus, HS-123, 1994
- University of Minnesota Extension, Growing citrus indoors