Large Kumquat

Looking after your Kumquat

This citrus tree has both tasty fruit and fragrant flowers – sometimes both at once. It is a kumquat (Citrus japonica) and it bears sweet scented white flowers and distinctive orange fruit. It can bring pleasure for years, with the right care.

This plant loves light and warmth even more than other citrus varieties. Near a window in a bright cool room or conservatory is best. Try to keep your plant away from any radiators or cold draughts which may shock your plant. A cool room is fine, but a draughty porch or a frosty conservatory is not. If your plant gets below 5ºC it will suffer.

Water thoroughly from the top when the soil starts to look dry and let the excess water drain away. You might find it needs watering almost every day when it is hot in the summer but as little as once a fortnight in winter. It will depend on the weather and how warm your room is. The roots should not stand in water. The best way to judge whether your plant needs watering is to get used to the right weight for the watered pot.

In the heat of summer your plant will appreciate a holiday. Put it outside on a sheltered patio and it will enjoy the fresh air. Bring it back inside when there is a nip in the evening air. Don’t worry if the soil feels dry on top - the most common cause of problems is watering too frequently in the winter months when the plant is resting.

The fruit and the peel of this exotic fruit are both edible raw, the more sunlight they receive the sweeter they will grow. The oval orange fruit are great on their own, in drinks or in desserts.

Problem solving

Sudden changes in the environment, under or over watering can all cause leaf drop however with a return to regular watering and a stable temperature they will usually recover well.

Mouldy fruit or flowers is a sign that your plant is either overwatered or in too damp a spot, try a sunnier position and leaving longer between watering.