Fortunella margarita

Kumquat Oval, Kumquat Nagami

                                     
  ID#625
 
 

A large fruit tree if grown at a suitable Zone, I found this tree while picking strawberries with my sister at a  farm near Beaufort, NC . The tree, pruned  to accommodate a large pot was loaded with fruit, tiny oval oranges as if decorated with lights. A lovely addition to my Glasshouse/ citrus collection and a new preserve to try with whole the fruit, skin and all which is known for a tangy sweet flavor.


Also known as:

Citrus Japonica “Margarita”

HEIGHT X SPREAD: 12 ft x 9 ft 
Prune frequently to to control size in container.

PLANT TYPE: Tropical evergreen fruit tree
Hardy to 14 F degrees

GROWTH RATE: Moderate
TEXTURE: bold
LIGHT: Full sun

WATER: medium

SOIL: average- slight acidic, organic
As observed in Coastal NC.

BLOOMS: white fragrant flowers in spring

FRUIT  AND  SEED:  1”-2”  long oval  orange fruit. Flavor os skin is sweet and a bit bitter resembling of orange. Entire fruit, skin and all makes good preserves.


KEY FEATURES: The fruit display makes for a handsome tree. vigorous grower requires pruning to maintaing size in container.
A year cycle in the life of ...... at Mooring Hitch
Plants is not a dwarf kind, requires frequent pruning to maintain size. This tree type in the growers market is usually grafted on Poncirus trifoliata as they do not do well in their own root. 

Place outdoors in full sun during summer months.
-Fertilize with acid loving combo ( 30-10-10)
-Plant perish during winter after glasshouse flooded with 4 1/2 feet of brackish water from hurricane august 2011.

Notes: plant may have survived if I had replace the soil with fresh. Recovered soil stay wet/moist and compact. I believe the light airy component of the soil floated away. Plant flower and fruited often, I will consider it again.
          Mooring Hitch Gardens       
 

June 2012

Additional Information: Nursery/farm near Beaufort, NC

May  2011