What Are the Best Tips for Growing Kumquat Trees?

A kumquat is a small round fruit resembling an orange. Before planting kumquat trees, gardeners may want to know if they can be planted outside their area. Kumquats growing outdoors should be carried out in areas where temperatures do not normally dip below 20 ° Fahrenheit (-7 C), otherwise the trees may be placed in containers indoors. Give them plenty of room to grow indoors, and proper fertilization can help these plants thrive. Kumquats should be located in a fairly sunny area where there are no drafts or strong winds either indoors or outdoors.

Tips for Growing Kumquat Trees

Although kumquat trees are a type of citrus plant, they are robust colder than other types of citrus fruits are. This means that they may be able to grow in areas that are too cold for oranges or lemons to prosper. Most citrus trees are easily damaged by frost, but most varieties of kumquats can withstand much colder temperatures. It may be a good idea to consult an almanac before planting these trees, and if this plant is not recommended for a particular geographic area, gardeners may want to cultivate them indoors instead.

Kumquat trees generally grow up to 10 feet (3.05 m) tall, so they must be placed in a room with a very high ceiling if possible. Planting kumquat trees in a pot that is about a foot (0.31 m) is generally recommended for indoor growing. If grown indoors, a good soil mix with regular watering and fertilization can help keep this plant healthy, especially during the first two years of its growth.

When planting kumquat trees outside, they should be placed in an area that receives at least eight hours of direct sunlight each day. If the plants are grown indoors, they should be placed in a window facing south if possible. It may be necessary to rotate the tree from time to time if it is grown indoors because this can help ensure that all parts of the plant receive sunlight. Gardeners can also use a culture lamp to produce artificial light during the winter when the days are a little shorter.

Like other types of citrus, kumquat trees can be sensitive to wind and hail. For this reason, growers may want to plant a kind of windbreak around trees when they are planted in the field. Gardeners who grow indoor kumquat trees should ensure that they are not placed near a draft window, especially when outside temperatures are at or near freezing.