Fortunella japonica
| Fortunella japonica | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 9 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 8' |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Fortunella japonica (common name: round kumquat)
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a warm airy position in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick out the seedlings into individual pots and grow them on in a greenhouse for at least their first two winters. Plant out in late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts and give some winter protection from the cold for a year or two.
Cultivation: Prefers a moderately heavy loam with a generous amount of compost and sand added and a very sunny position[1]. Prefers a pH of 5 to 6[1]. Plants are intolerant of water logging[1].
This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, when dormant it tolerates temperatures down to about -5°c[1]. The young growth in spring, even on mature plants, is frost-tender and so it is best to grow the plants in a position sheltered from the early morning sun[K].
Kumquats are widely cultivated in China for their edible fruit, there are many named varieties[2]. The plant is less vigorous, somewhat thorny and considerably more cold tolerant[3] (the report gives no details of what this is in comparison to!). Kumquats are hardier than the various Citrus species since they cease growth when temperatures drop below 13°c but, for best results, it is best to grow them in a climate where temperatures do not fall lower than between 4 and 10°c[2]. This is because the fruit is sweeter when it ripens in warm conditions[2].
Range: E. Asia - China, Japan.
Habitat: Not known in a truly wild situation[4].
Edibility: Fruit - usually cooked and used in jellies, preserves etc[3] or used as a flavouring, but it can also be eaten raw. The whole fruit, including the peel, is eaten[2][4]. The fruit is acid whilst the peel is sweet[2][4]. The peel is golden-yellow, smooth, thinner and somewhat sweeter than the oval kumquat, F. margarita[3]. The fruit is rich in pectin and makes excellent marmalades and jellies[5]. Vitamin C content is up to 0.24 mg/cc[5]. The fruit is about 4cm long[6].
Medicinal: The plant is antiphlogistic, antivinous, carminative, deodorant, stimulant[7][8].
Usage: The fresh leaves and young twigs yield 0.21% essential oil that might be suitable for perfumery[5].
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: Citrus japonica.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Simmons, Alan. Growing Unusual Fruit. David and Charles, 1972.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Corbetta, Francisco. The COmplete Book of Fruits and Vegetables. 1985.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Chopra, R. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2. Pan Books, London, 1998.
- ↑ Stuart, George. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei Southern Materials Centre.
- ↑ Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.