Fortunella hindsii

Cultivation Details

A plant of the tropics and subtropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,000 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 26 - 37°c, but can tolerate 12 - 40°c^[1]. In the cool periods of the year the plant enters a condition of dormancy, with a high resistance to winter cold even if alternated with milder periods^[1]. Dormant plants are very cold tolerant, only being killed by temperatures of -15°c or lower, but young growth can be severely damaged at 0°c^[1]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,100 - 1,500mm, but tolerates 700 - 4,000mm^[1]. Succeeds in full sun and also in light shade^[1]. Prefers a fertile, well-drained, medium-textured soil^[1]. Prefers a pH in the range 6.5 - 7.5, tolerating 6 - 8^[1]. Kumquats are hardier than the various Citrus species since they cease growth when temperatures drop below 13°c but, for best results, they are best grown in a climate where temperatures do not fall lower than between 4 - 10°c^[2]. This is because the fruit is sweeter when it ripens in warm conditions^[2]. There is a cultivated, diploid form, usually designated 'Golden Bean Kumquat', that has slightly larger fruits, larger, more slender leaves, and shorter spines^[3].