Fortunella

The genus Fortunella, Kinkan, or Kumquat (Fortunella), belongs to 6 species of evergreen shrubs and small trees, also known as "Chinese mandarin". They are characterized by deep winter dormancy and hardiness. These plants have egg-shaped leaves, pointed or rounded at the base. White flowers are solitary or collected in small groups. The fruit is small, smaller than that of an orange and lemon; the flesh is sour; the peel is very thick, sweet, fragrant, and edible. Japanese Fortunella (Fortunella japonica) - a shrub or tree with lanceolate light green leaves. The flowers are white, solitary or in groups of 2-4. They bloom in April-May, in their place round fruits are formed, similar to orange fruits, but much smaller. Fortunella Margarita, oval kinkan, or golden orange (F. margarita), is a shrub or tree with lanceolate pointed leaves, darker than those of Japanese kinkan, but lighter on the underside. The flowers are fragrant white, single or collected in brushes, bloom in spring, and in their place small fruits with a yellowish-orange peel, from oval to oblong in shape, are formed. Several kinkan hybrids are known with Citrus species, such as tangerine, lime, and others.

The genus Fortunella, Kinkan, or Kumquat (Fortunella), belongs to 6 species of evergreen shrubs and small trees, also known as "Chinese mandarin". They are characterized by deep winter dormancy and hardiness. These plants have egg-shaped leaves, pointed or rounded at the base. White flowers are solitary or collected in small groups. The fruit is small, smaller than that of an orange and lemon; the flesh is sour; the peel is very thick, sweet, fragrant, and edible.

Japanese Fortunella (Fortunella japonica) - a shrub or tree with lanceolate light green leaves. The flowers are white, solitary or in groups of 2-4. They bloom in April-May, in their place round fruits are formed, similar to orange fruits, but much smaller.

Fortunella Margarita, oval kinkan, or golden orange (F. margarita), is a shrub or tree with lanceolate pointed leaves, darker than those of Japanese kinkan, but lighter on the underside. The flowers are fragrant white, single or collected in brushes, bloom in spring, and in their place small fruits with a yellowish-orange peel, from oval to oblong in shape, are formed.

Several kinkan hybrids are known with Citrus species, such as tangerine, lime, and others.

Cultivation

Kinkan, or fortunella, is a heat-and moisture-loving plant. In areas of moderately cold climates, fortunella is grown for decorative purposes on balconies and terraces, cleaning indoors in the fall, as well as at home. In mild climates, it is cultivated in the open ground, mainly as a fruit plant. When growing in a pot, the substrate is made up of 2/3 of the fertile land and 1/3 from peat with the addition of 30 g of mineral complex fertilizer per bucket of soil. On a permanent place in the ground planted in late autumn, using seedlings with a clod of earth or in containers in loose fertile land, enriched with organic fertilizers, such as manure (5-7 kg/m2) or full mineral fertilizer (20 g/m2). After planting, water it abundantly. Every spring they are fed with rotted manure at the rate of 2-3 kg /m2. When growing both in a pot and in the open ground in spring and summer, a complex fertilizer in the amount of 20-30 g per bucket is added to the water for irrigation every 20-30 days.

Kinkan, or fortunella, is a heat-and moisture-loving plant. In areas of moderately cold climates, fortunella is grown for decorative purposes on balconies and terraces, cleaning indoors in the fall, as well as at home. In mild climates, it is cultivated in the open ground, mainly as a fruit plant. When growing in a pot, the substrate is made up of 2/3 of the fertile land and 1/3 from peat with the addition of 30 g of mineral complex fertilizer per bucket of soil. On a permanent place in the ground planted in late autumn, using seedlings with a clod of earth or in containers in loose fertile land, enriched with organic fertilizers, such as manure (5-7 kg/m2) or full mineral fertilizer (20 g/m2). After planting, water it abundantly. Every spring they are fed with rotted manure at the rate of 2-3 kg /m2. When growing both in a pot and in the open ground in spring and summer, a complex fertilizer in the amount of 20-30 g per bucket is added to the water for irrigation every 20-30 days.

Location

In the fresh air, they need a sunny place, or at least a well-lit one. At home, they provide very bright lighting.

Temperature

In areas with cold winters, plants are removed in autumn to a closed cool (temperature 7-8 °C) room. The minimum temperature that the culture tolerates is -5 °C.

Watering

In the spring and summer months, they are watered often and quite abundantly, but without stagnation of water in the soil, and in winter they are limited to maintaining the soil in a slightly moist state.

Transplant

Transplanted in the spring, keeping the lump intact. If the plants are grown in spacious pots, then they are limited to periodically updating the surface layer of the soil and replacing it with fresh ones.

Reproduction

Not simple, cuttings do not form roots well. Seedlings obtained from seeds often do not retain the properties of the mother plant, and it is difficult to vaccinate, so it is recommended to purchase already grown specimens.

Diseases

Fortunella is susceptible to many diseases, attacks of pests specific to citrus fruits. In particular, at home, as well as on balconies and terraces, they are often damaged by worms. Treatment with anticoccidal drugs is carried out.

Acquisition

Chinese mandarin is easy to find in gardening centers and well-stocked flower shops. Buy well-formed specimens, if possible with fruits that are just beginning to ripen (change color). Make sure that the plant is in excellent condition, first of all that there are no pests.