Q. Attached is a picture of my Kumquat tree. I apologize for
the picture as there is a lot of other shrubs around the tree making it hard to
get a good picture of the tree. It has been planted for approximately
three years and is 5-6 feet tall. The picture is facing North. Just
within the last year we have had very little fruit whereas prior to that the
tree was ample with fruit. There has been no change to the water schedule
(3 days per week for 45 min. each). The tree appears to be healthy, just
no fruit.
the picture as there is a lot of other shrubs around the tree making it hard to
get a good picture of the tree. It has been planted for approximately
three years and is 5-6 feet tall. The picture is facing North. Just
within the last year we have had very little fruit whereas prior to that the
tree was ample with fruit. There has been no change to the water schedule
(3 days per week for 45 min. each). The tree appears to be healthy, just
no fruit.
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| Readers kumquat tree |
The only difference I can think of is that in previous years I
covered the tree whenever the temperature was below freezing; however, this
past year I only covered it when the temperature fell to the upper 20s. I
think this tree is able to withstand these types of temperatures though.
Any advice you might have would be greatly appreciated.
covered the tree whenever the temperature was below freezing; however, this
past year I only covered it when the temperature fell to the upper 20s. I
think this tree is able to withstand these types of temperatures though.
Any advice you might have would be greatly appreciated.
A.
Kumquat is a very winter hardy citrus and can survive most winter temperatures
here without any problems provided it is in a sheltered spot. It is considered
one of the more cold tolerant of the citrus. The key question you have to ask
yourself is whether it produced any flowers are not this year.
Kumquat is a very winter hardy citrus and can survive most winter temperatures
here without any problems provided it is in a sheltered spot. It is considered
one of the more cold tolerant of the citrus. The key question you have to ask
yourself is whether it produced any flowers are not this year.
The
major reasons for fruit drop are temperature and irrigation problems. If we
have freezing temperatures or if the plants become water stressed from not
enough water, they tend to drop fruit if it was produced or even flowers.
Flower buds and fruits are much less hardy to freezing temperatures than the
plant itself.
major reasons for fruit drop are temperature and irrigation problems. If we
have freezing temperatures or if the plants become water stressed from not
enough water, they tend to drop fruit if it was produced or even flowers.
Flower buds and fruits are much less hardy to freezing temperatures than the
plant itself.
Kumquat
may produce fruit all through the year but tend to produce fruit in the spring
and fall months and through the winter. If it does get some winter damage, you
would’ve seen die back. The plant will regrow to the height it was before it
had damage with very few flowers. Once it reestablishes the size of had before,
it will then begin to flower again more profusely and produce fruit.
If there
were some spring freezes the flower buds would be killed before anything else
would show any damage. This would tend to minimize fruit production. If the
plant receives a lot of fertilizer, particularly nitrogen, it may tend to put
on new growth with few flowers and of course very little if any fruit.
may produce fruit all through the year but tend to produce fruit in the spring
and fall months and through the winter. If it does get some winter damage, you
would’ve seen die back. The plant will regrow to the height it was before it
had damage with very few flowers. Once it reestablishes the size of had before,
it will then begin to flower again more profusely and produce fruit.
If there
were some spring freezes the flower buds would be killed before anything else
would show any damage. This would tend to minimize fruit production. If the
plant receives a lot of fertilizer, particularly nitrogen, it may tend to put
on new growth with few flowers and of course very little if any fruit.
What about quarter inch sized snails? What to do about them? They are sort of pesky. What controls them?