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Avatar for bossman1
May 17, 2018 6:22 PM CST
Thread OP
Deer Lake NL Canada
I grew a couple of kumquat trees from seed when my old kumquat tree died but the fruit was still good. The trees have been growing for about three years now and look very healthy. They have not however grown any flowers which of course means no fruit. I have no idea what to do. HELP
These trees are indoors because it is too cold to grow them outdoors
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May 17, 2018 7:10 PM CST
Name: Daisy I
Reno, Nv (Zone 6b)
Not all who wander are lost
Garden Sages Plant Identifier
Welcome!

My daughter brought home a Kumquat seed she collected in Japan many years ago. It was a kumquat she bought from a street vendor and thought was REALLY good.

To my surprise, it sprouted immediately. But... it took 10 years to set fruit. And when it set fruit, it was not the wonderful kumquat from her memory.

So your problem (I suspect) is two-fold: Your plants are not old enough AND they may not resemble your beloved kumquat.

Seeds are wonderful in that they pull from all DNA for generations back and often introduce new combinations of genetic material that no one has thought of before.

But seeds are not what you want to grow if you want your Kumquat to be your old Kumquat. If its still alive, I suggest you take some cuttings.
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and proclaiming...."WOW What a Ride!!" -Mark Frost

President: Orchid Society of Northern Nevada
Webmaster: osnnv.org
Avatar for bossman1
Jun 2, 2018 9:04 AM CST
Thread OP
Deer Lake NL Canada
What do I do with the cuttings if I do this. The plant is still very healthy with lovely dark green leaves. I will keep it growing with the hope that it might flower sometime soon
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Jun 2, 2018 9:22 AM CST
Name: Daisy I
Reno, Nv (Zone 6b)
Not all who wander are lost
Garden Sages Plant Identifier
Hi Bossman1

I have to apologize because I gave you bad advice. When you said Kumquat, my mind heard Loquat, a completely different fruit. Sighing!

Citrus produce two types of seed: polyembryonic and monoembryonic. Polyembryonic seeds are true to the parent but monoembryonic are not. Luckily, most Kumquats produce polyembryonic seeds so your little trees should have fruit that is just like the parent plant. That's the good news. The bad news is that they take even longer to produce fruit from seed, maybe up to 15 years.

Are you saying the parent tree is still alive?
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and proclaiming...."WOW What a Ride!!" -Mark Frost

President: Orchid Society of Northern Nevada
Webmaster: osnnv.org
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