The kumquats in my greenhouse

I've been paying close attention to my citrus trees in my greenhouse because
this is the time of year that they are beginning to produce fruit.  I am so
happy that this juicy kumquat is so prolific.  And notice the honey bees,
searching for nectar from citrus blossoms on a cold, March morning!  It
should be a very good spring.





Here is some more interesting information about the Kumquat.
Citrus fruits come in various colors, flavors, shapes, and sizes.  The most recognizable are oranges, tangerines, clementines, lemons, limes, and grapefruits.  Less known, the smallest member of the citrus family is the kumquat.  Kumquats are native to China.  Depending on the variety, they look like tiny round or oval oranges, usually no more than an inch or so across.  The unusual thing about kumquats is that, unlike other citrus fruits, which have thick, pithy rinds, kumquat peel is thin and soft, and perfectly edible.  In fact, the peel is sweet, compared to its rather tart flesh.  Kumquats are delicious eaten whole, but they can also be sliced and added to salads.  This diminutive fruit can also be poached in syrup, and made into wonderful jams and marmalades.

Comments

[carol]

I have not had kumquats. They are usually more expensive and smaller to process than the other citrus fruits. The possibilities of eating them whole, poached in syrup, in salad, or as a marmalade sound tasty. Thanks for introducing them.

[carol]

If they are grown in your green house, how do the bees pollinate them? I am getting ready to grow a lemon tree indoors, and I did not, until now, think about pollination of an indoor citrus plant. Puzzling.

[Joan Fluor Mason, OH]

Dear Martha,
Really enjoy your blogs..I even made a copy of Rutger (he is so beautiful) and put it on my bulletin board by my computer. Thanks so much for all your wonderful photos and information about different subjects. We (all your admirers), love you and all the people who work for you. Have a great day.

Joan - Mason, OH

[Kim Wylie]

Yum! I loooove kumquats! I think my favorite way to serve and display them is to just dunk them whole into syrup (just melted sugar with a little water at a hardball stage) then rolled in fine sugar. They glitter, and you can pop them right into your mouth! They look great in a small crystal nut dish.

Beautiful tree, Martha. What I wouldn't give to have a greenhouse as big and full of such wonderful plants as yours!

[John Agnesini]

Hi Martha! Up until recently, I had no idea what to use kumquats for. They are so cute and elegant but was unaware that you could eat the entire thing until a bartender at Spice Market did it right in front of me. Now, I find myself muddling them whole in citrus mojitos and slicing them in salads. Definitely a "good thing"

[Babeth]

I'm a bit jealous, here in Antibes (South of France) kumquats are not there yet. Not in trees or on farmers markets stalls.
As always thanks for sharing those stories with us :-)
A bientot :-)

[Linda Gail]

Martha:)
Thanks for the beautiful pictures from your greenhouse. The honey bee looks like she is very busy. Kumquats are very interesting fruits. I like them in salads and they are very good sauteed with fish. They are also good candied and placed on cakes as a decoration.
Linda Gail

[PamperingBeki]

Oh how pretty!!

[Jan Erickson]

Hi Martha, Thanks so much for the beautiful pictures of your kumquats and their blossoms. I tried growing Meyer lemons last year and they bloomed like crazy and produced some fruit but I guess I left them outside too long because when I brought them inside for the winter they died off. I trimmed off the dead branches and discovered something similar ro scale on those branches. I repotted the remaining "stumps" and will see if they recover. Thanks for your very informative blogs. Jan

[Jon]

Hi Martha!
I was thinking some of your incredible kumquat marmalade would be the perfect accompaniment to the scones with tea for the Boxwood Room christening. What beautiful photos that would make!
I thoroughly enjoy your postings, and I look forward to learning something new and always very interesting.
Take care.

[CatherineAtlanta]

Kumquats are terrific! I use them for all kinds of things. They are great added to fresh cranberry relish, chicken salad, or as a cocktail relish. They are also lovely in an autumn or spring centerpiece.

I think I may order a tree. It looks so beautiful. I just hope I can keep it alive!

Thank you, Martha, for the inspiration to try a Kumquat tree.

[KellySchwark.com]

My mouth is watering at the site of these little pearls of delight! They are as pleasing to the eye as they are to the tastebuds! Thank you for the treat!
Kelly
http://kellyschwark.com

[Carmela Tursi Hobbins]

Martha,

Thanks for your wonderful posting today. It looks like we actually will have a spring in Minnesota, as it is warming up today. Your notes brought to mind springtime growing up in Iowa. My Italian, grandfather from Calabria in Italy had a wonderful green house. I remember days with him as he nurtured his plants along for planting later in the year. Thanks for bringing back some nice memories.

Now my question is can kumquats be used in a pie? My husband loves pies and I try to make different ones for him to sample, if they meet with his approval then I use them in my cooking classes that I teach around the Twin Cities.

Thanks for the information, please keep it coming.

Buon appetito,

Carmela Tursi Hobbins

[barb]

Is it common to have bees in greenhouses. im a dunce and dont know everything and this is the first time i ever thought or saw a bee in greenhouse. martha your so smart. love the blog.

[Timothy Edwin Minerd]

Great looking kumquats. I'd be interested in hearing more about the bees--is there a hive in the greenhouse?

[Dann]

Hi Martha,

I enjoyed the segment on your show the other day about growing citrus in your home. The kumquaits are what I would like to grow. How large does the tree get. Can it be done without a greenhouse.

thanks

dann

[Leanna J. Beck]

I live in Florida and have had trouble growing the Qumquat tree myself do to our weather conditions, but I like your greenhouse equipped with bees! That is awesome...also have you heard of the Calomonden tree? It produces similar tiny fruit and is mouth-wateringly SOUR, but unique flavor all at the same time. I like to eat one of each for a sweet-n-sour flavor...good marmalade too!

[Frank Picchione]

It makes me happy to see healthy bee. How are yours doing?

[bpfster]

This really makes me long for spring and all the wonderful things I look forward to planting around my house this year.

[Kathy]

Martha,
Thanks for the beautiful photos of your kumquat trees in the greenhouse. I can just imagine the taste of such delicious fruit. It's good to see that thirsty bee trying to get the nectar from those citrus blossoms: a harbinger of spring!
Your blog is always full of interesting and useful information.
I enjoyed seeing you teaching your nephew Charlie to drive on today's show.
Kathy

[Andrew Ritchie]

I have to admit that I've never tried a kumquat! I've had them in jams, but that's it. My local grocer does carry them, so maybe I'll treat myself!

...And it's so nice to see that green amid all this snow we've had here in Ontario.

How are your bees doing, Martha? Let's have a post on their hive happenings this spring!

-Andrew

[Trish]

Hi Martha,

Your camera takes the nicest, clearest pictures!

I have never tasted a kumquat but I'll look for them in the store and maybe try them out in a salad.

Laura, it was nice seeing Charlie on the show today! He is getting so handsome! Trish

[Sues]

Yum! And I can't believe you have honey bees already...that is a very good sign :)

[Michelle]

Martha,
Last summer my Pastor gave me a HUGE bag of kumquats. I made about 6 batches of marmalade, baked a couple of batches of kumquat bread, and processed the rest of the fruit into puree to be used later for baking. It was wonderful! I also found a recipe for a kumquat cream pie that sounds so delicious and cool. I can't wait to try it during the hot, sticky, Georgia summer this year!

[JBrennan]

Martha:

I really enjoyed today's blog about kumquats. They are one of my favorite citrus fruits to use in salads, sauces and as decoration.

Your greenhouse must smell wonderful. I remember visiting the Orangerie at George Washington's Mount Vernon about 15 years ago. The sweet and somewhat tart smell of orange and lemon blossoms was intoxicating.

I have a heated sunroom with a south-west exposure accessed by french doors from the dining room. It has eight 4 foot windows, but no skylights. Do you think it would provide enough sun to grow a small kumquat tree?

Thanks!

Joseph

[Franco Forleo]

Hi Martha… this is your loyal South African fan again. What I do with kumquats is pierce them with a sharp tooth pick, poach them gently in sugar syrup and then bottle them with a good dose of brandy and syrup. Excellent served with a cheese platter!

PS We are still months behind on viewing here in SA, but just a comment on your Halloween outfit all in black…. Don’t know what looked better, the cake you prepared or yourself. Both so decadent! ;-)

[Alex]

HI
ITZ TOO GOOD

[Stephanie]

I've never tried a Kumquat before. Something new to try.

[Jewel]

I am so very very happy to hear that you have honey bees! All that we have been hearing on the evening news is that many of the honey bee populations are dying and nobody knows why... Enjoy your kumquats and I wish for your bees to stay good and healthy.

[Jacquelyn C. Moore]

Years ago, my grandfather was a caterer. One of things I remember, was that after a big party, he would bring home, what we than called ices. What I remember was that it was ice cream made in the form of all kinds flowers and such. After he died, (1961)I never saw them again. All these years, no one seems to know what I am talking about. I know it was years ago, but could you find out or do you know what I am referring to.

[Linda]

I love flowers from citrus fruits. They are beautiful and fragrant. I'm surprised more people don't grow them at indoors just for the flowers. I would like to know if citrus fruits can be grown indoors. If so, how would I encourage flowering and fruit development? How large do they grow and can they be cut back? Kumquats, key limes , Meyer lemons,... I'd love to grow them indoors because where I live in Canada, I'm sure these tropical plants would not survive the winter. Thank you very much.

[Sanctuary arts]

Those are pretty cool. It's still too cold here in chiacgo, do it's nice to see some summer somewhere...
Jen R

[Liza]

In my childhood home in Malaysia, we had a citrus orchard of sorts and I remember our kumquat tree where we would pluck kumquats right off the tree and snacked on them. My mother and sisters moved to W. Australia some 30 yrs ago and have my mother has sort of replicated some of the trees. Her kumquat tree is even more prolific. She makes kumquat jam or kumquat marmalade and I have a jar right in my fridge that I use sparingly. I live in Minnesota and only get to visit mom every 3 yrs or so. She's 80 and I'm trying to treasure every bit of her as much as possible.