Kumquat Cultivation for Fun or Profit

Have you ever considered growing kumquats? If you are interested in cultivating kumquats, either at home, or commercially, you've come to the right place. While living in Saint Martinville, Louisianna, a tiny town about 140 miles west of New Orleans --I should mention that Saint Martinville is also known as "le petit Paris," I had a small grouping of kumquat trees in my front yard. In the morning I would sit out front and sip my chicory coffee. After breakfast I would stroll over and pluck a bushel of kumquats on which to snack during my workday advising residents in the French Quarter on historic preservation.
So let me tell you, the key to choosing the perfect kumquat variety is not only looking at your climate, but also at your intended use. For instance, Citrus crassifolia, also known as Fortunella crassifolia is generally consumed raw with its skin still on. On the other hand, Citrus japonica (also known called Fortunella japonica, Citrus margarita, and Fortunella margarita) is typically peeled, and some prefer to cook it, rather than eat it raw. There are, or course, other varieties of the fruit, but these are my two favorites. You may also wish to consider hybrid fruits, as kumquats readily hybridize with other citrus fruits. Such hybrids are known as Citrofortunella. Examples of Citrofortunella include the limequat, orangequat, and calamondin. Some quite enjoy these varieties. Personally, I do not care for them, and I discourage you from growing them because I do not think they will market well.

-Hillman