I bought 2 pretty Kumquat plants at Lidl. They produced fruit the first year, but then I spent a long time looking for the right spot. I tested several outdoor locations and, in the end, it was the tunnel greenhouse that suited them. So you can have fruit in Kumquats in Brittany.
Where to grow Kumquat ?
The Kumquat, a citrus fruit, is a small tree, about 3m tall when planted in a favorable environment. I’ve seen some beautiful ones in Guadeloupe. So I think it likes tropical environments. Unfortunately, Brittany is relatively humid but not warm enough. So I can’t plant my Kumquat in the garden, nor keep it indoors as the air in the house is too dry.
1 – In a veranda
At my parents’ house, the kumquat is planted in pot in a south-facing veranda. The plant grows very well and, above all, bears enough fruit to make a few jars of marmalade.
For Brittany, the veranda is the ideal location. I think a greenhouse that’s not too cold would also do the trick.
Unfortunately I don’t have a veranda or a greenhouse!
2 – In the garage in winter
The first year, I kept the plants in the garage in winter. They were set up right outside the door and I took them out at the slightest ray of sunshine. I brought them in every evening. They produced a few fruits that didn’t have much taste.
But it really wasn’t practical to get the plants in and out every day. And the plants were still small!
3 – On the terrace all year round
After repotting, and even though the plants were quite large, I decided to leave them on the terrace all year round.
I think it’s not warm enough on the terrace in spring. The plants make flowers too late in the season to be able to make fruit.
Then in summer, the west-facing sun beat down too hard. In the end, I had no fruit at all.
4 – In the tunnel greenhouse all year round
At the moment, they are in the tunnel greenhouse.
Location is tricky. It can be very cold in the greenhouse, with sub-zero temperatures followed by occasional warm ones.
So remember to open the doors when the sun is out, even in winter.
A quick photo as I’ve just repotted them:
August 2022:
Despite this summer’s heat, the Kumquat plants have thrived in the tunnel greenhouse. They are each sheltered by a vine, which provides them with shade and no doubt also maintains a certain level of humidity. They are watered every other day.
In winter 2023, we had plenty of fruit and the plants bloomed again in summer. Unfortunately, storm Ciaran swept away the tunnel greenhouse in autumn. The fruit finished ripening on the terrace.
In spring, the plants were still outside, as we didn’t repair the greenhouse until late May. So this year, 2024, no fruit!
So it’s the warmth in spring that’s important for beautiful flowering in June, and enough heat in summer to make the fruit grow. Cold weather from autumn onwards does not prevent ripening.
How to grow beautiful Kumquats in Brittany
To grow a Kumquat plant in a pot you need :
- Daytime heat from March (greenhouse, tunnel, veranda) to September
- Summer shade
- Frequent watering in summer
- Light in winter for taste
- The first fruits can be eaten from January onwards
- Add surface compost 1 or 2 times a year
- Add special citrus liquid fertilizer if leaves lose their beautiful green color.
- Only use a wintering veil when the weather is really negative and remove it during the day (however, I wrap the pot all winter long to protect it from the cold).
