fukushu kumquats ripening

[brian]

I think these are my new favorite citrus.  I had picked up two more of these trees in the spring and they are all coming ripe.   The fruit is amazing.

[robbyhernz]

Are they as tart and acidic as the Nagami?

[swimmingfree]

brian how big of pot are you using ?
swimmingfree

[brian]

These are less tart and less astringent than Nagami but still tart.  The Fukushu rind is much thicker so it seems far sweeter overall.  Also, the Nagamis often have a slight bitter taste if they aren't 100% orange, which I haven't seen with Fukushu.

The container is probably about four actual gallons, not sure how that translates to nursery pot sizes.  I'm using rolls of the rootmaker material so I just construct them to be a little bigger than the rootball.

[Millet]

Brian, your Fukushu kumquat is really a healthy looking tree. You have done a great job growing it.  I was not going to grown any more varieties of citrus , as I currently have enough to work with now.  However, after reading your post I will have to break  my rule and order a Fukushu. - Millet

[brian]

Brian, your Fukushu kumquat is really a healthy looking tree. You have done a great job growing it.  I was not going to grown any more varieties of citrus , as I currently have enough to work with now.  However, after reading your post I will have to break  my rule and order a Fukushu. - Millet

Thanks!  I think you'll be really happy with it.  I have a few flying dragon seedlings growing that I have been wondering what to graft onto, and I am thinking they will all become kumquats.  I am still waiting to see how my Marumi and orangequat fruit tastes. 

[chester copperpot]

Where did you get it from? I have been searching for an inexpensive version of this tree, but I can't remember seeing any available.

[Yorgos]

I understand the fukushu (aka chang shou) is less cold hardy than the meiwa. Is this true? My meiwa has been in the ground 10+ years now (after about 6 years in a pot) and is about 9 feet tall and 6 feet wide. I do not protect it in the winter at all.  It has been unscathed at 25 degrees. Back in 2012 we had over 36 continuous hours of sub-freezing temps and it did fine. Is a very prolific producer. 
I planted the chang shou in the ground this spring so we will see how cold hardy it is.

[Millet]

 I ordered my Fukushu Kumquat tree today from Four Winds Growers.  They offer ether a 1 year old, 2 year old or 3 year old tree  Their 1-yer old trees are currently sold out.  I purchased a 3-year old tree.  Four Winds Growers only ships on Mondays, so that the tree does not set over the weekend.  All of their trees are grafted on dwarfing rootstocks. - Millet

www.FourwindsGrowers.com

[brian]

I obtained mine from Fourwinds also.  Is it safe to order trees shipped to Colorado in the winter?  I always assumed they would freeze in shipping.

I'm not sure about cold hardiness of specific cultivars because nothing can survive in the ground in my zone.  I bring them in before temps get below freezing.

[Millet]

I've ordered many trees during the winter month from Four Winds Growers, with 100 percent arriving just fine.  When ordering during the winter if you request  Four Winds Growers will ship  using their special winter packaging where the tree is wrapped heavyer with heat packs enclosed. - Millet

[brian]

Very good to know, thank you.  I was poking around on the site to see if there is anything interesting for next spring but I might just jump the gun a little.

I'm going to start running out of room. 

[Millet]

The  Fukushu Kumquat tree I ordered from Four Winds Growers arrived yesterday afternoon in good condition. Nice looking tree. - Millet. 

[mrtexas]

Makes great marmalade too. In Beaumont I had a mature inground changshou(fukushu). I ate a very few fruit fresh
but always made 25+ pints of marmalade with the fruit. I topworked a seeding sunquat to chanshou. Sunquat is larger than
changshou and can get as big as a satsuma but flavor is poor at best.

[Millet]

The Fukushu Kumquat tree that I purchased from Four Winds Growers on Brain's recommendation is now in bloom.  I should have fruit in a couple months.  Anxious to taste this kumquat variety. - Millet

[brian]

Good to hear, I hope you like them as much as I do.

I have three Fukushus and all are now flushing heavily but there aren't as many blooms as last year.  Hopefully I will get a second bloom soon

[Millet]

My Fukushu kumquat is blooming again.  This time the tree is loaded with flowers, so I am sure to get fruit.  Fukushu's seem to be quite hardy trees.  I have it growing in an air root pruning container.  - Millet