Topic: Non fruiting kumquat tree?

[Jayb]

I've had a kumquat tree for about 4 years or so and it has only fruited the first year I had it, it just doesn't get around to flowering. I thought they were meant to be one of the easier citrus to grow? It's in a pot and lives out in the poly-tunnel year round, it looks healthy enough and is actively growing but only one measly flower a couple of weeks ago!

Help please?

[goodlife]

Ummm....

How's the frame work...does it have strong 'wood'? I'm thinking of...'if it were to flower and crop...would it be able to carry on the weight'?
What do you feed it with?
Maybe giving some sprinkling of potash would make it want to feel bit 'fruity'. ..though ideally it should get it earlier on the year, but it would not hurt to give now neither and maybe again next year when the new growth is just starting push through.

[Jayb]

For feeding I usually use citrus feed and just follow the instructions, but I can be a bit hit and miss and I guess feeding is not as regular as it might be. I've just been having a look at the plants and they do look somewhat in need of better feeding they are not lush dark green all over. I'll see if I can get a picture.

Framework is a bit whippy in places but overall would take fruit, no threat there though!
Everything else flowers/fruits (except for the kaffir limes as they are quite young still) I'm just wondering what they might like that's different?

[goodlife]

Code: [Select]

I'm just wondering what they might like that's different?
I'll have to rummage my bookshelf and get the citrus book out to see if there is any special 'issues' with cumquat....I'll be back later....

[goodlife]

Right...found the book and .....'reading'....'blah..blah..blah'...

Ok, no special issues with cumquats...and then found in 'general' care for citrus that is interesting...

Encouraging of the formation of flowers...2 methods that can be used to stimulate flower formation for those citrus plants that do not appear to want to flower...." 1. stress through dryness; over period of 2-3 weeks, gradually reduce the doses of water and finally cease watering altogether. After this period of dryness, water as before. "

"2. special fertilizing; pure phosphorous fertilizer (bonemeal), twice at intervals of three weeks."

You could do both....sprinkling of bonemeal and water it in...then then start reducing watering and three weeks later when you start watering again, give another doze of BM.

Umm....(thinking loud now=trying to figure this out for myself)... ...bonemeal; to encourage new shoot formation>>citrus flowers from new growth ....but potash is for flower formation?!....and it is for ripening too..
Yes, maybe it is better to get plant to produce lot of new growth first that has potential for flowering = bonemeal..

Oh, I think I need another coffee to get my brain in gear! What ever you do...don't give too much nitrogen! 

[Jayb]

I'm not sure I'd want to reduce and stop water at this time of year, I think it's getting too hot during the day and as they are in pots they dry quite quickly. But something to think of for next spring.

Hmm, there has been plenty of new growth this year, just not any flowers. Perhaps I should do both bonemeal and potash, what do you think?

[Jayb]

Ok Kumquat pictures, first two are the whole plant, flowers are from another plant behind it.

[Jayb]

More recent growth.

[Jayb]

They are such amazing plants to grow, it's frustrating as flowers all formed on other citrus plants again?
They all get pretty much the same rough care.

[goodlife]

I'm not sure I'd want to reduce and stop water at this time of year, I think it's getting too hot during the day and as they are in pots they dry quite quickly. But something to think of for next spring.

Hmm, there has been plenty of new growth this year, just not any flowers. Perhaps I should do both bonemeal and potash, what do you think?

Yes...there certainly is plenty of new growth...and looks quite lush too!
BM and potash..yes...should not hurt neither...and if you water it down with drop of seaweed liquid in water, that would be superb concoction...and seaweed being 'growth stimulator and fertilizer enhancer'...maybe it will force some buds to come.
 For that amount of new growth there must be plenty of nutrients for 'general' growth....and seaweed might help to deepen the leaves colour too
I'm really interested to hear of any future development...fingers crossed!

[Jayb]

Thanks, I fed them yesterday and I'll do a foliar feed with seaweed this morning, they could all do with perking up.
Yep, fingers crossed, it would be good to get it fruiting as they look so lovely loaded with ripe fruit and I'm dying to make Kumquat marmalade!