Where is the origin of kumquat?

Kumquat, also known as golden jujube, jindan, kumquat, etc., is an evergreen shrub of the genus kumquat of Rutaceae, with high cultivation value. Those who enjoy its leaves, flowers, fruits or make orange cakes specially for fruit production are carefully managed after pot planting. One plant can bear more than 10 kumquat. It is generally exported to Hong Kong during the Spring Festival and is very popular among Hong Kong people. Let's take a look at the origin of kumquat.

Morphological characteristics of kumquat

Kumquat is 3 meters high, generally unspiny, branchlets green, with many branches when nutrition is sufficient. Leaves lanceolate to long elliptic, 5-9 cm long, entire, petiole slightly winged. Flowers small, white, fragrant, 1-3 axillary, petals 5, stamens 20-25, ovary 5-loculed. Fruit elliptic or Obovate, 2.5 to 3.5 cm long, golden yellow. The flowering period is from April to May and the fruiting period is from November to February of the following year. In the case of artificial cultivation, it blossoms three times a year, the first from March to April and the last from August to September.

Where is the origin of kumquat?

Kumquat likes sunshine and warm, humid environment, is not cold-resistant, slightly shade-tolerant, drought-resistant, requires fertile, loose, slightly acidic sandy loam with good drainage. Kumquat is native to southern China and is widely planted in the Yangtze River Basin and other southern provinces, especially in Guangdong, especially in Youxi, Fujian, Rongan, Guangxi, Suichuan, Jiangxi and Liuyang, Hunan.

Four major producing areas of kumquat

1. Youxi, Fujian: Youxi gold citrus shape is delicious, juicy, tender, sweet and sour, especially the eight-character bridge "Sanhong" (that is, Hongpai, Hongcun, Hongtian three villages) has the best quality. In recent years, Baziqiao and Guanqian two townships have a planting area of more than 10,000 mu, with a total output of more than 1100 tons. It is known as Fujian's "hometown of kumquat" and has now become one of the four major producing areas of kumquat in the country.

2. Rongan, Guangxi: kumquat has been planted for more than 260 years, with a planting area of more than 92000 mu and an annual output of 87000 tons. It is known as the "hometown of kumquat" in China. Rong'an kumquat has the characteristics of juicy sweet, crisp taste and no glycerol flavor, so it sells well in Chinese provinces and ASEAN countries.

3. Suichuan, Jiangxi Province: Suichuan kumquat is famous for its golden color and sweet skin, with good color, aroma, taste and shape. Its fresh fruit is golden in color and looks like an oval or Obovate oval like a pigeon egg. The area, yield and fruit quality of kumquat in Suichuan rank first among the four largest kumquat producing areas in China. In 1997, Suichuan was named "the hometown of kumquat in China" by the Ministry of Agriculture.

4. Liuyang, Hunan: Liuyang kumquat is mainly produced in Guandu District, Liuyang City, and has been cultivated for more than 1000 years. During the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty, kumquat was produced in the area of Dahu Tuanluo, which is known as the "hometown of kumquat". Before liberation, Guandu area has a cultivated area of more than 400mu and more than 35000 plants, with a maximum annual output of 300tons and an annual output of more than 1500 tons.