Nagami

Description

Nagami (Fortunella margarita) is the most commonly grown kumquat worldwide: the classic oval kumquat with glossy dark-green foliage, fragrant white flowers, and small decorative yellow-orange fruit. The eating experience is the reverse of normal citrus - the thin rind is sweet while the pulp is sharply acidic and tart - so the whole fruit is eaten skin and all, or cooked into marmalades, preserves, and oriental dishes where tartness is an asset. The plant is a slow-growing, compact, naturally shrubby small tree, thornless or with few spines, and an excellent container subject for sunny decks. As with all kumquats it is among the hardiest citrus for NZ, handling light frost, with fruit hanging through winter for harvest from midwinter. Self-fertile and precocious. Grow in full sun in slightly acidic, well-drained soil; feed with citrus fertiliser and ensure drainage. Fruit keeps moderately well and holds on the tree for picking as needed.