“Come play with us…”
(The Shining, dir. Stanley Kubrick, Warner Bros., 1980)
Calamansi, Kumquat, and Lemon Seedlings Overview:
The first date is when I started germinating them, the second date is when I planted the sprouts.
Group 1: Germinated (start): 6/26/24, Planted (seedlings): 7/2/24 (calamansi, kumquat, and 1x lemon)
Group 2: Germinated (start): 7/2/24 and 7/7/24, Planted (seedlings): 7/16/24 (calamansi and kumquat)
Group 3: Germinated (start): 7/17/24, Planted (seedlings): 8/4/24 (all lemon)
Group 4: Germinated (start): 8/12/24, Planted (seedlings): 8/25/24 (all lemon)
The origin of these seeds are as follows:
Calamansi: seeds were saved from fruits that were available through work.
Kumquat: purchased packaged kumquat fruits from two sources, the supermarket in northwest Connecticut, and from packaged fruits from a street seller in NYC Chinatown.
Lemons: most info points to the lemons probably being either Eureka or Lisbon lemons, which are most commonly found in supermarkets (where I found these) but I am not certain.
I’m not sure exactly what variety of kumquats and calamansis these are, I don’t know who the father is.
I unintentionally acquired these seeds during mid to late June, and Group 1 was germinated and started in late June. I peeled off the outermost, beige colored, protective hull of each seed and germinated the hulled seeds in damp paper towels in a plastic bag.
What would have been better is to have started the seeds in the springtime, so the shoots experience this year’s full growth season. This was a hot and sunny summer in NYC, and I happen to have abundant south-facing daylight for a full 8-10 hours most days in the summer; so despite a late start, they are still growing.
So, keep in mind as you monitor growth, and plan for transplanting, that these shoots are about a quarter to a half season behind.
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Between July 2 and August 4, I planted the germinated seeds in basic 3.5 oz. plastic cups that I hand-cut drainage holes into, and sprouted them in makeshift mini greenhouses of plastic dollar store bins. On August 25, I transplanted those seedlings to larger 7 oz. cups. Sometime around late February to March, it will likely be outgrowing this cup and will need to be transplanted to the next size up to accommodate peak growth throughout April-July. By next July, the specimen will be 1 year old.
Most of the advice and information I’ve found is that citrus trees require varying levels of care year round. Even in partial dormancy, they still require a minimum of 6 hours of daylight, occasional water, and monitoring and treating any pests (which they are prone to, even when grown indoors).
Citrus trees largely seem like the opposite of a passive-care plant like a snake plant or a ZZ plant; you can’t completely ignore them for full seasons at a time. Especially in Zones 6-7, and especially as immature specimens, they require active attention year round.
Each seedling is planted with the following mixture:
Miracle Grow Cactus, Palm & Citrus Potting Mix (fast draining formula)
Espoma Organic Soil Acidifier
Beach sand
Osmocote flower & vegetable plant fertilizer
Diatomaceous earth (fungus gnat prevention)
