How do my kumquats grow?

Nature’s pretty amazing, isn’t it? There’s nothing like watching the process of fruition, literally and naturally.

kumquat fruit, honeybee, pollinators, honey bee on kumquat blossom, kumquat tree, kumquat, citrus tree, citrus in the PNW, growing citrus in your home

Along with my other citrus, my kumquats live outside in the summer and move indoors in the winter. Today I’ll start the story on how these fragrant star shaped blossoms

Kumquat blossom, kumquat tree, kumquat, citrus tree, citrus in the PNW, growing citrus in your home

became these extraordinarily tender and tasty lumps of saffron infused, citrus packed in olive oil that perfectly enhance the Morrocan Tagine Kefta recipe I will be sharing with you soon.

Preserved kumquats, kumquats preserved with saffron, preserved kumquats in olive oil, preserved kumquats in olive oil with saffron, kumquat tree, kumquat, citrus tree, citrus in the PNW, growing citrus in your home
Kumquats preserved in olive oil
Preserved kumquats, kumquats preserved with saffron, preserved kumquats in olive oil, preserved kumquats in olive oil with saffron, kumquat tree, kumquat, citrus tree, citrus in the PNW, growing citrus in your home
Kumquats preserved in olive oil with saffron

I’ve had this kumquat tree for over 20 years. Last year I had the privilege of watching those blooms turn to fruit in the early spring.

kumquat tree, kumquat, citrus tree, citrus in the PNW, growing citrus in your home, ripening kumquats

Being in the PNW I was content with the usual few fragrant blooms that delighted the olfactory organs during the long, cold winters.

Blossoming Persian Lime tree in the dining room during the winter.

Even when they didn’t bloom I appreciated having the greenery in my dining room in the winter. Last year was a different story however.

Pollinators, bumblebee, bees, kumquat tree, kumquat, citrus tree, citrus in the PNW, growing citrus in your home
honeybee, pollinators, honey bee on kumquat blossom, kumquat tree, kumquat, citrus tree, citrus in the PNW, growing citrus in your home

I walked out the door one morning and found the tree buzzing with swarms of pollinators visiting each each bloom brushing up against the pollen on the outside pushing it into the stigma. See the video on my instagram account over there->->->

honeybee, pollinators, honey bee on kumquat blossom, kumquat tree, kumquat, citrus tree, citrus in the PNW, growing citrus in your home
kumquat blossoms, honeybee on kumquat blossoms, honeybee, pollinators, honey bee on kumquat blossom, kumquat tree, kumquat, citrus tree, citrus in the PNW, growing citrus in your home
kumquat blossoms, honeybee on kumquat blossoms, honeybee, pollinators, honey bee on kumquat blossom, kumquat tree, kumquat, citrus tree, citrus in the PNW, growing citrus in your home
kumquat blossoms, honeybee on kumquat blossoms, honeybee, pollinators, honey bee on kumquat blossom, kumquat tree, kumquat, citrus tree, citrus in the PNW, growing citrus in your home

Come November, usually after a freeze or two {this is supposed to stress the trees in a beneficial way} I moved the trees {a Persian lime, Calamodin orange and the kumquats} indoors.

kumquat tree, kumquat, citrus tree, citrus in the PNW, growing citrus in your home
kumquat tree, kumquat, citrus tree, citrus in the PNW, growing citrus in your home

I moved this fruited beauty into my kitchen, where where sunshine from the skylights helped to ripen the fruit.

kumquats in my kitchen, kumquat tree in the kitchen, kumquat tree, kumquat, citrus tree, citrus in the PNW, growing citrus in your home, blue and white kitchen
Kumquats in my kitchen make me happy.
kumquats in my kitchen, kumquat tree in the kitchen, kumquat tree, kumquat, citrus tree, citrus in the PNW, growing citrus in your home, blue and white kitchen

I adorned it with fairy lights which were a beautiful, sparkly focus throughout the dark winter nights.

fairy lights on kumquat tree, kumquats in my kitchen, kumquat tree in the kitchen, kumquat tree, kumquat, citrus tree, citrus in the PNW, growing citrus in your home, blue and white kitchen

For tips on how you can grow citrus click on Exotic Evergreens: citrus

While we’re talking citrus, click on Citron Vert Liquor to learn how to make a lemoncello like digestive but with limes and less sugar than the usual beverage.

Coming up, how to preserve kumquats with ease {you can buy them at Trader Joe’s or grocery stores this time of year}.

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