Citrus
-‐
Calamondin
×
Citrofortunella
microcarpa
(Bunge)
Wijnands
Rutaceae
Species
description
Calamondin
is
an
upright,
cylindrical
citrus
tree
with
dense,
small,
glossy,
evergreen
leaves.
Fruits
are
small,
round,
and
orange
at
maturity,
and
contain
many
seeds.
The
fruit
rind
is
thin,
finely
pitted,
and
smooth.
Inside,
the
flesh
is
tender,
acidic,
and
very
juicy.
Calamondin
trees
flower
and
set
fruit
throughout
the
year,
and
are
a
decorative,
edible
tree
that
may
be
grown
in
pots.
Outside,
in
good
growing
conditions,
calamondin
trees
can
grow
20-‐30
feet
high
and
live
for
more
than
50
years.
Calamondins
are
more
cold
tolerant
than
any
other
true
citrus
species,
but
they
are
still
limited
to
low
desert
regions
in
Arizona.
Natural
and
cultural
history
Calamondin
trees
are
of
Chinese
origin,
and
the
fruit
was
distributed
early
and
widely
throughout
Orient,
including
Indonesia
and
the
Philippines.
The
trees
were
introduced
to
the
U.S.
as
an
"acid
orange,"
circa
1900.
The
tree
has
since
found
a
market
as
an
ornamental,
though
the
acidic
fruit
also
has
many
culinary
uses.
Planting
considerations
and
propagation
techniques
Calamondin
trees
prefer
full
sunlight
and
space
to
grow,
however,
they
can
also
be
grown
quite
well
in
containers
or
small
garden
spaces.
Flowers
are
self-‐fertile
and
require
no
cross-‐
pollination,
though
honeybees
effectively
pollinate
flowers.
Citrus
can
grow
on
a
wide
range
of
soil
types,
from
sand
to
loam
to
heavy
clay
as
long
as
they
are
well
drained.
The
ideal
soil
pH
for
citrus
trees
ranges
from
6-‐6.5.
Calamondin
trees
may
be
easily
grown
from
seeds
or
from
rooted
cuttings.
Common
grafting
techniques
for
citrus
are
T-‐budding
or
chip-‐budding.
Budding
should
be
practiced
when
seedling
stems
are
roughly
the
size
of
a
pencil
and
when
bark
of
the
rootstock
is
slipping.
Budwood
should
be
collected
from
healthy
trees
and
should
be
about
the
same
diameter
as
the
rootstock.
Budding
season
takes
place
immediately
before
spring
growth.
A
seedling
tree
will
produce
a
crop
of
fruit
at
the
age
of
two
years
and
will
continue
to
bear
nearly
year
round.
Water
needs
Citrus
need
about
4-‐6
inches
of
water
per
month
in
the
summer.
Calamondin
trees
are
slightly
more
drought
tolerant
than
most
citrus.
Care
Citrus
trees
should
be
trained
to
a
suitable
shape
with
an
open
center.
There
are
three
primary
pruning
objectives:
increase
total
leaf
area,
improve
airflow
through
the
canopy,
and
increase
light
to
the
branches.
Proper
training
keeps
trees
the
correct
size
for
ease
of
care
and
harvest.
Citrus
are
prone
to
many
diseases
and
pests.
We
recommend
consulting
a
Cooperative
Extension
citrus
specialist.
(See
Yuma
Cooperative
Extension,
[Link]
and
[Link]
Harvesting
and
processing
Calamondin
fruits
are
small
and
thin-‐skinned,
best
used
within
a
week
after
harvest
if
not
refrigerated.
When
picking
the
fruit,
use
clippers
or
scissors
to
cut
the
fruit
from
tree,
rather
than
pulling
them.
This
will
keep
the
stem
end
of
the
fruit
from
tearing,
which
promotes
deterioration.
Calamondin
juice
can
be
used
like
lemon
or
lime
juice
to
make
refreshing
beverages,
flavor
fish,
to
make
cakes,
marmalades,
pies,
preserves,
sauces
and
to
use
in
soups
and
teas.
Juice
is
best
in
acid
beverages
and
desserts.
References
and
resources
AZ
Citrus.
[Link]
Gmitter,
F.G.,
J.
Soneji,
M.N.
Rao,
and
S.
Huang.
Citrus
spp.,
pp.
773-‐784.
Eds.
Janick,
J.
and
R.E.
Paull.
The
Encyclopedia
of
Fruit
and
Nuts.
CABI
Publishing,
Cambridge,
MA.
Morton,
J.
1987.
Calamondin,
pp.
176–178.
In:
Fruits
of
warm
climates.
Julia
F.
Morton,
Miami,
FL.
[Link]
Page,
M.
2008.
Growing
Citrus:
How
to
Grow
Citrus
in
Containers,
Conservatories,
and
the
Open
Garden.
Timber
Press,
Portland,
London.
Plants
for
a
Future
(PFAF).
n.d.
Citrofortunella
microcarpa
-‐
(Bunge.)Wijnands.
[Link]
Soost,
R.K.
and
M.
Roose.
1996.
Citrus,
pp.
257-‐324.
Eds.
J.
Janick
and
J.N.
Moore.
Fruit
Breeding,
Volume
I
Tree
and
Tropical
Fruits.
John
Wiley
&
Sons,
New
York,
NY.
University
of
Arizona
Cooperative
Extension.
2000.
Irrigating
citrus
trees,
publication
AZ
1151.
[Link]
University
of
California
at
Riverside.
Citrus
Variety
Collection.
Calamondin.
[Link]
Useful
Tropical
Plants.
2016.
Citrofortunella
x
microcarpa.
[Link]
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