Fukushu kumquat

[Manalto]

Today I was at Logee's Greenhouse in Danielson, Connecticut, and picked up a kumquat, Fortunella obovata 'Fukushu', touted by them as one of the rarest and best-flavored variety.  Apparently it's known as Changshou in Japan. (I've seen it also listed as Citrus japonica 'Obovata'. ) Has anyone tried this? Your impressions?

Edited March 9, 2020 by Manalto

[Fusca]

I haven't heard of that variety.  I have probably the most common variety 'Meiwa' and they are pretty sweet.  If that variety is tastier than 'Meiwa' I'd like to try it!  Are you going to plant it in Mobile or Connecticut?

Edited March 9, 2020 by Fusca

[jimmyt]

18 hours ago, Manalto said:

Today I was at Logee's Greenhouse in Danielson, Connecticut, and picked up a kumquat, Fortunella obovata 'Fukushu', touted by them as one of the rarest and best-flavored variety.  Apparently it's known as Changshou in Japan. (I've seen it also listed as Citrus japonica 'Obovata'. ) Has anyone tried this? Your impressions?

Wait,  What?  You got to visit Logees Greenhouse?????  Dang!  Well I'll be Fukushu!   I am a little jealous!   

[Palmarum]

Sounds cool. I'd want to try it now.

Ryan

[Manalto]

5 hours ago, Fusca said:

I haven't heard of that variety.  I have probably the most common variety 'Meiwa' and they are pretty sweet.  If that variety is tastier than 'Meiwa' I'd like to try it!  Are you going to plant it in Mobile or Connecticut?

There's not much information about it online.

I'm driving down to Mobile this week and baby 'Fukushu' is coming with me. (Logee's is mostly mail order so their plants are pretty dinky.)

When I was in Mobile in January, I saw a neighbor's kumquat that had fruit larger than a 'Meiwa' and not oblong like 'Nagami'. I sampled it and it was quite good. The tree's habit is narrow and upright but 'Fukushu' is supposed to be broad, so I still don't know what my neighbor has.

JimmyT, Logee's is fun to tour. The fragrances! The staff there is really nice and helpful too.

[Laaz]

I have one I grew from seed. It's about 15 years old & 25 ft tall. It produces very good quality fruit & large fruit for a kumquat.

 

[Manalto]

6 hours ago, Laaz said:

I have one I grew from seed. 

Thanks Laaz. I saw seed for sale but wondered, if fukushu is a chance mutation,  how is it possible to obtain seed?

That fruit looks exactly like the kumquats on my neighbor's tree. What is the form of your tree, broad or narrow? 

Edited March 10, 2020 by Manalto

[Laaz]

Yes, quite narrow. You can change that by topping the tree as it grows, Topping the the main branch forces growth lower in the canopy. If you want seeds, remind me in the fall.

Edited March 10, 2020 by Laaz

[Manalto]

Laaz, thank you but I was wondering how they can get 'Fukushu' to come true from seed. With any cultivar they have to reproduce it by cuttings or micropropagation (tissue culture) in order to get offspring that is genetically identical to the parent plant. Maybe 'Fukushu' is a hybrid of two varieties? Your tree looks beautiful, by the way. Congratulations on excellent plant parenting!

PS Logee's had a special going on for an epiphyllum called 'Orange Marmalade,' which I snapped up at a (uncharacteristically for Logee's) reasonable price. I can't seem to find anything on that one either! Information Age, my foot.

Edited March 11, 2020 by Manalto

[Matt N- Dallas]

I grow Changshou in San Marcos, TX.  It is upright and narrow.  It’s my favorite kumquat for flavor and large fruit. 

[Laaz]

Fukushu does come true from seed as do many types of citrus.

[Laaz]

I also have two Ruby red grapefruit trees I grew from seed. Both are over 25 ft tall & produce hundreds of excellent fruit each year.

Edited March 11, 2020 by Laaz

[Laaz]

I do still have some Changshou fruit hanging on the tree if anyone wants seed.

[Manalto]

7 hours ago, Laaz said:

Fukushu does come true from seed as do many types of citrus.

I didn't know that. I assumed it was like some other fruits where there is seedling variability. That's great news! Thanks! Sending you a PM.

[Fusca]

On 3/11/2020 at 10:01 AM, Laaz said:

I also have two Ruby red grapefruit trees I grew from seed. Both are over 25 ft tall & produce hundreds of excellent fruit each year.

Hey Todd I germinated a Rio red grapefruit seed 15 months ago.  How many years did it take your seedling to bear fruit?

[Laaz]

5 years in the ground from seed.

[amh]

On 3/10/2020 at 9:13 PM, Matt N- Dallas said:

I grow Changshou in San Marcos, TX.  It is upright and narrow.  It’s my favorite kumquat for flavor and large fruit. 

Where did you buy it?

[Matt N- Dallas]

I grafted a piece onto trifoliate rootstock.  

[amh]

7 hours ago, Matt N- Dallas said:

I grafted a piece onto trifoliate rootstock.  

Okay, I'm in the San Antonio metro area, so my options are usually meyer lemon or key limes. Do you know of any nurseries that might carry the less common kumquats?

[Matt N- Dallas]

John Panzarella in Lake Jackson, TX sells them.  He has a website.