http://jacksonville.com/lifestyles/home_and_garden/2009-12-26/story/garden_q_a_kumquats_arent_citrus_but_theyre_treated_simi


BOB SELF/The Times-Union The fruit of a kumquat
tree. It isn't citrus, although it closely resembles citrus.

Garden Q & A: Kumquats aren't citrus, but they're treated similarly

By Becky Wern, Paula Lamb
Story updated at 4:16 PM on Friday, Dec. 25, 2009

I have a kumquat tree that has lost many of its leaves. It belonged to my grandfather and is pretty old. I have noticed that the bark is softened at the base.

Kumquats haven't been considered to be citrus since 1915, but they resemble citrus in many ways. One of them is a total intolerance for wet soils.

Since this tree is large, you can't lift it and plant it higher. You might, however, be able to put in French drains to draw excess water away.

We know we have read that kumquats aren't grafted, and maybe that is true elsewhere, but the University of Florida recommends grafting kumquat onto one of the trifoliate root stocks in Florida.

Grafting gives you a rootstock that will help protect your plant from some diseases and give it cold hardiness. For more information on grafting, go to http://homeorchard.ucdavis.edu/8001.pdf

Your best chance of success is to buy some rootstock. You can just buy a citrus tree and graft some of the healthy foliage from your tree on top. You would have a new, vigorous tree quickly and preserve your grandfather's tree that way. Grafting and budding aren't taught locally anymore, but there is good information online, including some videos showing the process.

You may want to see if you can find a local citrus grower who could help you.

Becky Wern and Paula Lamb are master gardeners with the Duval County Extension Service and the University of Florida/IFAS.