variegated citrus (forum)

Clare starts with ...
Hi, just wondering if anyone out there knows where I can get some variegated lemons or oranges? There is a variegated variety of the Eureka lemon that produces pink fruit sold overseas. Has anyone seen it here?

Time: 21st October 2012 10:48pm

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About the Author Clare5
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Pauline says...
The only variegated citrus I have seen (well just about) is cumquats.
If they are in Australia I would think daleys would have them.
Pink lemons would be great, but I am guessing they are not in the country.

Time: 22nd October 2012 1:02pm

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About the Author Pauline
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Pauline says...
I just asked at a nursery I was visiting and they have had varigated lemons in before, but not with pink fruit.

Time: 22nd October 2012 1:58pm

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sean says...
Cara Cara Oranges frequently will send out branches that are variegated and these branches can easily be grafted onto a seedling.

Time: 22nd October 2012 7:51pm

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Original Post was last edited: 22nd October 2012 10:19pm

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Brain says...
Variegated calamondin (calamansi) and cumquat (probably a fortunella japonica (but not 100% sure)) is available from Bunnings. I've also seen plenty of variegated calamodin from various other nursery as well. The name calamodin/kumquat is a bit deceptive as different nursery uses these names to describe different plants.

There is this guy in UK and this link contains his collection of variegated citrus, worth a look to get some ideas. http://www.homecitrusgrowers.co.uk/citrusvarieties/variegatedcitrus.html


I do have a vareigated calamodin and will look to get the kumquat version as well. To be honest, I've read that vareigated versions are not as productive as the full green versions and so if you are after fruit production, best stick to the 'boring' versions. Cheers.


Time: 24th October 2012 12:13pm

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BJ says...
The white bits that make the variegation dont photosynthesise and so the plant is never as robust or fruitful as one that is green. On the otehr hand, variegated plants are said to have less troubles from pests. The local nursery often sells variegated meyer lemons.

Time: 24th October 2012 12:22pm

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Brain says...
Olea nursery has the pink variegated eureka lemon on their list of product.
http://www.oleanurseries.com.au/comm_product_display.php?plant_id=291&search_id=73&page=6

so it is available in Australia. The question is, any retail nursery who sells it? Maybe Daley can source some trees and on sell to us?

Time: 28th October 2012 2:12am

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Pauline says...
Might be worth giving them a ring and asking who they supply to in your area. And then if they are available get them to order one in (although you might have to wait for them to have a big enough order).

Time: 28th October 2012 7:52am

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MaryT says...
I was looking after a friend's variegated cumquat/calamondin that was in a large pot and with proper care and in the best position it flowered and fruited prolifically just like the 'boring' version. The marmalade made from its fruit was just as marvellous as well.

Time: 28th October 2012 9:42am

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Pauline says...
Yes, the ones I have seen have always had just as many fruit.
I have a load of cumquats I need to make a marmalade out of. Any tips? They are the type with a loose skin, bit like a mandarin.

Time: 28th October 2012 7:49pm

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Julie says...
Do you need a recipe Pauline? I used to make it every year. I found it doesn't set quite as well as other citrus, so I added a bit of pectin towards the end - Jamsetta.


Time: 28th October 2012 9:44pm

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MaryT says...
Lucky you, Pauline. I think the trick is to pick them BEFORE the skin loosens; I guess you are talking about calamondin rather than the true cumquats.

Time: 29th October 2012 9:35am

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Pauline says...
Mary, I could be. It was a freebie hidden down the back of a large nursery and I was just told it was the round type of cumquat, but after googling it seems they are tight to the skin.

I do have one of the proper ones too, I candied those fruits whole. The other tree the fruit just didn't want to stay whole, so marmalade it is.

Julie I would LOVE a recipe if you have one. Thank you.

Time: 29th October 2012 7:08pm

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Julie says...
Pauline, my candied cumquats didn't work out well, probably because I should have picked them earlier. They collapsed after cooking for a short time. Oh well, there is always next year.

Will dig out recipe and post tomorrow. I use the one from a very ancient Golden Wattle cook book.

Time: 29th October 2012 9:54pm

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Pauline says...
Mine looked amazing until I took them out of the syrup to put in the jars. Loads of them collapsed then, but they still look great. I put some in a cake before I baked it the other week. They went very well other than the odd pip. Lol.

Time: 29th October 2012 9:59pm

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Julie says...
Not Golden Wattle, but 1970 Women's Weekly cookbook.

Cumquat marmalade

3lb cumquats 6 pints water
2 1/2 lb sugar juice 2 lemons

Slice fruit finely (lazy me - put through food processor). Keep seeds aside in dish. Cover fruit with 5 pints of water, cover seeds with remaining water, leave overnight.

Boil fruit and liquid with strained liquid from seeds until rind is tender and liquid reduced by half. Add sugar and lemon juice, stir over low heat until sugar is dissolved, then boil rapidly for up to 1 1/2 hours, or until marmalade sets when tested on cold saucer. Pour into hot sterilised jars, seal.

I think I cook it about an hour, then add a litle Jamsetta. Jam and marmalade cooked too long loses some 'fruity' flavour.

Time: 30th October 2012 8:44pm

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Pauline says...
Thanks very much. I will try to motivate myself this weekend.

Time: 30th October 2012 9:40pm

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VF says...
Candied Cumquat sounds delicious, are they hard to make? Any chance of a recipe Pauline or Julie?

Time: 1st November 2012 11:13am

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Pauline says...
http://chezpim.com/bake/candied-kumquat

That is the one I went by. I struggled to get them to stay under the fluid though. :-)

Time: 1st November 2012 7:09pm

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VF says...
Thankyou Pauline!

Time: 2nd November 2012 7:07am

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Julie says...
I looked at several recipes online, but can't remember which one I used. Whichever it was, I feel the fruit had too short a cooking time. Much too 'chewy' and a bit tough.

When making marmalade, once you add the sugar, the fruit will not get any softer, so has to be well-cooked first. I think the same applies to candied citrus, IMO.

Time: 2nd November 2012 9:42pm

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VF says...
Thanks for the tip Julie!

Time: 3rd November 2012 2:16am

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