3 year rule

The three year rule applies to Perrenials. Let’s look at Annuals. Annuals are plants that grow for one season/year and then die or are harvested. Examples are flowering plants such as sunflowers, marigolds, zinnias. (flowers die off or go to seed like sunflowers do at the end of the summer season) Vegetables that are annuals are: beans, squash, cucumber, lettuce, spinach, and kale etc.. Annual root vegetables examples are radishes and carrots.

Perennials continue their growth year after year. A Kumquat is a perennial. The plant is easy to care for and if kept trimmed in a container/pot they love growing by a sunny window. Growing Kumquats is important because they are citrus fruits. In the past, Kumquats were in a separate genus called Fortunella. Today, Kumquats are listed in the genus Citrus. Kumquats are the SMALLEST MEMBER OF THE CITRUS FAMILY.

Citrus is high in Vitamin C which helps the immune system, skin health, and wound healing.

What is the 3 year Rule ? Sleep - Creep - Leap

FIRST YEAR - the plant focuses on root development.

SECOND YEAR - develops for foliage and has a few blooms.

THIRD YEAR - Full maturity and blooms.

Be patient growing your Kumquat and by the third year the kumquat will produce small fruit. That’s the important part ! You can grow small citrus fruit indoors. Some information about commercially grown Kumquats say the plant need cold temperatures to support blooming. However, I grow my Kumquat indoors and in the winter my grow room does go down below 70 degrees. Hey, it’s winter and I also routinely open the window a “bit” to give my plants fresh outside CO2. The recommended temperature the plant should be exposed to for blooming is often stated as 68 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s easy ! No problem.