One of the joys of gardening is being able to enjoy the (literal) fruits of one's labor. Growing produce in the backyard is not only convenient but cost-effective; rather than having to make a trip to the supermarket for food, fresh ingredients are steps away.
Alicia Silverstone, star of Clueless and longtime vegan, is proof of how simple it can be to source plants from a backyard. In a recent clip posted to her Instagram page, the actor showed off her Kumquat tree, bearing a ripe selection of the vibrant, orange fruit.
'This is my kumquat tree, and you can see it's so abundant this season,' she states in the video. 'You have to eat the whole thing; you can't be taking a little bite... you have to eat the skin and insides all at the same time.'
According to experts, abundance can be expected when it comes to kumquat trees – so long as they receive proper care.
'A kumquat tree can be very prolific,' says Gardens content editor at Homes & Gardens, Drew Swainston. 'They are self-fertile, and you can get a heavy crop of the small, orange fruits when the trees are happy.'
These fruit trees love warmth and light, so Swainston says that their placement is crucial to growth and health.
'They want to grow in a warm and sunny spot where they can bask in at least six hours of sunlight a day,' he explains. 'This can be outdoors on a deck or patio in warmer climates, or indoors in a greenhouse in a cooler location. They will want to be brought indoors for winter unless you are in a warm US hardiness zone, as they are not cold-hardy fruit trees.'
As we can see in Silverstone's clip, her tree is getting lots of love from the sun in her open back-patio space.
Finally, another perk of the kumquat tree is that they are transportable; an element that is not only allowed but encouraged.
'They are fruit trees ideally suited to growing in pots, so they can easily be moved as required,' Swainston states. 'Kumquats want to grow in free-draining soil and will not prosper sitting with wet feet for long periods. Plants will want regular watering and feeding in spring with a fertilizer specially formulated for citrus trees.'
The Sweet Kumquat tree doesn’t just produce nutrient-rich fruit; it also makes a gorgeous house or patio plant with fragrant blooms and colorful fruit. We can see why it's such a hit with Silverstone.
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