Chinese Kumquat Gains Popularity in Lahore’s Home Gardens

Chinese Kumquat Gains Popularity in Lahore’s Home Gardens, a fruit that has been cultivated in East and South Asia for centuries.

The kumquat, a fruit resembling a loquat in color and size, has emerged as a new favorite among home gardeners in Lahore. Following the successful cultivation of exotic fruits like strawberries and lychees in the region, kumquats have now gained attention for their unique appeal.

Seema Khuled, a resident of an upscale locality in southern Lahore, expressed her enthusiasm for growing exotic fruits in her home garden, calling the cultivation of Chinese kumquat a rewarding experience.

Kumquats are small fruit-bearing trees that produce edible fruits similar in appearance to loquats and oranges but much smaller, roughly the size of a large olive. Despite their tangy flavor, they can be eaten fresh or used for juice extraction.

“In both forms, the taste of kumquat is exceptional,” Khuled remarked. According to nutritionist Dr. Ali Haider, kumquats are rich in vitamin C and calcium, offering numerous health benefits such as improving heart health and strengthening the immune system.

Horticultural experts trace the origins of kumquat to southern China, with historical references dating back to the 12th century. The fruit has been widely cultivated in other regions of East Asia, such as Japan, South Asia, including India, and Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines. China remains the world’s leading producer of kumquats.

Inamul Haque, a horticulture expert at Barani Agriculture Research Institute in Chakwal, stated that the successful cultivation of kumquat in Pakistan has opened avenues for developing commercial varieties, ensuring its widespread availability. He added that besides Punjab, the fruit can also be grown in other regions, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Kumquat trees take approximately one year to mature before bearing ripe fruit ready for harvest. Unlike other citrus plants, the fruiting season of kumquat extends for a longer period, from December to May. Additionally, they exhibit better temperature resistance and have a prolonged shelf life.

Currently, due to the absence of commercially available varieties, kumquat plants are only found in limited nurseries in Lahore. This has encouraged gardening enthusiasts to grow the fruit in their own homes.

Before kumquat cultivation began in Pakistan, horticulturalists had successfully experimented with other exotic fruits such as olives, papayas, figs, lychees, strawberries, avocados, and kiwis, which were previously imported at high costs.

However, plant pathologists have cautioned that introducing exotic fruits should be done carefully, as they may bring new pathogens and pests that could pose risks to local agriculture.