Kumquat tree

Question

Hi there

I’m really confused.i have a kumquat tree growing now for approximately 7 years which has been bearing kumquats however now it seems to be bearing lemons.I do have a lemon tree growing approximately 8 meters away from it. Could this be some type of mutation?.

Please advise how this is even possible.

Regards
Mukesh
0765676597
[e-mail]

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Answer 1

It is likely that your tree is grafted, as most citrus are. This means that the rootstock of the tree is different from the scion (top). Sometimes, rootstock will try and outcompete the unnatural top by sending out its own shoots. These should, really, be clipped off, or at least kept down to one or two branches, as they will steal nutrients from the kumquat, while feeding its own branches more.

This is the most likely, and most common, explanation for this phenomenon.