After reading about the &8220;fruit and vegetable connoisseurs&8221; at Frazier Primary in last week&8217;s issue of The Natchez Democrat, and how they had the opportunity to learn all about the kumquat, I thought I would try to bring the rest of us up to speed with the students.

I have a kumquat (Fortunella) tree that was given to me by Natchez gardener Jewel Cobb several years ago. I&8217;ve grown it in a large container ever since.

Besides the beauty of the shiny evergreen foliage and the sweetly fragrant white flowers that develop in summer, the plant is laden with small orange kumquat fruits throughout the holiday season and well into the New Year. Right now my tree is loaded.

The ornamental value of kumquat trees is hard to beat. Classified as a shrub or small tree, it can reach a height of 15 feet although half that size is probably more likely.

Like a plum or an apple, the kumquat is best eaten fresh, with the skin on.

Once you have the opportunity to try one, you&8217;ll see what a delicious combination the tart outer layer and the sweet, pulpy interior make.

There are also kumquat varieties with a sweeter skin and a more sour inner flesh.

Resembling a small orange, kumquats are oval-oblong or round in shape, depending on the botanical species.

Kumquats were mentioned as early as 1178 A.D. in Chinese literature and it&8217;s commonly believed that they originated in China.

They have been grown in Europe and the United States since the mid-19th century. Typically grown in California, Florida and Texas, the kumquat is also an ideal choice for Miss-Lou landscapes.

Historically, kumquats have been utilized as a container specimen or a small tree grown close to the home for protection from winter cold.

Hot summer temperatures between 80 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit are favored by kumquat trees and they can withstand temperatures of 20 degrees or less in winter.

The fruit not only remains beautiful during the cold months, it actually becomes sweeter as it experiences several frosts. Because of this fact, it&8217;s best to let the fruit remain on the plant through the early months of the year.

Although kumquats can be grown from fresh seed, they rarely are because survivability on their own roots is generally not seen. Instead, they are grafted onto a cold hardy, disease resistant rootstock such as trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliate).

Kumquats grafted onto trifoliate orange will exhibit a dwarf habit, making them a wonderful selection for container culture.

As the students at Frazier Primary learned, kumquat is a nutritious food and an alternative to many of the fruits that we are more accustomed to.

Eight kumquats only have about 100 calories, making them a sweet alternative to less healthy, processed snack foods.

Kumquats are cholesterol free and contain miniscule amounts of fat and sodium. In addition, they contain calcium, iron, potassium and vitamin A, amongst other desirable nutrients.

Let&8217;s all become more knowledgeable, like the students at Frazier. Take a short break today to &8220;munch and learn&8221; about the benefits of kumquats!