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Calamondin Orange Seeds Ready to Plant

There is an excellent article on eHow about growing your Calamondin from seed

www.ehow.com/how_4605311_propagate-grow-calamondin-citrus-indoors.html

Four Calamondin seeds, ready to plant. I cannot say enough good things about this small orange or Calamondin plant. It can be grown indoors or out as a small bush, porch or patio plant or even trained for Bonsai. You will be receiving four freshly harvested seeds that will sprout quickly and provide you with a beautiful little blooming tree and tangerine/orange fruits in no time.

US BUYERS ONLY.

The best way to sprout your seeds (try one at a time) is to soak the seed overnight in a small glass of water. Then, place the seed in between two damp (not wet) paper towels in a small baggie on top of your refrigerator. When the seed sprout is at least 2 inches long, plant in small pot of potting soil mixed with some sand. Keep moist, not wet and transfer to increasingly larger pots as your little tree grows. Your little tree will make a nice decorative house plant too! The photograph is of my tree which sits outside on my front porch even during the Winter and was taken on January 2,2007. I live in Jacksonville, Florida zone 8 - temperatures as low as 15 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. My tree was loaded with green Calimondins (at least 60) and a few ripe ones. All of the green fruits have ripened now the tree will soon bloom again.

The tree produces blooms and fruit twice yearly and the orange blossoms smell deliciously sweet. When cut open the fruit is extremely juicy and has a tantalizing smell of a combination of orange and tangerine. The juice can be used as a flavoring in Oriental dishes, added to water for a hand rinse when cutting onions; in a small bowl at the table (it is used in some restaurants like this); used as an additive to soaps and water based colognes, or combined with cinnamon and ginger in an incense burner. And, last but certainly not least....you can make a delicious marmalade from the fruit. Is there no end to this little tree's virtues....probably not! The tree is easy to grow from seed in a combination of house plant potting soil mixed with a bit of sand and vermiculite in a 2-1-1 ratio. Fertilize twice yearly with Miracle-Gro. Your seeds should produce a small tree bearing fruit within a short 2 years. It can be taken in the house over the winter if you live in a cold climate and put in a sunny window. You can also plant it as a Bonsai and derive years and years of pleasure.

When you get your seeds, store them in a cool dry place until you are ready to plant them. You'll love your Calamondin tree, promise! A tree half this size has a retail price from $25 to $45.00. So, grow them yourself from these seeds and sell them locally at your local flea market if you want..... a great easy to grow and maintain little money maker! FROM WIKIPEDIA on the internet this info: The fruit of the calamondin resembles a small, round lime, a little bigger than the size of a thumbnail, 25-35 mm in diameter. It has the inviting odor of a tangerine with a very thin orange skin. In spite of its appearance and aroma, the taste is quite sour. However, the fruit can be frozen whole and used as ice cubes in beverages like tea or ginger ale. The juice extracted by crushing the whole fruit makes a flavorful drink similar to lemonade, and a liqueur can also be made from the whole fruits, in combination with vodka and sugar. In Asia the juice is used to baste fish, fowl, and pork. It is commonly used as a condiment for dishes such as pancit bihon. Calamondin marmalade is made in the same way as orange marmalade with a bit more sugar, providing a delicious spread for toast at breakfast. Like other citrus fruits, the calamansi is high in vitamin C, and the juice can be a good vitamin source. In North America the calamondin is grown mainly as an ornamental plant; it can be especially attractive when the fruit are present. If the plant is potted, it may be brought indoors during the winter in areas with cooler climates.

Another link on planting and sprouting your seeds is Here

How can I increase the germination rates of my seeds?
Contributed by: Lord Of The Strains
Submitted: March 30, 2004

Pre-soaking your seeds before planting them is a terrific way to ensure a greater germination percentage and faster germination rates. There are a few different methods of soaking seeds; the two most popular being the “Paper-Towel Method” and “Standard” (soaking in a cup or similar object), both of which yield similar results if done correctly (taproot emerges in approx. 24 hrs.)

NOTE: Regardless of which method you employ, seeds should be soaked in a dark, warm environment for the best results. Once the taproot (tiny, white root-tip) emerges from the seeds, they are ready to be planted into the growing-medium.

1. Paper-Towel Method:

MATERIALS: Paper-towels (at least 2 sheets), 2 plates/dishes (or similar object), warm water.

PROCEDURE:

It involves placing the seed(s) onto a damp paper-towel (which is placed on a plate/dish, or similar object), and covering them with another damp paper-towel.
For best results, use water that is a bit warmer than room-temperature (to compensate for any drop in temperature), and cover the plate/dish with another plate/dish (to prevent heat from escaping, as well as protect the seeds from light).

Also, using more than one sheet of paper-towel above and below the seed(s) will yield better results, as well as adding more warm water to the paper-toweling/bottom dish before covering the whole arrangement with the optional second plate/dish.

WARNING: It is imperative that the seed(s) are removed from the paper-toweling as soon as the taproot(s) has/have emerged; If the seed(s) is/are left to soak for too long, delicate micro-roots can be torn when the seed(s) is/are removed from the paper-toweling, which will temporarily retard germination/growth as well as stress the plant (which could possibly result in an unfavorable male/hermaphrodite).

2. Standard Soaking

MATERIALS: Cup/mug (one that retains heat well; i.e. ceramic coffee cup), plate/dish/lid (big enough to cover cup/mug/etc.), warm water.

PROCEDURE:
In this method, the grower places his/her seed(s) in a cup/mug of some sort, which is filled with warm water. I use a ceramic coffee cup - as it is a good conductor of heat - and I cover it with a ceramic plate (again, to prevent heat from escaping, as well as shield seeds from light).

For best results, use water that is a bit warmer than room temperature (again, to compensate for any drop in temperature). It is normal for the seed(s) to float on the surface; just let it/them soak for a while then give it/them a little tap to make it/they sink (the best, most viable seeds will sink to the bottom). Although it is virtually impossible to over-soak seeds using this method, seeds should only be soaked until the taproot has emerged.

CONCLUSION:
Both of these methods are equally effective if executed correctly. Most seeds should show their taproots within 24 hrs., and all seeds should show taproots within 48 hrs. (assuming you are using good, viable seeds).

TIP: (for soil-growers)
If you want to further increase your germination rates, simply plant your seed(s) shallow; approx. 1-2 cm. deep. The seedling(s) should break the soil-surface within 24 hrs., or 48 hrs. for the most (again, assuming you are using good viable seeds – otherwise, it may take another day or two). Once the seedling(s) has/have sprouted, add a little extra soil at the base of the stem(s) for additional support and root-protection.