Kinnow, Citrus - 0.5 kg Seeds

Kinnow (Citrus reticulata) is a high-yielding mandarin hybrid and one of north India's most important commercial citrus fruits, prized for its juicy, deep-orange, easy-peeling segments. It forms a compact evergreen tree with dense, dark-green foliage.

It is grown on a large scale in Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh for fresh fruit and juice, and seedlings are also raised as rootstock material. It thrives in dry subtropical climates with hot summers and cool winters on light, well-drained soils. Note that fruit quality of named Kinnow is maintained by budding, while seed-raised plants are used mainly as rootstocks or for trials.

• Family: Rutaceae
• Native region: Cultivated hybrid of Asian mandarins
• Mature height: 3-5 m
• Growth rate: Moderate

Citrus seed is short-lived, so extract fresh seed, wash off the pulp and sow without drying. Soak briefly in water, sow about 1-2 cm deep in a tray of light, well-drained mix, and keep warm and moist; germination takes around 21-30 days. The seed is polyembryonic, often giving several seedlings; transplant the strongest into bags at the 4-6 leaf stage.