How to Grow Calamondin Lemon (Kalamanse/Calamansi)

The calamondin lemon, kalamanse, is a popular citrus fruit that thrives in the tropical island climate. It can be used in a variety of dishes and truly makes the perfect addition to your garden here in Guam.

Time of Planting: July-September. Grown in full sun. Water consistently during the dry season.

Time to Germination: three to six weeks. Recommended to begin indoors and transfer to outside soil once seed has germinated.

Special Considerations: Tolerates a wide range of soils, including limestone and sand. As long as you keep the plants warm, humid, and exposed to light, they should grow into healthy trees.

Common Pests and Diseases (and how to manage):

Disease: crinkly leaf, exocortis, psorosis, xyplorosis and tristeza. General fungicides can be used for fungal diseases.

Pests: Fruit flies, aphids, citrus bark borers – always check for eggs. You might need to apply the pesticide several times, usually every few weeks, to eliminate pests. Cutting off infested branches or introducing predatory insects into the yard might also help.

Harvest (when and how): Harvest calamansi fruit by cutting it from the tree with scissors. Leave a piece of the stem attached to the fruit to help it stay fresh. Peak season is between August – October.

Eating: Eaten soon after harvesting and recommended to refrigerate immediately.

Storing: If you can find the space, the vegetable drawer is the best spot. It should keep there for several weeks.

How to Store and Plant Calamondin Seeds

Recommended Population Sizes: The more seeds, the more likely they will propagate.

Harvesting: Buy or pick local calamansi fruit and save the seeds.

Cleaning and Processing: Once harvested from the fruit, remove the outer, pulpy layer of seeds. Use seeds soon after extraction, as they need to be moist to grow.

Storage and Viability: Place extra seeds in a damp paper towel. Place the towel in a reusable bag under sunlight until ready to plant. Use within 3 days.