How to grow Loquat

Where to plant

Loquat grows in a wide range of well-drained soils but will not tolerate flooding. Plant it in full sun. Where spring frosts are possible, choose the warmest spot in the garden, as the flowers and young fruit form through winter and are killed below about 27°F. Very hot weather above 95°F slows growth.

In Florida, the UF/IFAS assessment of non-native plants rates loquat as caution, manage to prevent escape, in Central and South Florida, and not a problem species in North Florida. Pick up fallen fruit and remove seedlings.

• Florida, the Gulf South and Texas: grows and fruits well; harvest from February to May in Florida.
• Southern and Northern California and the Desert Southwest: plant at the times in the calendar and water during fruit development and long dry spells.
• Hawaii: grows outdoors.
• Colder regions: the tree may survive but frost usually destroys the winter flowers, so it rarely fruits.

Choosing a variety

Many named varieties exist, with yellow, orange or white flesh and different flavors, but few are sold widely; ask your nursery to source a grafted variety. Seedlings are not true to type and take 6 to 8 years to fruit.

Loquat is considered self-compatible, but UF/IFAS notes that a second variety or seedling nearby improves fruit set, size and yield.

How to plant

1. Choose a healthy, grafted tree that is not root bound.
2. Clear a ring of grass 3 to 10 feet across, dig a hole 3 to 4 times wider and 3 times deeper than the pot, and plant with the top of the root ball level with or slightly above the soil.
3. Water at planting, every other day for the first week, then once or twice a week for the first couple of months.
4. Mulch 2 to 6 inches deep, keeping mulch 8 to 12 inches from the trunk.

Watering and feeding

For the first three years, water once a week in dry spells. Older trees need water mainly while fruit is developing and in long droughts. Overwatering, such as from lawn sprinklers on a timer, can make trees decline.

A month after planting, give about 1/4 pound of a young tree fertilizer with minor elements every 8 weeks in the first year, increasing gradually as the tree grows. Mature trees need 2 to 3 feeds a year. Avoid nitrogen after August, which can reduce flowering, and avoid heavy nitrogen at any time, which makes trees more prone to fire blight.

Pruning and care through the year

• Tip young shoots longer than 2 to 3 feet in the first year or two to encourage branching. Prune mature trees to keep them 6 to 12 feet tall for easy picking.
• For larger fruit, thin each cluster to 4 to 10 fruit. Bagging clusters also protects them from birds and Caribbean fruit fly.
• Cut out branches killed by fire blight, well below the damage, and remove them from the garden.

Harvesting

In Florida loquats ripen from February to May. Fruit colors up and softens over the last 4 to 5 weeks; pick when it is nearly or fully colored, tasting a few to learn which color is ripe for your variety. Clip whole clusters or individual fruit.