Loquat Tree for Sale

Planting instructions

Find a spot that receives full sun to partial shade and has well-draining soil. Early morning sun and late afternoon exposure are ideal. Be sure there are no obstructions such as overhead wires, buildings, or other trees within 30 feet. Loquat is not picky about soil type, but does well in a soil that drains well and is not salinated.

Dig a hole that is slightly deeper than the root ball and three times its diameter. Remove some of the soil from the rootball by rinsing it off with water and spread the roots out. Make a small mound in the bottom of the hole and place the tree over the top of it. Backfill the soil while tamping it down to remove air pockets. When halfway full, fill the hole with water and allow it to drain. Continue filling the hole while keeping the top of the root ball even with the surrounding soil line. When finished, water again deeply.

Watering and nutrients

Water your new loquat tree every other day or so when first planted. The goal is to keep the tree’s root ball and surrounding soil moist until new growth appears. After a few weeks, cut your watering down to once weekly, watering only when you are experiencing high heat that dries the soil. It is a good preventative to keep the area weed-free. Young loquat trees do not compete well with weeds and tough grasses. Maintain a clean perimeter of about three feet in diameter around the tree’s trunk.

Loquat trees will benefit from a regular feeding schedule of a balanced fertilizer. Feed the trees by spreading a granular fertilizer around the tree’s base in a two- to three-foot circle. Slowly water the mixture into the soil, careful not to let it run off or away from the tree.

Pollination

Some varieties of Eriobotrya japonica are self-pollinating. Others do require a second tree for pollination. If you have just one of these evergreens in your garden, be sure to choose a self-fertile variety. Having more than one loquat tree gives you an even better harvest as cross-pollination chances are higher. Loquat trees do not like cold weather. The tree may withstand freezing temperatures, but the flowers and fruit cannot.

Pruning

Pruning your loquat tree does more than just improve its looks; it will improve your harvest. Loquats will produce more panicles in the spring if dead ones are removed in the previous fall. Pruning helps the lower branches of your tree receive the light they need to produce fruit. Improved airflow aids in production and overall tree health. Remove any dead or diseased branches any time of the year, but keep the severe pruning until fall or winter. Keeping the tree from getting too tall will also help during harvest time.

Pests, diseases, and animals

Ladybugs and all-natural neem oil are two of your best weapons when it comes to fighting insect pests on loquat trees, although in serious infestations, you may need to resort to an insecticide. Just be careful not to harm any of your pollinators or beneficial bugs. Aphids, black scale, codling moths, and fruit flies are all enemies you need to keep an eye on. Fruit flies are easy to deter by keeping the area under and around your tree free from fallen fruit and debris.

Loquat trees can succumb to a serious bacterial disease called fire blight. Very wet conditions with high humidity can bring on this disease. The first step is to remove and burn any infected branches or parts of the tree. Copper fungicides may be used against mild infections, but there is no chemical cure for fire blight.

Loquat fruit is an attractive lure to many bird species and deer. You may need to cover your tree with bird netting and fence it off from the deer and any other browsers who may wander in.

Harvesting

Loquat fruit should be allowed to ripen fully on the tree. It usually takes about 90 days from the flowers opening for the fruit to be ready for picking. A signal they are ripe is when the fruit nearest the stem begins to turn from yellow to orange. At this point, they will come off of the tree with a slight tug and will be soft to the touch.

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