Selecting Pome Fruit Crops and Varieties - Growing Organic Orchard Fruits - page 191

Loquats or Japanese Medlars at a Glance
Region: USDA Zones 8b to 12, where temperatures remain above
about 12°F (−11°C). Flower buds can be damaged or killed at 18 to
28°F (−8 to −2°C), and fruit can be damaged at 25°F (−4°C).
Summer heat: Suffer in extreme heat, and leaf scorch is common in
areas with hot, dry winds
Soil pH and type: Grow best on well-drained loamy soils with a pH of
6-7 but will tolerate sandy to clay soils and various pH values. Loquat
do not tolerate standing water.
Pollination: Self-fruitful to self-unfruitful, depending on variety; cross-
pollination improves production and helps ensure large fruits
Other notes: It can be difficult to find plants in North America.
Loquats are evergreen and grow as large shrubs or small trees that can
reach 30 feet tall. In cultivation, we normally keep the trees around 10 feet
tall. Loquat seedlings are the most common rootstocks, although quince is
sometimes used to reduce tree size. Because the trees are spreading, rather
like a magnolia, allow plenty of space in your planting: plant trees 20 to 25
feet apart in rows that are 25 to 35 feet apart.
Loquat fruits grow about 1 to 2 inches long, are rounded to pear-shaped,
and are usually yellowish-orange, often with a red blush. The ripe flesh is
very soft and juicy. Depending on variety, it can be white, yellow, or orange;
sweet or tart; and contain from one to many seeds. Most cultivated varieties
have one to five seeds. Loquats can be eaten fresh, but they bruise easily and
can be hard to find in the marketplace. You can also process the fruits into
jellies, pastries, sauces, wines, and other culinary items.