Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Harvesting.
Ripen loquats on the trees because these fruits do not continue
to ripen after they are harvested. Unfortunately, the ripe fruits are very soft
and fragile. Rather than picking them by hand, as you would an apple or pear,
clip the fruits individually from the clusters. More information on harvesting,
Commercially, loquats are very labor intensive. Given a suitable climate,
however, local niche production can be profitable. The fact that loquats ripen
in what is an off-season for many fruits provides a market advantage. In
most areas of North America, customer education will be a big part of your
marketing effort.
Climate and habitat concerns.
Loquats extend pome fruit production into
warm areas where apple and pear production can be challenging due to
chilling requirements. They are strictly grown in subtropical to mild temper-
ate climates, 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). Outside of Florida, Hawaii, parts of
California, and coastal Georgia, loquat trees may survive but produce few
fruits. Even in Florida, trees grown north of Jacksonville may survive but fail
to bear fruit.
Sites with full sun are best, but the trees tolerate partial shade. Loquats
tolerate sandy to clay soils at various pH values, but the University of Geor-
gia recommends growing this crop on well-drained loamy soils with a pH of
6-7. Soil drainage is important; loquats do not tolerate standing water.
Although adapted to subtropical climates, loquats suffer in extreme heat,
and leaf scorch is common in areas with hot, dry winds. High heat and in-
tense sunlight during the winter can sunburn the fruit. White-fleshed variet-
ies are best grown in cool, coastal areas.
Pests and diseases.
Various species of fruit flies trouble loquat and can be
serious in some areas. Codling moth is a serious pest in California, and scale
