The loquat tree also called the Japanese medlar, originated in southeastern China. Over time, the Chinese travelers introduced loquat into Japan and since then, it has been cultivated there. It is presumed that Chinese immigrants introduced the loquat to Hawaii, too. Today, Japan and Brazil are the leading producers of loquat.
The most important care regimen is to provide the ideal climatic conditions. Ideally, these trees grow best in mild-temperate to subtropical climate. If the temperature is too warm and moist or too cold, usually it is planted for ornamental purpose, but would bear no fruit. The tree can tolerate a temperature of 12 F, but if it falls below that, there are chances that it would die. On the other hand, if the temperature falls below 19 F, the buds would die. In summer, if there is extreme heat combined with dry hot winds, it can be detrimental to the tree, causing the leaves to scorch. During winter if the heat is high, it may result in sunburned fruits.
Loquat trees are small evergreen trees with rounded crown or large shrubs with short trunks. Usually, the tree grows to a height of around 10 feet. but at times it can grow to as high as 20 to 30 feet. Many a time these trees are used as ornamental plants. Loquat tree leaves are usually lanceolate-shaped and are 5-12 inches in length with a width of three to four inches. The upper surface are generally glossy and dark green, while the underneath is rusty, hairy or whitish and are stiff and thick, with oblique veins. New leaves may be tinged with red at times.
In early winter or late fall, the tree bears sweet fragrant flowers, which are small and white in color. Before the flowers bloom, they show an unusual rusty-wooly texture. Once pollinated, the flowers form loquat fruits, which can be anywhere between one to two inches long. They grow in clusters and are pear-shaped, oval or rounded. The skin is usually orange or yellow in color, or may at times be red-blushed in color. It is found that if the flowers and young fruits are thinned by clipping some of the flower cluster, it enhances the fruit size. To produce fruits of the highest quality, the flower clusters may be bagged so as to protect them from being damaged by birds and sunburn.
Loquat Tree Diseases
Similar to the living beings, the loquat tree is also prone to pests and diseases which can affect the overall health of the tree. Some of the common diseases of the loquat tree includes fire blight, phytophthora root rot and verticillium wilt.
Fire blight, a bacterial disease, can be serious for the plant if not treated on time and infects all parts of the plant. Initially the twigs and branches weaken and the foliage wilts accompanied by the infected areas becoming brown. As time progresses the infected area would look as if it has burned. Over time, the plant would begin to experience stunted growth, the branches and twigs would die. You can control fire blight by pruning the plant and applying chemicals to kill the bacteria. The infected areas should be pruned with the help of a sterile pruning shears. You can also use cooper sprays to prevent bloom infection.
A soil borne disease, phytophthora root rot, infects the root system of the loquat tree. This disease is more prevalent during rainy season when the moisture content in the soil is high. Trees situated in areas which does not have a good drainage system are most prone to phytophthora root rot. Symptoms include foliage turning yellow or dull green, loss of vigor and wilting. Initially symptoms appear on the twigs and branches after which it affects the whole tree. It takes some time for the tree to be infected completely. If you manage the application of water you would be able to control phytophthora. The area around the tree should be well-drained and you should ensure that water never accumulates around the tree. You can also use fungicides to prevent this disease.
A fungal disease, Verticillium wilt is a soil borne disease. The fungus can survive for several years even if, it does not have a host to support it. It is through the root system that this fungus infects the tree which causes chronic symptoms. The symptoms include scorching and yellowing of the foliage, stunted growth and weakening of the stems and branches. Moreover, the leaves may curl and the veins may turn yellow. Fungicides may not be able to treat this disease, you would need to remove these trees and plant new ones which are resistant to verticillium wilt.
Planting Loquat Tree
There are different varieties of loquat, so decide on the variety you would want to plant before you buy the sapling. If you are interested in gardening while buying loquat tree, make sure that you buy a healthy plant free of pests and diseases. Choose a plant which is about 4 feet high and choose a spot which receives ample sunshine to plant it. The soil should be fertile, loamy and well drained. Moreover, the soil condition should be neutral to acidic, as alkaline soil is not well suited for the growth of loquat tree.
Before planting remove all grass and weeds from the selected spot and then dig a hole deep and wide enough to accommodate all the roots of the tree. Once you have dug the hole, place the tree gently in the hole, spreading the roots. Place soil on the roots so as to hold the tree upright after which you may tap the soil gently.
For the next couple of weeks, water the plant every alternate day. After which you can water it twice a week for the next month. However, if it rains, you don't need to water it. As and when the tree is about 4 years old, you can water it during dry spells or when the fruit begins to ripen.
Thus, loquat tree can be planted in your garden just as an ornamental plant or may be used for its fruit. I hope, this article has given you an idea of the loquat tree care and its diseases which you should try to prevent so that your trees remain healthy.
