Return to the Gardening in the UK Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
Loquat tree
| | |
Posted by burville (My Page) on Tue, May 2, 06 at 2:13
| I have a plant, grown from seed, that has been identified for me on another forum as a Loquat. I understand it is sub-tropical. I was hoping to plant it outside in a south facing garden (Weymouth, Dorset) but am concerned about losing it. Can anyone tell me if it is likely to survive and prosper and, if so, what special precautions I should take in winter?
Thanks |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Loquat tree
| | |
| I've seen several of them planted in front gardens here in South London, where it's several degrees colder than central London. We had a long, hard winter this year, with plenty of frosts. The loquats still look in pretty good shape. It's a lovely tree and apparently hardy in most areas, so should certainly do well in Weymouth. Incidentally, have you visited Abbotsbury sub-tropical gardens, just up the road from you? |
RE: Loquat tree
| | |
| That's interesting. I will try planting it out but I'm not sure how old it should be. It's about a year now and is developing bark. Re Abbotsbury - I have been there but I never thought to go and see if they have any loquats. Good idea. Thanks. |
RE: Loquat tree
| | |
| Perfectly winter-hardy in most of Britain - what it does need to ripen fruit though, is a really hot (Turkish bath style) summer, 3-4 months of 30°C or more. So it is usually only grown as a foliage plant in Britain without any fruit production. Resin |
RE: Loquat tree
| | |
| Hi Burville Loquats may be hardy in winter. However, they can suffer badly from blackening of the leaves and branches. It looks like fire-blight and seems to be caused by cold and damp conditions. It can totally ruin the look of an otherwise fantastic shrub for a tropical look. The trees have a long and brittle tap-root, and I have found transplanting the seedlings to be a problem. I recomend planting the seeds directly in their final location. They grow quickly through the winter months and seem to survive a summer draught without irrigation. They may be the plant for global-warming and hose-pipe bans? |
RE: Loquat tree
| | |
We have a large Loquat tree at our tennis club. It grows quite happily on a north facing wall in the South East of England. It is now about 20ft high and a stunning tree.
It does not fruit as I think much hotter conditions are required. When it is cold it does have a tendance for some of the leaves to turn black and drop off. But it never loses all the leaves. I would say that it needs quite a large garden as this is a sizeable tree and because of the dark heavy nature of the leaves it could look oppressive in a smaller garden. |
RE: Loquat tree
| | |
| The ones that I see in South London manage to fruit successfully. |
RE: Loquat tree
| | |
| That many loquats are growing in south London was first brought to my attention by a Syrian friend. In the South London Botanical Institute, Norwood Road, Tulse hill, there is a mature tree which regularly fruits well in the autumn. I have a plant in a pot from a stone from a bought fruit which is about 2 feet tall. It is in about a 10 inch pot and is immensely hardy, having just survived the bitterly cold December outside in Tulse hill in perfect shape without blackening. New leaves are already growing fast on 19th January 2011. I note that in Asia it flowers very late in year and fruits very early in new year, being eaten on Chinese New Year in celebration. it also recovered from very thoroughly drying out when I forgot to water it. So it is immensely hardy. It is a member of rosaceae family, thus related to apples etc.. |
RE: Loquat tree
| | |
| I love loquats and eat them whenever I can get them. Being lazy, I throw the pits outside the kitchen onto a narrow north facing strip of soil between the house and the neighbour's wall. I have about 10 self-planted trees. One of them is 12 feet high. The leaves do blacken sometimes, and they never bear fruit. I am thinking of planting one in the sunniest spot in the garden. Either that or a mulberry trees. Any ideas welcomed. Thank you! |
RE: Loquat tree
| | |
| To Phillip Harris - Do you plan to transplant your potted loquat into the garden? I am in the process of rooting a cutting from a friend's tree and wonder whether to plant it straight into the garden or to put it into a pot first? |
RE: Loquat tree
| | |
I have a loquat tree in my cold conservatory'it is about seven years old.I lop the top off each spring or it would go through the roof.How can I get it to blossom and fruit.
It was grown from a cutting. |
RE: Loquat tree
| | |
| How much luck would I have if I try to grow this wonderful fruit tree in Michigan? It grows abundantly in Florida and Malta. Would it handle 0*F or below? |
|
|
|
|
