| Japanese
Loquat Edible Plum Tree
Eriobotrya japonica - Other Common Names include:
Maltese plum, Japanese
Medlar, May apple & Pipa. A member of the Rosaceae plant family. Although
originating from Japan, they have become naturalized in the United
States, Central America and probably many other parts of the world
due to their ease of growth and popularity in eating the ripe
yellow-orange sweet plums. In Japan the Loquat is commercially
harvested and sold at the market in large scale quantities,
however, I have never seen them for sale in the U.S. But I am sure
there are fruit stands that would carry them. I don't know anyone
who doesn't enjoy their sweet, acidic flavor when ripe.
The fruit when mature can normally be compared to the size between
a quarter and a half dollar. They do contain seeds (normally up to
4), but has never hindered anyone I know including myself of
eating them fresh off the tree. It's kinda like a watermelon as
far as seeds go. We eat a bite and expel the seeds. They do seem
to taste very good after washing and refrigerating as any fruit,
but is not required.
Trees grow to heights of about
30+ feet and about just as wide if allowed with 8-10" long and up
to 3-4" wide dark green leaves. The undersides of the leaves are a
furry pale grey/white. They are shade producing trees and can be pruned
beginning when young to a desired shape. When allowed to grow on
their own they form excurrent mature trees. The Japanese Plum
Trees are rapid growing trees and should begin to produce fruit
their second or third year after permanent establishment in the
ground. Normally after they have become established can grow 10
feet in one season. This is common, they grow that fast! Japanese
Plums are cold hardy to about 10ºF maybe colder, but extended
periods below 18ºF will deprive you of your crop for that year.
Fruiting: Loquat Plum
trees flower in late summer, are pollinated by natural methods and
local insects. The fruit grows through the winter
and are normally ready to harvest or eat fresh in early spring. It
is rare when we get freezes to long or too low here to hinder
fruit production. Winter of 2009 was one of those long and cold
ones that did affect most trees. There were a few that did bear
fruits, but they were few in our area. It affected ours. We had no fruit
this year and its the first year that I can remember not having
any.
They can be grown to produce
fruit in full sun or partial shade. They do prefer a full sun
position, but I have seen plenty bearing fruit in about 40% shade
as an understory tree. I would start off seedlings/saplings in a
filtered light position in a container until they reach a caliper
of at least 1/2". By then the tree should be about 4-5 feet
tall and ready for full sun and to take off.
Fertilizing: I mentioned
they were popular because of ease of care, and that is true. I
have never needed to fertilize them to grow. if you choose to
fertilize your sapling, please wait until it has been established
in your world for at least 3 months and has grown about 15 new
leaves. This is just to be on the safe side so you do not burn
your tree saplings. The best times for fertilizing your Japanese
Plum trees is in the early spring just after last frost and/or
about 2 months before first freeze to give the tree time to
consume the food and utilize the nutrients.
Use a
fertilizer mixture such as 2 lb. of 5-10-5 along with 1 lb. of
super phosphate for every 1 inch of tree diameter. Fruit tree
fertilizer spikes can also be used. These can be pounded into the
ground 3 inches below the surface at a rate of 3 spikes for every
2 inches of tree
diameter.
Soil should be well
draining and they do not appear to be particular about soil pH
although I have read that they do prefer a more acidic range of
6-6.5.
Pruning is done as all
other aborescent trees only with this one being a fruit producer,
you will want to wait until AFTER it has produced. Also you will
see results of your techniques much sooner than you will an Oak.
NEVER remove more than 1/3rd of your tree (any tree) on one
pruning session or growing season. This will harm the tree and
deprive it of valuable reserves. if you over prune, it may hinder
the next years fruit production as well. As a rule with Japanese
Loquat Plum trees, I don't see the need to prune after the third
year of permanent establishment unless there is damage from storm
or heavy freeze. They normally do not drop limbs as other trees
and dead portions of a Loquat Plum tree means you have issues that
I would not be able to address. If it is wilting, I would water.
If it is not growing or dropping leaves, I would replant in
another location if it is still a young tree. If it has been
established for more than a year and these things happen you
should contact your local agriculture extension and have them come
by and take a look. Anymore, its difficult to tell when a new
vector may enter the scene to any tree family, but as of today I
know of no known pests or diseases which effect the Japanese
Plums.
They are relatively pest and
disease free and have no known natural enemies. So they should
stay green for life dropping leaves as new ones grow, you wont
notice the tree as they are evergreen. You will notice a small
amount of leaves per season, but hardly enough to even get out the
rake for.
Receiving new transplants: Ours
have been grown in 50% sun/shade and so should be started in
your world in a shady area until it is established.
Planting:
Make sure that the roots are covered completely with dirt and
that there are no air pockets in the root system. An air pocket
will kill part of or the entire young tree. The depth
should be where the upper most roots are emerging. Do not plant
this too deep. This can kill a tree of any type.
The
soil should be rich in organic matter and well drained to do its
best. They are said to grow best in 6-6.5 pH range but I don't
know of an area where I haven't seen them flourish. So soil should not
be a problem for most growers.
Water
it in very well and keep the soil moist for the first
60 days until you see 10-15 new leaves or at least steady leaf
production.
If
you need any further help, please see the listing for any
additional details
or send me an email and ill be happy to help.
Thank
you again, we really do appreciate your business and hope that
you’ll come back for more rare collectable and common palms, plants, trees
and favorite tropicals.
Nutritional Facts
of The Japanese Loquat Plum Fruit
Japanese
Loquat fruit have high amounts of vitamin A, Beta-Carotene &
Potassium and are a healthy source of carbohydrates being low in
calories and also can be an excellent source of fiber in your
diet when they are in season. We know from the potassium in
bananas, they can actually be a mood lifter when eaten raw and
un-refrigerated. Be mindful of the seed itself and do not allow
children or yourself to chew or swallow them as they are said to
contain cyanide. I have eaten this fruit my entire life and as
far as I know have never been sick from them once. I'm sure I've
swallowed a seed although I can't remember actually doing so. If
I did, it went down smooth as they are smooth. Just to be on the
safe side, there it is.
I have read
where it is common to make jellies/jams/preserves from the
Japanese Loquat. Now, that would be something to talk about.
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