Loquat tree in bloom
November is here, and the loquats are in full bloom. Although not the most eye-catching flowers, I'm happy to see so many on my neighborhood trees. Loquats are very special because unlike most fruit trees, they bloom in late fall, and bear their fruit in the late winter/early spring, bridging the gap between the last of the citrus and the first strawberries. Unfortunately, this means that a really hard or late freeze (like February 2011) can wipe out the entire crop of fruit. Hopefully this year the winter weather will be a little milder, and if so, the loquat crop should be a good one.
I have five loquat trees, but only my Genoa Loquat is doing really well. The others are 'Texas' loquats (unnamed variety) that I planted in the front yard, where they just don't get enough sun. They're tall, but leggy, and they just don't compare to the Genoa loquat I planted in the back yard. The Genoa loquat is actually a seedling of John Panzarella's Genoa loquats in Lake Jackson, and I'm hoping its fruit is as large as its mother's. Unlike my Texas loquats, this tree was planted in full sun, and as a result is healthy and vigorous. It is larger than any of the other loquat trees, even though it was half their size when first planted.
None of my trees have flowered yet, but I'm hoping the Genoa loquat does in the next year or two. Even though they might fruit eventually, their sluggish growth compared to the Genoa loquat has convinced me that they will never be really productive in such a shady spot. I think that I may wind up replacing the Texas loquats with pawpaws. Pawpaws are said to like shade, and since my previous pawpaw planting failed, I would like to try again. I may also try a pineapple guava (feijoa). If you have a fruit tree that grows well and is productive in shade or partial shade, I'd love to hear about it. There's lots more room in the shady front flower bed, and I need to sneak in as many fruiting plants as I can before Dr. Wife fills it with flowers.
Finally, happy birthday to thebellhouse.weebly.com! I am very proud to say that with this post, I have met my goal of writing two fruit-related articles every week for one full year. Going forward, my goal is to continue to write at least one post each week. Thanks!
I have five loquat trees, but only my Genoa Loquat is doing really well. The others are 'Texas' loquats (unnamed variety) that I planted in the front yard, where they just don't get enough sun. They're tall, but leggy, and they just don't compare to the Genoa loquat I planted in the back yard. The Genoa loquat is actually a seedling of John Panzarella's Genoa loquats in Lake Jackson, and I'm hoping its fruit is as large as its mother's. Unlike my Texas loquats, this tree was planted in full sun, and as a result is healthy and vigorous. It is larger than any of the other loquat trees, even though it was half their size when first planted.
None of my trees have flowered yet, but I'm hoping the Genoa loquat does in the next year or two. Even though they might fruit eventually, their sluggish growth compared to the Genoa loquat has convinced me that they will never be really productive in such a shady spot. I think that I may wind up replacing the Texas loquats with pawpaws. Pawpaws are said to like shade, and since my previous pawpaw planting failed, I would like to try again. I may also try a pineapple guava (feijoa). If you have a fruit tree that grows well and is productive in shade or partial shade, I'd love to hear about it. There's lots more room in the shady front flower bed, and I need to sneak in as many fruiting plants as I can before Dr. Wife fills it with flowers.
Finally, happy birthday to thebellhouse.weebly.com! I am very proud to say that with this post, I have met my goal of writing two fruit-related articles every week for one full year. Going forward, my goal is to continue to write at least one post each week. Thanks!
Loquat Blossoms
Bee pollinating loquat blossoms.
Leggy Texas loquats struggling without enough sunlight.
Thriving Genoa Loquat
