Loquats are probably the most common fruit tree that people have in their yards in my neighborhood. However, most people don't realize that they produce fruit, or that the fruit can be delicious. To most people, loquats trees are just a nice evergreen, tropical-looking landscape plant.
The loquat fruit tastes something like an apricot, but they're a little more acidic. Not everyone likes them, but I sure do. They're really low maintenance trees, and very special because they fruit in February/March when nothing else is in season. Also, since they're very common and most people don't pick the fruit, you don't need a loquat tree to harvest several pounds. (Ask permission before you pick!)
The bad thing about loquats is that if a hard freeze blows in at the wrong time, all the fruit can be ruined. There's a big loquat tree by my community pool, and last year I bet I was able to harvest 3-4 pounds of fruit, in spite of a really hard freeze (in early January 2010). Unfortunately, this year a really hard freeze blew in much later (early February 2011), and the fruit didn't make it. I don't know why they survived last year but not this year.
Too bad. They're great for fresh eating, make a great jam, they can be used to make wine, and the seeds can even be used to make a 'Loquat Grappa'. Fingers crossed for next year.
The loquat fruit tastes something like an apricot, but they're a little more acidic. Not everyone likes them, but I sure do. They're really low maintenance trees, and very special because they fruit in February/March when nothing else is in season. Also, since they're very common and most people don't pick the fruit, you don't need a loquat tree to harvest several pounds. (Ask permission before you pick!)
The bad thing about loquats is that if a hard freeze blows in at the wrong time, all the fruit can be ruined. There's a big loquat tree by my community pool, and last year I bet I was able to harvest 3-4 pounds of fruit, in spite of a really hard freeze (in early January 2010). Unfortunately, this year a really hard freeze blew in much later (early February 2011), and the fruit didn't make it. I don't know why they survived last year but not this year.
Too bad. They're great for fresh eating, make a great jam, they can be used to make wine, and the seeds can even be used to make a 'Loquat Grappa'. Fingers crossed for next year.
4 small loquat trees out front.
Genoa loquat seedling from John Panzarella.
Big loquat tree by the community swimming pool.
Immature loquats before the big freezes.
Loquat fruit ruined by hard freezes.
