We have around 160 different types of fruit trees here at Tullamore Farm.
We enjoy the various types of fruit when in season. Fruit that brings back warm memories are without doubt the best.
As a child growing up, loquats were still quite common in backyards and my Grandma had one. They don’t seem to be around like they were 50 plus years ago.
Loquats thrive in our local climate.
When they receive ample sunlight, warm temperatures, and moderate humidity they thrive. They’re well-suited to our mild winters and thrive in temperatures between 15 and 30°C. They can handle brief frost but consistent frost can damage them, so consider microclimates or protect young trees in cold-prone areas.
Loquats will tolerate some shade, especially during the hottest part of the day. Proper sun exposure will ensure healthier growth and an abundance of fruit.
We had a glut of fruit from our seven trees with the harvest finishing this year in early October.
You rarely see the loquat fruit in shops but the fruit tastes fabulous and most that are familiar with it do enjoy the taste.
From planting, you are looking at between three to seven years before fruiting.
This depends on the starting tree and how ideal the conditions are. Ours started fruiting at about the four to five year mark.
The trees are quite ornamental and make an excellent garden tree with lots of glossy foliage and a natural attractive shape. They can grow to about seven metres tall with a large canopy. We prune ours to maintain a nice shape and keep manageable for easy fruit harvesting. The large clusters of attractive orange coloured fruit stand out against the dark green leaves.
Once established they are quite drought tolerant and may be why grandma had one. We only fertilise with our compost once a year in November.
When they are still small we fertilize them more often. They flower in winter and set the fruit in spring. We look forward to a good crop every year and some serious reminiscing.
