Thread: Loquat
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Old 03-31-2012, 11:43 AM   #74 (permalink)
Richard
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Default Re: Loquat

Big Jim refers to the size of the fruit. Note that fruit is born on green and semi-hardwood shoots, so removing new growth is a sure way to not get a harvest.

The shape of your tree looks normal for its age. A typical footprint for an unpruned loquat is 12 x 12 feet with a height of 16 to 24 feet. This is a "narrow" form compared to an unpruned pit fruit tree. For Loquat, if you want a smaller foot print it is easy to obtain by thinning adventurous side branches and letting verticals continue. One of our friends has 20 year-old Loquat kept to a compact form of 8' x 8' and 9' high. For the height, I would let the plant go to 10' or 12', then thin some of the verticals so the overall height is 8', and then every other year or so again thin the verticals to bring the height back to desired level.

I think you should feed your plant a "bloom and fruit" supplement in the late summer; e.g., September. The potassium phosphite you have would be a good choice.
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