siege2050

I got 4 Loquat seedlings in the mail today, I am just growing them for the tropical foliage as I know the buds will freeze, and was wondering what to expect from winter each year. Anybody that grows them in cold places, Do the leaves just get burned and look bad all year, fall off, or what each winter?

__________________

Kat2

I'm a diehard zone pusher; I know I'm not alone. I was intrigued by your question so searched "loquat in zone 7". Here's someone who has/had a loquat outside in zone 7. https://goingtoseedinzone5.wordpress...uat-in-zone-7/ And others who grew them in the "wrong" zone. Anyone tried a Loquat tree in zone 7 ?

If they're like figs, they'll die back the 1st couple of years. I planted one that grew happily in a warm 7 (MD) to a chilly zone 5 (OH). Despite all efforts to protect her, she went down to the root for 2 winters and produced nothing. By the 3rd year she was flowering. Good luck!

__________________

siege2050

I grow Chicago Hardy fig, and just finished rooting three cuttings. I kinda wondered about that too, dieing back the first years. I might try to grow them in containers for a couple of years before planting them.

__________________

Kat2

I was going to suggest doing that. The goal IME is to get a really good root system before subjecting the plant to reality. Without a good foundation, it won't come back. That 1st link discusses the author's experience with annual dieback.

__________________

siege2050

Thankyou for the links, That's pretty cool that a seedling can go up to 20 feet in 7 years even in a cold place.

__________________

pmurphy

I'm zone 8 and have had a loquat in the ground for about 5 years now (it's about 6ft tall). We don't always get real cold for the winter but we always get lots of cold rain or even wet snow (last winter we even had to two week long periods of 14F). As the tree flowers during the winter months I don't think I will ever get any but the tree itself has remained evergreen every year, although there was some burning of the leaves last winter.

barnetmill

I cannot speak for zone 7, but in Zone 8b in milder winters they yield fruit and in colder winters of say down to 19F no fruit on mine survive, but the leaves were not injured. They much hardier than citrus. They make excellent hedges if you want a tall hedge. But are susceptible to pear type fireblight.