loquats

BJ says...
Kert, In a few months I should be able to do an almost side-by-side comparrison of Champagne, Mizuho and Nagasaki. I think their seasons will overlap.

BJ says...
Yep, three should be perfect. What's your email John, as I cant seem to find it? Thansk.

BJ says...
Okay, we had a terrible year for loquats. The Nagasakiwase bore an early crop well before mid-winter, which was okay. Champagne had two super light crops of seedless small fruit, which were not great in flavour. Mizuho was the only one that bore fruit in season and man were they good! Like a really good juicy yellow peach. I didnt thin, but the fruit were still about twice the size of the otehrs but superior in flavour. Added bonus is that the fruit flies didnt get into them. I'd put Mizuho ahead of the others grown under my conditions. Then Champagne (when it does bear properly), then Nagasaki, which is prolific, beats the fruit flies and taste is alright.

Db says...
At what age Nagasaki-wase starts fruiting? Mine is 6ft high, growing nicely in pot, I bought it early this year, no flowering yet..

Db says...
Not sure whats wrong then, may be its not happy in pot... Do they grow and fruit well in heavy clay soil?

BJ says...
has anyone had erratic bearing in their loquats this year? my mizuho is the only one id say has cropped at the correct time. the champagne is just coming into full bloom now after two very small seedless winter crops and the nagasakiwase was loaded early in winter. its been a very strange year for them...

Db says...
My 1 yr old loquat in pot is now flowering for the first time, so very excited. Is this correct season for loquat flowering? It's only 5 ft tall from soil surface, not 6ft as I mentioned I one of post post above. I have read on some other thread here abt fungus issue with loquat trees. Is it ok to spray tree now to avoid any fungus considering its flowering now or avoid spraying now?

Db says...
Thanks Jenny, nice to know yours is flowering too. I hope our tree sets fruit as well, not just flowers, let's see.

Sandi says...
Jason, Are you in Victoria or NSW? Just wondering because of the different climates.

Jason says...
Sandi, I'm in the Victorian Portland. I just assume people know that since the NSW one is such a small place and the odds would be against it.

My friend spends a lot of time in India and he was telling me loquat is medicinal there.

Jason says...
Sure Rowan, its a bit run down at the moment due to the dry summer and no fertiliser this year but it might be worth a look in spring

Db says...
My grafted Nagasakiwase Loquat is fruiting now for the first time (bought Feb 12 and growing in pot).. Currently have around 100 fruits on it.. Fruits have now started ripening one by one - they are very yummy, ripe fruit has perfect combination of sweetness and tartness, so I'm very happy with the taste.. But some of the fruits are splitting (cracking) before they are ready to pick (only few at this stage), what could be the reason? I water this pot everyday, am I over-watering it which causing fruit splitting/cracking? Or could it be due to recent rain here in Brisbane?

Db says...
Thanks BJ, i thought so. Is it still ok to eat those cracked fruits?

Db says...
Unfortunately fruit fly has attacked on my loquats as well (along with guava, custard apple) :( Looks like I was late in bagging fruits this time, next season I will bag fruits very early..

Db says...
Julie, if we put 2 bags around the fruit instead of only 1 bag then probably we can avoid ff attack completely, what do u say? But twice the cost.

Also, I have seen preety large bag on ebay - 30 X 45cm bags, from ebay picture they seems to have tieing thread on very top edge of the bag, so u don't loose top 2-3 cm that u loose with other normal organza bags. So they seems very good to me but they are expensive - $18 for 20 bags. I'm going order them only when I need it. For now I'm using 20 x 30cm bags and they are ok for loquats too as my tree is fruiting for the first yr and so have small bunches of fruits.

Tommoz says...
Tasted first loquat of the season from a neighbour. Underrated fruit in my opinion although would be good if they bred a variety with smaller seeds.

Jason says...
When did it flower, late Summer? Mine are only just opening flowers now. I'll get fruit in about November/December. I did notice one open flower on a Macadamia the other day, that's not normal at all for here, usually they flower in Spring

BJ says...
I was about to hack my champagne back and graft a scion onto a sucker of the mizuho, when I saw wads of flowers pushing at the top of the plant. Erratic blooming and bearing seem to really affect the champagne cv. It had a small but divine winter crop. Probably better than the big mizuho from last season. I'd prefer it to crop once per year, more heavily.

BJ says...
Bob McGuffin. He had one left at the BOGI Fair last fortnight. Can send wood for grafting.

ivepeters says...
Saw today a Champagne loquat at Bunnings Cannonhill $38.

Carl76 says...

Pictures - Click to enlarge
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Carl76 says...
Thanks for the help.
Thought maybe it was something I needed to spray for early.
Do I use spf30+ on the remaining leaves ?

Only joking.
Thanks

ivepeters says...
Champagne first off the mark.

Pictures - Click to enlarge
Picture: 1

ivepeters says...
Hope it's got a excellent flavour.

Hanwen20 says...
Hi BJ. I love loquat as well. I would like to grow a few varieties of loquat in my backyard and would love to have Champagne and Mizuho. Would you be able to supply the scion wood or grafted plants?

Also, if anyone on the forum would have the variety Thames Pride?
Thanks. David