Fruitless Loquat Tree

Age

• Loquat trees grown from seed may not start to bear fruit until the tree is at least eight to ten years old. Trees which are grafted (i.e. where parts of two different plants are joined together to grow as one) will generally start to bear fruit much sooner, possibly as early as two to three years old. Hence a fruitless loquat tree may simply not be sufficiently mature to bear fruit. To check if a tree is grafted, look for the graft union (the point where the two separate plants were joined) at the base of the trunk.

Climate

• Loquat trees grow best in a subtropical to warm temperate climate, being native to south-east China. Grow loquat trees in USDA hardiness zones 8b to 11 to produce fruit. Loquat trees grown further north are unlikely to fruit. Unusually for a fruit tree, the fruit develops over the winter; flowers appear in fall and the fruit ripens by spring. Although an established loquat tree can survive temperatures down to 12 degrees F for short periods of time, flowers are likely to be damaged at temperatures below 19 degrees F which will affect fruit development.

Pollination

• Flowers must be pollinated before fruit can develop. Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the male to female parts of flowers so that fertilization, and then fruit development, can take place. The loquat tree is pollinated by various insects including bees. Loquat trees are generally considered to be self-fertile (i.e. they do not require another loquat tree in the vicinity to ensure pollination). However, some cultivars are not self-fertile (eg ‘Golden Yellow’). Furthermore, the presence of other loquat trees nearby usually improves fruiting, both in terms of amount and size of fruit.

Health

• A loquat tree in good health is more likely to produce fruit than one that is not provided with the conditions for optimal growth. Loquat trees grown for fruit are best placed in full sun and planted in a well-drained soil. Avoid continually wet soils or standing water as these are not tolerated well and can have a direct impact on fruiting. Feed trees in spring or summer with a balanced fertilizer and ensure the tree has sufficient space to grow and allow good air circulation through the branches.