The loquat is a fruit tree that is planted very often in Mediterranean orchards and, in general, in those where the climate is temperate. It grows quickly, and produces a large number of delicious fruits inside which is a single seed that you can sow directly in a pot after having cleaned it well with water.
But surely there are more things you did not know about the medlar. Perhaps these 5 will surprise you. Let’s check it.
Index
- 1 1.- The loquat does not require cold hours to produce its fruits
- 2 2.- The type of soil influences the fruits
- 3 3.- There is not only one variety of medlar
- 4 4.- It is grafted on two main rootstocks
- 5 5.- It needs -a lot- fertilizer to grow
1.- The loquat does not require cold hours to produce its fruits
Unlike other fruit trees, our protagonist does not need to spend a certain amount of cold hours to produce. For this reason, it can be kept in mild climates without any problem; although, yes, winter has to be a bit cool, with temperatures below zero.
2.- The type of soil influences the fruits
So much so that if you have it in clay soil, you will have loquats of greater caliber, but they will take time to mature; on the contrary, if you have it in sandy soil, they will mature much earlier but will be of a smaller caliber . What kind of fruit do you prefer? Whichever you choose, you can always modify your soil a bit, adding river sand or mulch as the case may be.
3.- There is not only one variety of medlar
When we go to the supermarket or a greengrocer, they usually seem the same to us, but… the reality is that there are many varieties, including Indostac, Premier, Thales, Algerie and Tanaka . These last two are the most sold in Spain. They differ mainly in size and taste: for example, Algerie produces small fruits with a slightly less pleasant taste, while Tanaka produces large fruits with a very good taste.
4.- It is grafted on two main rootstocks
Actually, it is grafted on 5 rootstocks, but it only does well on two: the quince and the seed franc . In the first, problems sometimes arise: it can be too small and it can have iron chlorosis; but with the second what is achieved is to have a very healthy medlar, with a long productive life.
5.- It needs -a lot- fertilizer to grow
During spring and summer, it is very important to fertilize with fertilizers rich in phosphorous and potassium . You can also apply chemical fertilizer one month, and organic the following month to ensure that the plant will not lack for anything.
Did you know these 5 things about medlars?
