Return to the Northwestern Gardening Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
Growing Loquats in the PNW
| | |
Posted by chitti Portland, Oregon (My Page) on Thu, Apr 27, 06 at 14:54
|
I am posting this forum as I have not found a thread dealing with loquats on the NW Gardening forum. All the other threads on loquats on Gardenweb seem to be localized to the Southern regions of the US.
I have fond memories of eating various varieties of loquats growing up in the tropics.
My earlier research (done five years ago based on literature available then) indicated that the chances of getting fruit, let alone the tree surviving the five or so winters it would take to get to a fruit bearing age when planted outside were fairly slim in our zone (8). This is because loquats set flower in the winter and fruit late winter early spring and the consensus seems to be that killing temperature for the flower bud is 19.4º F; for the mature flower, 26.6º F and at 25º F, the seed is killed, causing the fruit to fall.
This year local nurseries like "Portland Nursery" and "Seven Dees" and not just speciality ones like "One Green World" started carrying them which piqued my interest.
I have found that there is at least one instance in the PNW where a loquat tree planted at least twenty years ago has survived to reach maturity and has produced fruit in a majority of years without any external intervention. This is next to the Azumano Travel building at 1545 NW Monroe Ave in Corvallis. The tree gives me hope because it's existence means that it has survived the record cold weather lows of Feb '89 (9º F and 11º F) and Jan '90 (12º F).
Do you know of anybody who has had luck growing loquats in the vicinity of Portland? If yes, how old is the tree? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Growing Loquats in the PNW
| | |
| There's a magnificent huge ancient tree in Seattle's International District that bears fruit every year. I have one in my yard in W. Seattle, but it is only a few years old and has not borne fruit. There's a 15 ft. tall tree a few blocks from here that I don't believe has ever borne fruit yet. Plant in a protected spot. |
RE: Growing Loquats in the PNW
| | |
when i was in oregon i had some loquat seeds i planned to sow but never got around to it. at the time, i knew that they would survive the winter temps, given some protection at the harshest times, but didn't know too much about fruit set. also, i don't know how many times i've loitered in that azumano parking lot when i was in college, but i never noticed that tree! i'll look for it when i got back for a visit. the other reason i had considered growing loquats at the time is that i had heard they made fairly decent container plants.
now that i'm in tucson, i see loquat trees everywhere. the night temps here in the winter can dip to freezing and the winter daytime temps can be fairly chilly, too. loquats are all setting fruit now, at a time when i think it would be too cold in oregon. just a note. if you are buying loquats, make sure you aren't buying any that are seed grown. the quality of fruit can be unpredictable, though the tree is still nice. -ming |
Here is a link that might be useful: loquats, crfg
RE: Growing Loquats in the PNW
| | |
- Posted by chitti Portland, Oregon (My Page) on
Fri, Apr 28, 06 at 16:14
| Eric, Thanks for the encouraging news. Can you let me know the approximate location of the tree in Seattle's International District? I may look it up when we come up to visit close relatives who live nearby. What variety is your loquat? Ming, I got the information about loquat tree in Corvallis from the link below and I followed it up with a call to Azumano
and had a nice chat with a lady who works there who provided me with the information. It is right next to the building, I am told and fairly big. I planted a Gold Nugget seedling and will take a chance with the taste of the fruit. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Loquat tree in Corvallis
RE: Growing Loquats in the PNW
| | |
| I don't know the street, but it is one or 2 blocks north of Dearborn, and about 2 blocks east of weller. It's in the yard of one of the few houses in the International District. It's big and dwarfs the house. You can't miss it. I don't know the cultivar I have. It's fully green, not bronze-leafed. |
RE: Growing Loquats in the PNW
| | |
| There are large specimens in Portland, but I do not know if they have fruited successfully. |
RE: Growing Loquats in the PNW
| | |
- Posted by bboy z8 WA USA (My Page) on
Sun, Apr 30, 06 at 17:53
| The Seattle location I've been to where there were fruiting loquats had at least four of them. Part of the fruit was lying on the ground/pavement beneath, like a capet of yellow golfballs. The site was mostly buildings and (alot of) pavement, so it was probably nice and hot in summer. I think the 1990 winter was pretty hard on this species here. Jacobson, TREES OF SEATTLE - SECOND EDITION says "In Seattle, uncommon: most are young" and lists 8 addresses where loquat trees can be seen (including one "about" 33' high). |
RE: Growing Loquats in the PNW
| | |
| Mine may be seed-grown. It has nice leaves but has not flowered or fruited. It is planted on the south side of my house by a concrete house wall. Parts of Portland and Seattle near the water have very moderated temperatures, where frosts seldom occur. I would think you might need that environment to get fruit. |
RE: Growing Loquats in the PNW
| | |
- Posted by bboy z8 WA USA (My Page) on
Sat, May 6, 06 at 16:15
| I saw one at the south end of Lake Washington fruiting nicely at least once, it was back from the street but it could still be seen that it looked just like 'Gold Nugget' lollipop trees that had been in local nurseries. Later it melted in the 1990 winter, as did others--a frosted loquat is not a happy sight, effect is like corrosive acid had been poured over tree. Don't remember if it came back and is still there. |
RE: Growing Loquats in the PNW
| | |
| I just saw the International District tree in Seattle. WOW!! It is amazing. Dwarfs the house. |
RE: Growing Loquats in the PNW
| | |
- Posted by bboy z8 WA USA (My Page) on
Sat, May 6, 06 at 22:58
| The +/- 33 foot one is at 612 NW 65th St. |
RE: Growing Loquats in the PNW
| | |
| There is a wonderful fruiting loquat in Portland at the corner of SE 12th and Clinton, hanging over the sidewalk. Yum :> |
RE: Growing Loquats in the PNW
| | |
- Posted by chitti z8, Porland, Oregon (My Page) on
Wed, May 17, 06 at 17:55
| Genia, Thanks for posting the location of the loquat tree in inner SE. You have provided me with the most concrete affirmation yet that loquats are indeed viable in Portland. I will check it out soon, even if it means that I have to create an excuse to go there (maybe a trip to Portland Nursery). The loquat seedling that I planted is in inner NE, near Sabin Elementary, fairly close to the tree you reported and at a similar elevation. So hopefully the climate is pretty comparable. I plan on protecting the seedling from freezes for a few winters (anti-transpirant spray, covers) and then leave it to its own devices and hopefully it will thrive like the one at Clinton and 12th. |
Post a Follow-Up
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Northwestern Gardening Forum
|
|
|
