The Loquat fruit tree (Eriobotrya japonica) is a native Chinese tree that has been widely cultivated all over Spain. The edible fruits of this tree are slightly larger than a golf ball and are round to slightly elliptical. Their color is green until they turn a yellow-orange color when ripe.
The way I eat these delicious fruits is to peel of the outer skin, split the inner part in half, remove the seeds (numbering usually from one to three) and then enjoy the "meat" of the fruit. The seeds are fairly large taking up about half the volume of the fruit which means that you have to eat at least four or five of them to feel like you have had a good portion.
These trees are quite sensitive to freezing and rarely produce much fruit if the freezing occurs while they are in flower. There is a tree at a friends house north of Madrid that has a full head of blossoms in December giving the impression that it will produce a lot of fruit. But almost every year they get a good freeze that destroys the fruits even before they have a chance to form. To the south of Madrid and at lower elevation trees that have not been exposed to freezing temps bear their fruit in the Spring.
The leaves of the Loquat tree are about 10-12 inches long, simple in shape with a serrated margin and pronounced veins. They are also quite thick and have a dark green color. The trees themselves do not grow too tall. The ones I´ve seen are about 15 feet tall max.
The Loquat fruit tree (Eriobotrya japonica) is a native Chinese tree that has been widely cultivated all over Spain. The edible fruits of this tree are slightly larger than a golf ball and are round to slightly elliptical. Their color is green until they turn a yellow-orange color when ripe.
The way I eat these delicious fruits is to peel of the outer skin, split the inner part in half, remove the seeds (numbering usually from one to three) and then enjoy the "meat" of the fruit. The seeds are fairly large taking up about half the volume of the fruit which means that you have to eat at least four or five of them to feel like you have had a good portion.
These trees are quite sensitive to freezing and rarely produce much fruit if the freezing occurs while they are in flower. There is a tree at a friends house north of Madrid that has a full head of blossoms in December giving the impression that it will produce a lot of fruit. But almost every year they get a good freeze that destroys the fruits even before they have a chance to form. To the south of Madrid and at lower elevation trees that have not been exposed to freezing temps bear their fruit in the Spring.
The leaves of the Loquat tree are about 10-12 inches long, simple in shape with a serrated margin and pronounced veins. They are also quite thick and have a dark green color. The trees themselves do not grow too tall. The ones I´ve seen are about 15 feet tall max.
First saw loquat tree in Sagunto, Spain. Now live in Dallas, Oregon just below the 45th parallel at 650 feet above sea level 30 miles from the pacific ocean. Planted loquats here in Dallas, Oregon 10 years ago that I started as seeds from my aunts tree in Mountain View, California. The tallest tree is now 6 to 7 feet. Lost a couple due to snow and ice breakage and disease. Remaining trees have flowered for the last three years but no fruit as it regularly freezes in December and following months.
ReplyDeleteWe Just picked one up for the yard here in California.
ReplyDeletevery interesting. I'm staring at the tree now, I'm at work now in austin tx and it has lots of fruit. I ate a fruit earlier and didn't know what it was, tasted like an apple and pear... thank you for this, I would have spent all night trying to figure out what kind of tree this was. Thanks much.
ReplyDeleteI had a few seeds, after eating this delicious fruit in Turkey, and brought them back to England. I planted them in a pot during April not expecting much to happen, however after I returned from a second trip last week, there a several leaved sprouts which have appeared! Hope they will continue to grow and it is very interesting to find out about the Loquat or Yeni Dunya Meyvesi as it is called in Turkey, and its eastern origins.
ReplyDeleteThat's exciting Fleur. My trees are about 6 feet tall now and one is in rough shape after practically being girdled by a red-breasted sap sucker this spring.
ReplyDeleteThat's exciting Fleur. My trees are about six feet tall now and one is in rough shape after practically being girdled by a red-breasted sap sucker this spring.
ReplyDelete