Question
I have planted many loquat seeds and now have 5 trees, ranging from 5-10 years old, but they have never made fruit.  I love the fruit and would like to have fruit-bearing trees.  Is there anything I can do, or must buy them from nurseries in order to have fruit bearing trees?  Thank you

Answer
Dear Anna:

Loquat trees are easy to grow from seed. Seedling trees are satisfactory for ornamental use, but may bear inferior fruit. Superior varieties do not become true from seed, so it is necessary to plant vegetatively propagated trees. Successful methods of propagation in Florida include shield budding and side veneer grafting. Loquat seedlings are used as rootstocks. Grafted trees will bear fruit in 2 - 3 years, while a seedling tree will take 5 - 6 years.

In addition, for your information: "Loquat is readily propagated from seed, although seedlings are frequently self-infertile and do not come true from seed. Veneer grafting and shield budding onto seedling rootstocks are both fairly successful. Air layering is a good way to propagate from a tree that bears particularly good fruit.

Generally, seeds are used for propagation only when the tree is grown for ornamental purposes or for use as rootstock. Loquat seedlings are preferred over apple, pear, quince or pyracantha rootstocks under most conditions. Quince and pyracantha may cause extreme dwarfing-to less than 8 ft (2.5 in). Quince rootstock tolerates heavier and wetter soils than loquat but is apt to put out numerous suckers. Loquat seeds remain viable for 6 months if stored in partly sealed glass jars under high humidity at room temperature, but the best temperature for storage is 40?F (5?C). They are washed and planted in flats or pots soon after removal from the fruit and the seedlings are transplanted when 6 to 7 in (15-17.5 cm) high to nursery rows. When the stem is 1/2 in (1.25 cm) thick at the base, the seedlings are ready to be top-worked. In India, inarching is commonly practiced but budding and grafting are more popular in most other areas. Shield-budding, using 3-month-old scions, is successful. Cleft-grafting has been a common practice in Florida. Veneer-grafting in April has proved to be a superior method in Pakistan. Cuttings are not easy to root. Air-layering may be only 20% successful, though 80 to 100% of the layers root in 6 weeks if treated with 3% NAA (2-naphthoxyacetic acid).
Trees that are vegetatively propagated will begin to bear fruit in 5 years or less, as compared to 8 to 10 years in seedling trees. Old seedling trees can be converted by cutting back severely and inserting budwood of a preferred cultivar."

Reference:  

The above information was obtained from the following publication:

Morton, J. 1987. Loquat. p. 103?08. In: Fruits of Warm Climates.     Julia F. Morton, Miami, FL.


Regards,

Mack Jean
AllExperts
Master Gardener
Tennessee