Loquat is a fruit tree native to China, from where it spread to Japan and later to most of the world. It is a tree that can reach 10 meters in height and is appreciated for its resistance and its delicious fruits. It is currently a naturalized species in countries such as India, Argentina and Pakistan, as well as in the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean basin. Many people who enjoy gardening wonder how to grow a loquat seed for a tree to grow from the start.
For this reason, in this article we are going to tell you what are the steps to learn how to plant a loquat seed and grow a tree.
When should loquats be planted?
The prevailing climate in the region determines the best time to plant this tree and its delicious fruits. If you live in an area with a tropical or temperate climate all year round, you can grow loquats at any time without worry. In this sense, it is an undemanding fruit tree, and as long as the newborn seedling is not exposed to very low temperatures or strong sunlight, it will have no problem regardless of the period of l ‘year.
On the other hand, if you live in a climate with four distinct seasons, it is important to plant the seed after the worst of the cold weather, while giving it enough time to grow and gain vigor and strength before facing the harsh winters. . For this reason, it is best to sow loquat at the end of winter, allowing newly sprouted plants to enjoy the spring weather, which is more benign in this sense. You can also plant the medlar later, but try to plant it in a dark place because it can become dehydrated or burned.
How to Plant a Medlar Bone
While loquats are often grafted to speed up fruit set time, they can also be grown from seed without issue. But this tree is not good for cuttings, and it is difficult to grow branches or twigs planted directly in the ground. Follow these steps to grow loquats from a hole:
To learn how to plant a medlar, you can do it directly in the ground, but it is always recommended to germinate separately before transplanting. Wash the bones and make sure there is no pulp residue left. Then wrap them in damp paper towel and place them in a container, such as a glass, which should be covered with transparent film to prevent moisture loss. Within a few days or weeks, the seeds will germinate. If the paper towel dries out, be sure to dampen it again. Once the shoots or seedlings have developed leaves, they can be planted in the ground.
How to plant a medlar bone step by step
Next, we will see which steps must be followed, and in which order, for the germination process to work properly.
- We take the pot (or container) and wash it with soap in case there are fungal spores or other microorganisms that can infect the seeds.
- Once it is washed, as well as the cover, we close it so that it does not fly away. Otherwise, you can use a piece of aluminum foil and fold it several times to seal the contents well.
- We extract the medlar bone and wash it with water until it is very clean. We know it’s clean when no pulp residue is visible and it’s no longer slippery to the touch.
- We take a certain amount of paper towel to cover the bottom of the container with a few layers (at least 3) and place it there.
- Little by little we pour the water on the paper placed at the bottom of the tupper until we see that it was completely wet but without forming.
- Place the medlar bone on the damp paper, in the center of the paper, making sure they are in firm contact with the paper. Sometimes, due to the natural curvature of the seeds, we may need to turn them over for better access.
- We take at least three more layers of paper and lay them over the seeds. You can wet it before putting it on the seed, or pour a little water on it after it is in place. If the paper is solid, it is easier to moisten it first.
- The seed must be between the layer of paper below and the one we put on topand the contact between the seed and the wet paper should be as great as possible to accommodate the paper with your fingertips.
- Cover the container and take it to a warm place, preferably between 20 and 25°C. It is important that the light does not reach the bone because the first thing that emerges during germination is the root, which does not develop well in the presence of light.
- After this process, we only have to check the condition of the seeds every 2 or 3 days.
To do this, we will open the containers -or aluminum foil- and gently lift the absorbent paper that covers them. We will observe the seeds to see if they have started to germinate; they will give white appendages, the roots, as they germinate. If they have not germinated or are just beginning, we will leave them a little longer until the roots are at least 1 cm long, at which time it will be necessary to think about moving them to a pot with substrate or on the ground to maintain them. .
Loquat Tree Care
As a practical guide to caring for a medlar tree, we offer the following tips:
- Soil and irrigation: The most important thing when caring for these trees is to try to give them well-drained soil, since this tree, although it is very resistant to drought, needs constant humidity and watering. frequent so that its fruits develop properly.
- Temperature: In terms of temperature, the tree can withstand frosts down to -10°C, but its fruits and flowers do not tolerate such low temperatures.
- Fertilization: Fertilize monthly, or every 15 days of the month of production to help it flower and fruit.
- Cut: Prune this tree in its early years to shape it and then maintain it, but keep in mind that pruning should be done in late summer due to its early bearing period.
I hope with this information you can learn more about how to raise loquat seed and its characteristics.