Typical yield
13.3 t/ha
Varieties
4
Pest/Disease
7
Seasons
3
Profile
- Growth habit
- tree
- Lifecycle (days)
- perennial
- Primary uses
- Fresh fruit; processing (jams, juices); rootstock/scion material
- Pollination
- insect
- Origin / distribution
- Origin East Asia; adapted to cool subtropics and highland tropics
Environment
Climate
Temp optimal
12–25 °C
Rain optimal
800–1400 mm/yr
Altitude
0–2200 m
Soil
pH optimal
6–6.8
Soil type
Deep, well-drained loam; high organic matter
Farmer Guide
Row spacing
600 cm
Plant spacing
600 cm
Depth
0 cm
Seed rate
kg/ha
Nursery days
Planting: Plant at onset of rains or with irrigation. Use grafted cultivars on well-drained sites. Incorporate compost and a starter P source.
Transplanting: Stake young trees; mulch; protect from wind and frost during establishment.
Irrigation: Keep evenly moist, especially from flowering through fruit fill. Reduce stress to limit fruit drop and cracking.
Fertigation: Split N into several light feeds; supply K and Ca during fruiting; use leaf/soil analysis to refine.
Pest scouting: Scout for fruit flies, scales, aphids, scab, sooty mold; bag fruit or use bait/traps as needed.
Pruning/Training: Open center/modified leader; thin crowded shoots after harvest to improve light and reduce disease.
Harvest: Harvest when fully colored (yellow-orange) and slightly soft. Handle gently to avoid bruising.
Postharvest: Cool quickly; store 5–10 °C at high RH; short shelf life—market promptly.
Nutrient Schedule
| # | Stage | DAP | Product | Rate | Targets (kg/ha) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basal at planting | 0 | Compost + DAP 18-46-0 (light) | 5 kg/tree (compost) + 100 g DAP | N: —, P₂O₅: 10, K₂O: — | Mix well into backfill; avoid root burn |
| 2 | Vegetative split N | 60 | CAN 26% N | 150 g/tree | N: 10, P₂O₅: —, K₂O: — | Apply in ring under canopy; water in |
| 3 | Pre-bloom feed | 240 | NPK 17-17-17 | 200 g/tree | N: 10, P₂O₅: 10, K₂O: 10 | Light, balanced dose before flowering |
| 4 | Fruit fill K boost | 300 | MOP (KCl) or SOP (preferred) | 200 g/tree | N: —, P₂O₅: —, K₂O: 15 | SOP preferred on chloride-sensitive sites |
| 5 | Micronutrient foliar (opt.) | 270 | Ca/B/Zn foliar (as label) | 0 — | N: —, P₂O₅: —, K₂O: — | Apply during cool hours; improves set/skin |
Nutrient Requirements
| Nutrient | Stage | Amount | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| N | Basal | 40 | kg/ha |
| P₂O₅ | Basal | 30 | kg/ha |
| K₂O | Basal | 60 | kg/ha |
| N | Establishment | 20 | kg/ha |
| P₂O₅ | Establishment | 20 | kg/ha |
| K₂O | Establishment | 20 | kg/ha |
| N | Vegetative | 40 | kg/ha |
| K₂O | Vegetative | 30 | kg/ha |
| N | Flower_set | 15 | kg/ha |
| P₂O₅ | Flower_set | 20 | kg/ha |
| K₂O | Flower_set | 30 | kg/ha |
| N | Fruit_fill | 10 | kg/ha |
| K₂O | Fruit_fill | 40 | kg/ha |
| N | Maintenance | 30 | kg/ha |
| P₂O₅ | Maintenance | 10 | kg/ha |
| K₂O | Maintenance | 30 | kg/ha |
Images
| Name | Country | Maturity | Traits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local Loquat | KE | 900 | Highland adapted |
| Mogi | KE | 240 | Early; sweet; medium fruit |
| Tanaka | KE | 270 | Large fruit; good flavor |
| Advance | TZ | 260 | Early to mid-season; productive |
| Stage | Product | Rate (kg/ha) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basal | Compost (well-decomposed) | 5000 | Applied in basins/mulch rings |
| Vegetative | CAN 26% N | 80 | Split 2–3 times per year |
| Fruit fill | Sulfate of potash (SOP) | 60 | Prefer SOP over MOP for fruit quality |
| Name | Type | Symptoms | Management |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit moths | pest | Fruit damage | Bagging; pheromone traps |
| Fruit flies (Tephritidae) | pest | Sting marks; larval tunnels; fruit drop | Protein baiting, field sanitation, fruit bagging, harvest on time |
| Scale insects | pest | Sooty mold from honeydew; weakening twigs | Prune for airflow; conserve predators; oil sprays |
| Aphids | pest | Curling leaves; honeydew/sooty mold | Control ants; soft insecticides if needed |
| Loquat scab | disease | Olive/brown lesions on fruit/leaves | Prune to open canopy; protectants during wet spells |
| Blossom blight | disease | Brown flowers; poor set in wet/cool periods | Airflow, canopy thinning; fungicide if persistent |
| Bird damage | pest | Pecked fruit; losses at maturity | Netting, scare tactics, selective harvest |
| System | Typical | Min | Max | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| orchard | 12 | 6 | 20 | |
| smallholder rainfed | 10 | 6 | 15 | Bearing orchards; 20–40 kg/tree |
| irrigated/intensive | 18 | 12 | 25 | Good cultivars and nutrition |
| Country | Region | Planting | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| KE | Highlands | Mar–Apr | Feb–Apr |
| KE | Highlands (alt) | Oct–Nov | Jun–Aug |
| ET | Highland tropics | Jun–Jul | Feb–Apr |
| Country | Region | Suitability |
|---|---|---|
| KE | Frost-prone valleys (bloom) | Low |
| KE | Highlands | High |
| KE | Highlands & cool mid-altitudes | High |
| KE | Hot lowlands (>28 °C) | Low |
| TZ | Northern highlands | High |
| UG | Highland slopes | High |