The medlar tree is not only a visual highlight in the garden with its strikingly pretty tree blossom, it also produces small, delicious fruits.
The medlar (Cotoneaster franchetii) is an old cultivated plant that has been cultivated for its fruit for centuries. Nevertheless, the plant, also known as Dörrlitze, has almost fallen into oblivion in our latitudes. In Roman times, the plant came to south-west Germany and was mainly found in monastery gardens. The small apple fruits harvested in autumn were often processed into jams and jellies. Recently, old fruit varieties have increasingly come into focus again. The medlar deserves attention not only because of the vitamin and mineral-rich fruits, the pretty flower is also reason enough to attach importance to the medlar as an ornamental plant. If you want to get to know the unjustly almost forgotten plant and cultivate it in your own garden, you can find out everything you need to know here at a glance.
The origin of the loquat
The natural range of the plants is assumed to be in the Caucasus, Greece or Bulgaria. The plant has been deliberately cultivated in the Orient for around 3,000 years. The medlar has also been cultivated for centuries in Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the USA. Introduced in Germany in Roman times, the plant was most widespread in the Middle Ages. At that time, medlars could be found in almost every cottage garden. Unfortunately, interest in the industrious fruit supplier of the past has declined today. But it is definitely worth helping this attractive and easy-care plant to have a renaissance in the orchard.
The appearance of the loquat
The medlar is a thorny and moderately branched deciduous shrub. The growth height of the rose plant is about three meters. The young shoots are only bare in the second year. Initially, the shoots appear felty-hairy. The leaves are alternate and about ten inches long. While the top of the leaf appears glossy and dark green, the underside of the leaf is grey-green in color and appears hairy. A spreading treetop characterizes the medlar. Oftengrowth habit appears to be spreading rather than pointing upwards. A shallow but widely branched root system anchors the plant in the soil. The attractive, white to pink flowers, which are reminiscent of the blossom of the apple tree, are followed by the brownish fruits in October. These are not called stone apples for nothing, because to begin with they are actually rock hard. The pulp only becomes softer and therefore edible after appropriate storage.
The medlar as an ideal garden plant
Anyone looking for a plant for the east garden that not everyone calls their own will find the perfect candidate in the loquat. Since the trees do not grow excessively tall, even the rather small home garden can be enriched with them. The tree blossom is strikingly attractive and there are certainly uses for the fruit harvest in autumn.
» Tip: The cotoneaster is a direct relative of the medlar and can be planted as ground cover. Cotoneasters flower in May and bear red fruit in late summer.
When does the medlar bloom?
The flower of the medlar is an ornament, for that reason alone it is worth buying. The white flowers are reminiscent of roses and appear around the same time as the pear blossoms, around mid-May. The flowers are between three and five centimeters in size. The five carpels are completely fused with the flower cup. The stamens have reddish anthers.
Popular loquat species
| medlar type | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Dutch Large Fruited Medlar | This species promises you rich yields. The plant is very vigorous and the fruits are particularly aromatic. The showy leaves resemble those of the laurel. |
| medlar royal | The medlar Royal is also suitable for small gardens because it grows more like a shrub. High yields also speak for this strain. |
| Hungarian medlar | Because this variety only grows slowly, it is also suitable for the small orchard. High yields can be expected. The harvest can start unusually early for medlars, namely in September. |
| Seedless Medlar | The seedless fruits of this high-yielding variety are an advantage. The fruits are particularly aromatic, but remain rather small when growing. |
| medlar Nottingham | This variety likes it a bit damper.The fruits have a yellowish color and the usual dark flesh. |
| medlar macrocarpa | If you want to harvest particularly large fruits, you should choose this fast-growing variety. |
Planting the medlar - tips and advice at a glance
As an easy-care and robust plant, the medlar will bring a lot of joy to the ambitious hobby gardener. Last but not least, one can count oneself lucky to have revived an old cultural fruit. Those who care less about the fruit harvest will appreciate the medlar because of its attractive flowers and pretty foliage. With a few tips and advice, the plants will quickly settle into your garden and are guaranteed to feel good.
Location:
The medlar will gladly accept a place in the sun. If you are hoping for a rich harvest of the small apple fruits, you should definitely ensure a sunny spot so that the fruits can ripen well. Half shade is usually tolerated. However, the lack of sunlight can be at the expense of flowering and subsequent fruit. A wind-protected location is also important.
In short:
- sunny
- light
- wind protected
Substrate:
The loquat does not make any great demands on the substrate. A loose and deep soil offers good conditions. Waterlogging is not tolerated by the plant, so the water should always be able to drain off easily. Only a permeable soil can guarantee this.
» Tip: If you have the opportunity, you should determine the pH value of the soil. A value of six to eight is considered optimal.
The ideal substrate is fresh, sandy and loamy soil that is well drained. In the area of the tree disc, the substrate can be covered with mulch.
In short:
- loose
- permeable
- calcareous
Planting Instructions:
- best time - April to mid-May
- Loosen the soil
- Mix substrate with sand or clay
- Choose a planting hole at least twice as large as the root ball
- Clay or Gravel Drainage
- Insert the plant carefully into the planting hole
- fill with substrate
- Press the earth
- Water the tree well
- Insert post as support
Considering the origin of the plant, it quickly becomes clear that the medlar loves warmth and light. The planting date shouldIf possible, only take place when no more frost is to be expected, ideally only after the ice saints. Since the trees pollinate themselves, it is not absolutely necessary to buy another plant in order to start growing fruit. A deep loosening of the soil ensures that the plant grows well. Soil permeability can also be improved with clay or pebble drainage.
How to properly care for the loquat
❍ casting:
The water requirement of the plant is moderate. However, young plants need regular watering. The use of calcareous water suits the plants. Therefore, nothing speaks against irrigation with tap water. Older plants only need additional watering during longer dry periods.
» Tip: Check the location regularly. Ideally, the soil should be slightly damp.
❍ Fertilize:
Regular fertilization is not necessary for the loquat. There is no harm in enriching the soil with compost before planting. Lime or horn shavings can be mixed in during the growth phase. These organic fertilizers are sufficient.
❍ Harvest:
The small apple fruits can be harvested in autumn. Not doing so would be a waste as the fruit is rich in vitamin C and minerals. Don't be put off by the initially rock-hard fruit. The fruit ripens around October. However, it is only harvested when dark spots can be seen on the skin. The first frosty nights are usually necessary for this. The flesh of the nut apple will then turn brown and the flesh will soften.
» Tip: The fruits can also be harvested before the first frost and left in the open air in trays until the first frost.
Use the fruits sensibly
After a sufficient storage time, the fruits have acquired a quite aromatic taste. The apples can be sliced open. After removing the seeds, the pulp is divided. If the fruit is noticeably tender, the flesh can also be scooped out. Raw consumption is possible, but the medlars are far more often processed into mush, jelly or marmalade. In the Middle Ages, the production of wine and liqueur was also popular.
» Tip: If you don't like the taste of the fruit, you can mix medlar with pears or apples, eat it as a compote or togethercontinue processing.
❍ Pruning:
Young plants do not need pruning yet. In order for older plants to keep their shape, a topiary is a good idea after the hibernation. Scissors can also be used in autumn, namely when old and withered branches have to be removed. In order to keep an eye on the growth height of the plants, the trunk extension can be shortened about 30 centimeters above the last branch fork in summer.
» Tip: Loquat should not be pruned radically. This would result in the plant not producing any fruit, as these form on the outermost ends of the shoots.
Since the medlar reacts quite sensitively to pruning measures, the pruning tool should always be sharp. This results in smooth cut surfaces that bleed less and also make the plant less vulnerable to diseases and pests. In addition, it is advisable to use a wound closure agent.
❍ Propagation:
This can be done in different ways. In nature, generative propagation prevails. The seeds remain viable for almost two years and are dispersed by birds, squirrels and other forest animals.
The passionate hobby gardener can use the following methods:
- Cuttings
- Seeds
- Finishing
Propagation by cuttings
This is the simplest method of propagating medlar. If the plant is pruned in spring, the cuttings can be obtained. One year old shoots are used as cuttings. These should be cut about 15 to 20 centimeters long. The lower part of the cutting is freed from leaves. Rooting can take place either in a glass of water or in potting soil. The cutting is watered evenly and can be planted outdoors the following spring.
Propagation by seed
If you want to dare to sow the seeds, you have to have a lot of patience. The seeds can be obtained directly from the inside of the ripe fruit. The fruits should have reached the necessary ripeness around November. The seed can then also be removed more easily because the pulp has now become softer. The seeds are cleaned and can then be sown directly outdoors or grown in planters. These should then be placed on the terrace or balcony. The seeds will not germinate unless they have gone through a cold spell. Patience is required, it can take up to two years for germination.More years pass before the first fruits appear.
Reproduction by grafting
The propagation of cultivars usually takes place through grafting. The refinement on a pear has proven itself. The taste of the fruits convinces even fruit connoisseurs. Grafting is also possible on hawthorn or quinces.
❍ Hibernate:
Mature medlars do well over the winter without protection. This can come as a surprise, since the plants actually come from warmer regions. However, over the centuries, the medlar has adapted to our climatic conditions and generally does well with temperatures down to -20 degrees.
Young plants are less robust. Winter protection is recommended here for the first two years. The roots are particularly sensitive. Covering the soil around the roots with bark mulch or leaves provides adequate protection even for young plants in the cold season.
Plants kept in pots are also in need of protection. Keeping the loquat in a bucket is rather unusual, but it is definitely possible for young plants. Container plants should be allowed to move into the stairwell if possible. A protective layer of garden fleece also protects against frost damage. Since the roots are particularly vulnerable, they should be specially protected. If the planter is placed on a Styrofoam base, potted plants will also get through the winter well.
❍ Diseases and pests:
With the medlar you get a very robust plant in the orchard. However, the wrong choice of location and waterlogging can lead to the occurrence of diseases.
The following damage can occur:
- Monilia Rot
- Firebrand
- Leaf spot disease
- Aphids
The Monilia Rot
Monilia rot occurs as fruit rot and twig rot. In addition to loquat, pears, cherries and apples are also affected. Injuries to the fruit clear the way for the fungus, which manifests itself in the form of rotting spots and a moldy coating. Once the fungus has attacked the branches and flowers, it only takes a few days for the leaves and flowers to turn brown and dry up. The shoot tips can die off up to a length of 30 centimeters, resulting in an unsightly and bare tree crown. However, the twig monilia can only rarely be observed in medlar. Cherries or apricots are far more susceptible.
What to do?
Remove all infected parts of the plant. ACut back into the he althy wood. Pesticides can only be used preventively during flowering. Direct control of infestation is not possible.
The Fireblight
If the bacterium Erwinia amylovora takes possession of the loquat, there is usually no rescue for the plant. There is also a danger for the rest of the orchard, because the disease can spread rapidly. The greatest danger is for the flowers. The bacteria find their way into the plants via the flowers and spread to all other parts of the plant. The pathogens can also penetrate through wounds on the leaves and fruits and lead to the outbreak of the disease well into the autumn.
What needs to be done?
Immediately cut back diseased shoots down to the he althy wood. Diseased plants and parts of plants must not be put on the compost and must be disposed of in small quantities with the residual waste or chopped up. All tools used must be disinfected with alcohol.
» Warning: If fire blight occurs on your plants, you must report this to the Plant Protection Office.
Leaf spot disease
This fungus can occur particularly in persistently wet weather. The leaves appear brownish when infested and get dark spots. These can spread to the entire leaf and cause the affected leaves to die.
What needs to be done?
If the infestation is noticed, you should act quickly. The leaves must be removed immediately and any leaves that have already fallen must also be disposed of, as the fungus can spread further.
Aphids
Especially young plants are occasionally visited by aphids. This particularly affects weak plants that are in the wrong location or are not getting enough nutrients. If the plant is checked regularly, the aphids can be easily spotted.
What needs to be done?
Aphids can usually be controlled very well without the use of chemical pesticides. Spraying with a jet of water or spraying with soapy water, garlic broth or nettle manure have proven effective.
The medlar as bonsai
If you want to cultivate the medlar as a bonsai, you should assign your plant to a sunny location. Casting is only moderate. The soil should be dry before the next watering. The plants tolerate pruning well and larger leaves or long shoots can be removed at any time. It makes sense to have an upright oneto work out a shape or a broom shape. The branches are flexible and easy to wire. The wire should not grow together and should be removed again after about six months. Older and less flexible branches can be shaped with tension wires. The best time for this is spring, when plant sap flows through the branches again. You should repot your bonsai every two to three years. The bonsai needs winter protection and should be placed frost-free.