The loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) is a subtropical pome fruit tree flowering in autumn, which develops fruit in winter and is harvested in early spring, as one of the first fruits of the season.
This allows the earliest harvests to reach the best prices in the market, so the techniques that allow accelerating it have a very important role in the profitability of the crop. Among these techniques, one of the most important is protected cultivation.
¿What are the benefits of growing loquat in net houses?
They are numerous and have a great impact on the financial balance of the operation, amply justifying the investment cost of these structures:
- Ripening is accelerated to produce extra-early fruit that achieves high prices in the market.
- They protect the fruit against wind, thus reducing the physiopathology known as fruit tarring (damage to the fruit skin when rubbing against the serrated edges of the leaves).
- They protect the fruit from sun damage and damage caused by hail and birds.
- They accelerate the development of the trees (especially if combined with plastic), helping them to enter into production earlier.
- They increase fruit production in early years, with more uniform and higher quality fruit.
Recommendations:
- It is important to select the right type of netting and its color to avoid lack of fruit coloration and mottling due to lack of ventilation.
- The introduction of bee or bumblebee hives is recommended to favor fruit set, since it is a partially self-incompatible species.
For more information on the nets that best suit your crop needs, please contact us by sending your inquiry to info@greennetsagro.com or locate your nearest supplier here.
