I would also like to grow them. Is it possible in Manchester and where do I get the seeds

Oh I just love this fruit-I wish I were your neighbour!
There's a posh deli near my home selling loquat jam (with pieces of fruit) and (clear) jelly and I won't tell you how much they charge, but it's not cheap (I never checked the label,probably an import from the East), but I only buy it when I need a special treat-and it is heavenly on buttered toast!
If you find a way to make gallons of jam you could take it to the nearest farmers market and become a millionaire


loquat jam- as made by my mum back home:
1 kg fruit-peeled and deseeded
800 gr sugar
1 small lemon-sliced

cooks for about 1 hour on a gas cooker

you can add some grated ginger if you like

David, where are you situated? Is it in the south of England? I would love to grow loquats - I lived in Sicily for 4 years and they were my favourite fruit - but I was under the impression that they were very difficult to grow and fruit in this country. If you have managed this, I will have to pick your brains as to how to look after the tree.

Thank you Mary, I will do just that Hoit will have to wait a while. I'm not being ungracious but we are coming home for a holiday, the car's off the road etc etc. Will email when we get back.

I have a lovely book called "Country Harvest". There are two medlar recipes in it. Medlar Jelly and Medlar Marmalade. The marmalede is essentially a fruit ''cheese'' but it''s flavour merits the title ''marmalade''. You make the ''marmalade'' from the pulp left after making the jelly which I think wonderful!

The tree is quite a large one and we get a load of fruit which I eat - my wife wouldn't touch them as they give here stomach problems (Well a bit lower actually). I will certainly try the recipe - thanks Imogen

I don't know how many you have but you could eat the fruit or add to fruit salad and then use the seeds in this fashion?

Dry 200g of loquat seeds in sun for a week. Put in a bottle with 400g spirit, a quarter of lemon rind (unwaxed and sliced) and half a vanilla bean. Keep covered in sun for 1 month, shaking it occasionally. Prepare syrup of 300g sugar and 300g water. Boil then when cool mix with spirit (try vodka), filter and bottle. Keep to season at least 2 months before drinking.