Every Autumn I battle black spot on my Loquat tree. The new growth is fine only the older growth seems to be affected. I've used copper sprays but there never seems to be a long term solution. Am I facing this dilema each year? It is rather unsightly.

Cheers, Barrie.

Hi Barrie. Wish I could help. Darren (Cactusrequiem) grows just about everything, he may be able to help you out.

Barrie, I grow some loquats in zone 8b, coastal SC. I question if that is even a disease. Looks more like a nutrient deficiency or physiological ailment to me. Does it go away when the weather warms up? How do the temperatures run there?

Ned

You could very well be right about the nutrient deficency and perhaps even phsyiolgical ailment. This is grown in full sun in rocky, sandy, gravelly "soil". This alone might account for nutrient poor soil. Being related to roses, I used rose food in past years but not this year (ran out and forgot to get more) with good results. I don't know much about the cultural requirements, but suspect a richer soil may be needed.
This problem seems to have been only prevalant in the late Autumn and Winter. So far no frost in our area (zone 8) and temps are rarely below 15F during extremes.
I suppose I'll shoot some copper fungicide sometime soon.

Cheers, Barrie.

I had spots on a loquat I bought last winter. I sprayed it with homemade compost tea and it got rid of it. I am however finding it now on my other loquats . I'm pretty sure that it is some kind of disease that is related to our wet, cool winters, but the compost tea worked perfectly.
John S
Oregon