Loquat - peach,citrus and mild mango

Excellent for jellies, jams and preserves!

THE Loquat tree is an ornamental, with it's whirls of glossy foliage and naturally attractive shape.

They have large clusters of attractive fruit that stand out against the dark green, tropical looking foliage, growing to about 7.5m, with a canopy spreading 4.5-6m.

Loquat trees are sensitive to cold weather, as temperatures below -3 C will kill the flowers and fruit.

The trees thrive in Spain, who are the main supplier of loquats in Europe.

Some varieties are self pollinating, you can get a good yield from just one tree, but there are several cultivars that must be pollinated by another tree. When planting only one tree make sure it is a self-fertile type.

The most popular for eating is the Argelino loquat, as it's the sweeter variety. Not only good to eat, they are also good for your body as they contain carotenoids being a good source of Vitamin A. They are also packed with fiber, calcium, and potassium.

When growing loquat trees, plant in a sunny location, at least 7.5-9m from any surrounding structures.

Plant the tree, so that the soil line of the tree is even at the level of the surrounding soil. Water twice, a week after planting, keeping soil lightly moist around the tree, until it begins to put on new growth.

Care needs three essential things: good nutrition; water management and weed control.

Art at the Cultural centre

In May and June, there will be a display of Art from local Artists in the Cultural Centre in Calle Pino, Quesada.

We are a friendly group who meet in the library at the Cultural Centre every Wednesday 10.00- 12.30.

Why not come along and speak to the artists?

Fertilise three times a year, with a lawn fertiliser. Water when blossoms begin to swell in spring, and two to three more times when the fruit begins to ripen. Apply water slowly, allowing it to sink into the soil as much as possible. Stop, when the water begins to run off. Take care when weeding around the tree, with roots very shallow.

Loquat fruits are small, round, or pear-shaped, of approximately 5cm long, tasting sweet or slightly acidic, with juicy flesh being white, yellow or orange, with a yellow or orange blushed peel.

Very tasty, when peeled and eaten fresh, with a flavour being a mixture of peach, citrus and mild mango.

They make excellent jellies, jams and preserves, as they have high sugar, acid and pectin levels.

Ciudadanos said to have blocked PSOE until approval of Cala Mosca

Orihuela’s Partido Popular stated on Wednesday that during the period in which the mayoress, Carolina Gracia, was considering a proposal for the final approval of the Cala Mosca project, which will see the construction of 2,200 homes on the last kilometre of virgin coast of the Oriolan coast, and in which she denounced the threats and pressure she was receiving from the builder, the government coalition partners led by the Deputy Mayor, Jose Aix, blockaded government work that Gracia was attempting to carry out, which

Alejandro Gea launches "Concordia en Orihuela"

Last week the presentation of a new political party took place "Concordia en Orihuela" described by itís leader, and candidate for Mayor, Alejandro Gea MartÌ, as social, liberal and progressive.

Gea explained that it is a party that was founded just a few days ago. "We have many projects planned such as help for young people with driver's licenses, refurbishment of the historic centre of Orihuela City, enhancing of its museums," he said.

He confirmed that the complete electoral list is currently being finalised.

ìI started at the age of 16 as part of the New Generations of the Popular Party. Later I joined Vox, but with my departure from that party I decided that Orihuela needs a change, that's how I decided on the need for a party such as "Concordia in Orihuela".

Butron adds to list

Nathalie Dubi, a Belgian national, has lived in Los Montesinos for about 25 years and is currently a Councillor for social services and health.

"For the benefit of the people and the goodwill she has for the town, she feels honoured to be able to work for the people," said Montesinos mayor Jose Manuel Butron.

Natalie Hayes, an English national, is also added to the list. She has lived in Montesinos for 23 years: "She initially came to enrol her daughter in the nursery and from then on she decided that Los Montesinos was the perfect place to live and raise her daughter.

"I am grateful that Natalie is part of this list and supporting me," said Mayor Butron.

had an damaging impact on municipal ordinance.

One such procedure was "the unsuccessful attempt by the Councillor for Equality" to introduce legislation for the abolition of prostitution and sexual exploitation, where the socialists were forced to withdraw the proposal. Neither was it possible to approve the formu- lation of the annual accounts of Uryula Histórica, the municipal company through which the City Council manages services such as early care and childcare. On this occasion, according to the PP, the unjustified absence of councillor Antonio Sánchez, from Ciudadanos, meant this important matter was left unresolved.

The PP has stated, "so much is the situation of hostility that exists between the two parties, PSOE and C’s, that it is evident, even in the management of the council website and social networks accounts, where each one publishes it’s own news with their corresponding photographs, and where it is common practice that they are able to delete comments that they find critical.

Nor can the appalling situation regarding the lack of insurance for municipal vehicles and other uninsured municipal property, for more than three months, be excused, a procedure that was a direct responsibility of the Councillor for Heritage, José Aix (Citizens). It was a failing about which he remained silent, falling to the mayoress to defend him and to fix the problem.

They also add that "the greatest example of the government paralysis continues to be the lack of a municipal budget, the promise of which was the justification for the motion of censure a year ago."

Therefore, they concluded that "the few projects that are seeing the light of day are those that were inherited from the previous management of the PP.