Were do quinces originate?
This small tree or shrub of the rose family (Rosaceae) is grown for its edible fruit and lovely blossoms. Quince is the only member of the genus Cydonia and is native to Iran, Turkey, and possibly Greece and the Crimean Peninsula.
It is related to apples and pears, and although a large number of quince varieties have been identified around the world, only a small percentage are grown commercially.
How big do quince trees grow?
The quince is a small and very ornamental garden tree which can be pruned into a large shrub, reaching anything from 3 to 6m in height with a spread of 4m. It is deciduous and loses its leaves in autumn.
In South Africa, the most readily available quince variety is ‘Portugal’, which has pear-shaped fruit that goes yellow to orange when ripe, offering a mild flavour and soft flesh that turns red during cooking.
Do quince trees need a pollinator tree?
Quince trees are self-fertile so you only need the one tree, however, planting more than one can increase your crop.
How long do quince trees take to fruit?
The tree should start bearing fruit within 2 to 3 years after planting. A quince tree can live for periods in excess of 50 years and has an economic lifespan of approximately 25 years.
Quince flower. Image by Teodor Buhl from PixabayWhen will quince trees bloom and fruit?
The beautiful fragrant blossoms appear in early spring and are usually a shade of pink or white. The blossoms will attract a host of valuable pollinators to the garden.
The fruit of the various types of quinces ranges from pear-shaped to more apple-shaped, and they come mostly in shades of yellow to golden and orange. Green, immature fruits are covered in a white sticky fluff, and the flesh is firm, astringent and woody.
Fruits slowly develop through summer and the fruit is generally ready to harvest in late autumn or early winter. Wait for the colour of the fruit to change and the white wool to disappear. The flesh of properly ripe fruit will be softer and have the characteristic floral scent that makes quinces so palatable.
Can I eat quince raw?
While quinces can be eaten raw, they are not often eaten raw due to their tartness and tough skin. The flavour is compared to a combination of crisp pears and tart apples. Cooked quinces have a sweeter, more delicate flavour and a softer texture than raw quinces
Quince 'Portugal'In the Kitchen:
Even when ripe, raw quinces are tart and dry and some find them unpleasant to eat off the tree. Cooked quinces, however, are an altogether different proposition, with a flavour reminiscent of both apples and pears.
These fruits can be added to a variety of fruit tarts and pies, including apples and pears to create a zingy new flavour profile. The fruits make delicious jellies, jams or preserves. Cooked in a sugary syrup its wonderful eaten with yoghurt or various cheeses.
The fruit has a high pectin content, which allows it to be made into a sliceable jam which is called quince paste, or ‘quince cheese in reference to it often being sold in rounds like cheese. Quince past is a popular jelly or jam that forms a block that can be sliced and is excellent eaten with cheese or cured meats. 3 quinces
Health benefits of quince
Quince is known to have strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities.
Cultivation:
What climate is best for quince trees?
Quinces thrive in a Mediterranean climate with mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers. Therefore they do extremely well in our winter rainfall regions.
Cold weather isn’t a problem, and neither is frost. The trees are not well-suited to subtropical climates.
How much sun do quince trees need?
They require full sun exposure for optimal growth and fruit production, but will tolerate some light shade.
What soil type do quince trees require?
Quince trees will grow in most fertile, well-drained garden soils. They prefer a deep and fertile loam that retains some moisture but doesn’t become waterlogged, with an acidic to neutral pH of 6.0 to 7.0.
If you have very sandy soil add plenty of compost to the soil before planting and apply organic mulch in spring and autumn.
Planting
Dig a planting hole deep enough to accommodate the tree’s root system. Place the tree in the hole, ensuring the graft union is above ground level. Fill the hole with soil, tamp it down gently, and water thoroughly. You may add some bone meal or slow release fertiliser to the planting hole, but if your soil is fertile feeding now is optional.
How much water do quince trees need?
Quince trees require regular watering, especially during the growing season. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Mulching regularly around the base of the tree can help retain soil moisture.
How to fertilise quince trees
Most garden soils contain sufficient nutrients for a quince tree to grow healthily, though applying a fertiliser for fruiting plants can be applied each spring.
Slow release fertilisers also work well, and excellent to use for trees growing in pots.
Nitrogen can be applied in slow-release form, but avoid high nitrogen fertilizers which act quickly, or chicken manure, as too much nitrogen will stimulate shoot growth rather than encourage flower and fruit formation.
Harvesting quinces
Quince fruit is typically ready for harvest in the late summer to early autumn, depending on the variety. They are ready when the fruits turn green to yellow and can be separated easily from the tree.
Pruning quince trees?
Pruning is essential for shaping the tree and promoting fruit production. Prune quince trees during their winter dormant season (late winter or early spring). Remove dead or diseased branches and thin out crowded growth to improve air circulation.
Growing quince trees in pots?
You can grow quince trees in large pots, at least 90cm in diameter, using a good quality free draining loam based compost.
Potted plants always need more frequent watering than those growing in the soil. Aim to keep the compost moist at all times, but do not leave the pot standing in a drip tray continually filled with water, or you risk drowning the roots. During extremely hot dry weather check your plant daily.
Potted quince trees will need regular feeding during spring and early summer. A balanced liquid or slow-release fertiliser for fruiting plants is best, together with organic mulch.
For potted plants trim back all the new growths to 8 to 10cm when the plant is dormant in winter. Most of next season’s flower buds will then develop on these spurs. As well as limiting the tree’s size this will also maintain an even and balanced rounded shape
Problems, Pests & Diseases:
In the garden quinces are usually trouble-free, so a regular spraying program may not be necessary, but watch out for signs of pests and diseases.
Why are the leaves on my quince tree turning yellow?
Yellowing leaves on quince trees are often a red flag for nutrient deficiencies. Nitrogen shortage often targets the older leaves, turning them pale, while new growth might appear stunted.
A lack of iron is typically more visible on younger leaves, which may turn yellow but retain green veins
Feed with products like iron chelate or use a trace element feeder like Trelmix.
Why is my quince not fruiting?
There are several reasons why a quince tree might not bear fruit, including its age, flower bud damage, temperature disruptions, and poor pollination.
Fire Blight
Fire Blight is a big deal and can totally devastate quince trees and its relatives, like apples and pears, as well as other trees. A bacterial infection, it is usually evident in oozing cankers on the trunk as well as blooms, and it can spread to the branches and root systems, sometimes eventually even killing the tree.
It can be treated with a copper based fungicide solution.
Quince Rust
Quince rust is a fungal disease which causes deformed fruit that just won’t ripen and soften.
It can spread to apple trees in the vicinity, but thankfully it can be treated with a copper solution or other fungicide.
Pests
Quince trees can be susceptible to various pests like aphids and scale insects. Regularly inspect your trees and take appropriate measures.
Neem oil is great for controlling insect pests in the garden.
Neem oil comes from the Neem tree and is a great choice for gardeners because it is used to control a wide range of insects, (up to 200 types) including: aphids, caterpillars, white fly, red spider mites, leaf-miners, mealybugs, thrips, fruit flies, leaf hopper and weevils.
Insects don’t become immune to Neem oil, and the key insecticidal ingredient found in the tree is Azadirachtin, a naturally occurring substance. It blocks the insect’s production and release of vital hormones rendering them unable to moult, thus breaking their life cycle. Depending on the stage of life-cycle, insect death may not occur for several days.
Azadirachtin acts as a feeding deterrent for some insects, but for those who do take a nibble, if only minute quantities are ingested the insects stop feeding. Residual insecticidal activity is evident for up to seven days or longer, depending on insects and application rate.
Neem oil is biodegradable and safe for gardens with pets and areas with wildlife. Because neem products must be ingested to be effective, they are relatively harmless to insects that pollinate crops and trees, such as butterflies, spiders and bees, as well as our beloved lady bird bugs that consume aphids and are a welcome sight in the garden, and not forgetting the beneficial wasps that control various crop pests.
Only insects that feed on plant tissue succumb, while those that feed on nectar or other insects rarely contact significant concentrations of neem products. Try to avoid spraying directly into blossoms, if possible, and to spray when pollinators are not that active. Also, do not apply in temperatures above 30°C.
Is quince toxic?
The seeds of the fruit contain hydrogen cyanide, which is poisonous.
While the flesh of the fruit is non-toxic, pet owners should note the presence of cyanide in seeds, leaves, and stems, as these parts are not pet-friendly. Quince is also rich in tannins, which can cause stomach upset and potential allergic reactions in sensitive pets.