Quince: fruits, planting & diseases
The quince is a fascinating tree that offers a lot of potential to both the garden and the kitchen.
Quinces (Cydonia oblonga) are ancient trees that now tend to be uncommon sights with their fruit often undervalued. However, they are well suited to home gardens in the UK and offer a unique alternative to apples (Malus domestica) and pears (Pyrus communis).
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Quince tree: origin and characteristics
The quince is a small fruit tree that originated in the Caucasus region around Persia. Nowadays, the trees can be found all over the globe. It is thought to have been introduced into the UK around 1200 AD. It is a relatively small tree and often multi-stemmed, with a quince tree reaching around 3.5 to 5m at full height. The tree’s exact final height will depend on its rootstock, soil type, and location.
The quince is a member of the rose family (Rosaceae), along with some of the most popular fruit trees like the apple (Malus x domestica) and the pear (Pyrus communis). These trees have some characteristics in common. For example, a quince flower has five petals like others in the family. The quince flower is large, pale pink, and beautifully scented, with the blossom appearing in late May. Quince leaves are large and oval, smooth on top and soft and hairy underneath.
Quince trees are grown for their large, yellow and fragrant fruit, which need a long summer to ripen. Even after being picked, they need to be stored to soften and sweeten before being used in the kitchen. There are different varieties of quince, which can be divided into two groups based on the distinct shapes of their fruits, namely apple-shaped quinces and pear-shaped quinces. Apple-shaped quinces are more rounded, whereas pear-shaped quinces are elongated. When it is time to harvest quince fruits in October and November, the ripe fruits will have an aromatic fragrance and will have turned from green yellow to golden yellow, as well as lost their downy fluff covering. Quince fruits are very rarely eaten raw because they have a very tough skin and are very sour and bitter even when ripe. That said, some cultivars are grown specifically to be consumed fresh from the tree. Typically, quinces are made into jellies and jams, or they are used in desserts such as poached quinces and quince tart.
Planting quinces
Quinces are best grown in soil that is moisture-retentive and rich in nutrients. A quince tree will tolerate a wide range of soils, even light and sandy ground. However, make sure it does not get waterlogged in winter. The early quince flowers are highly susceptible to frost, so choose a spot that is warm and sheltered. A quince tree needs a lot of sunlight to ripen its large fruits.
Tip: smaller quince tree cultivars, like ’Champion’, can be grown in pots or containers that are at least 60cm wide. Use a high-quality potting compost with balanced nutrients. Our Plantura All Purpose Compost is ideal because it is peat-free and nutrient-rich to encourage quince trees to grow strong and healthy.
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Planting a quince tree is a task best done between November and March when the tree is dormant. Dig a deep hole large enough to accommodate all of the quince tree’s roots. Place the tree in the hole and backfill the hole. We recommend working some well-rotted compost in with the excavated soil to add extra nutrients. Like most fruit trees, a quince tree will be grafted so make sure the thick grafting point is 15 to 20 cm above the ground when planting. Stake the quince tree to protect it from wind damage, inserting the stake at a 45-degree angle into the prevailing wind. An angled stake will increase stability and prevent root damage. Water the tree in well and cover the base with a 5cm thick layer of mulch, such as garden compost or well-rotted manure.
How to care for quince trees
There are a few key care measures when growing quince trees. Water the trees well during dry spells in spring and summer. Weed around the quince trees regularly to keep competition low. It can be beneficial to feed quince trees with a high-potassium fertiliser annually in spring. However, be careful not to overfeed as quince trees can be sensitive. Overfertilising a quince tree can lead to premature dropping of fruit and make it more susceptible to fire blight (Erwinia amylovora).
A well-fed healthy tree will generally be less susceptible to disease. Our Plantura All Purpose Plant Food has a balanced nutrient composition to provide optimal nutrition to quince trees.
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How to prune quince trees
When to prune a quince tree? During the winter, when the tree is dormant. At this point, take care to remove any dead, diseased, or damaged wood, as well as any crossing branches. Also, thin out congested areas. Winter pruning will improve air circulation and let more light into the canopy and, ultimately, to the fruit. Quince trees bear fruit primarily on the previous year’s shoots, and the overall goal is to have well-spaced branches. Remove any suckers to keep the centre of the tree open. Remove all branches from the main trunk for the first metre from the ground. Unlike some other fruit trees, quince trees do not need to be heavily pruned in order to fruit and grow well.
Common quince diseases and pests
Quince leaf blight (Diplocarpon mespili) is a fungal growth on the surface of the leaves that causes them to become distorted and can result in premature leaf drop. Small dark spots will form on the leaves, and spots may form on the fruits. Remove infected leaves and rake up any fallen diseased leaves.
Powdery mildew (Golovinomyces orontii) is a fungal disease that causes a white coating on leaves and stems, and sometimes causes them to become stunted or distorted. Remove infected leaves and prune out any affected stems. Powdery mildew can be controlled by fungicides, but there are also environmental changes that can help combat the problem. This includes pruning the quince tree to maintain an open structure and ensure good air circulation.
Fire blight is a bacterial disease that affects many fruit trees in the pome fruit sub-family of the Rosaceae family, including apples, pears and quinces. Signs of fire blight include wilting blossoms, dying shoots, and cankers on branches. Infected wood has streaks that are pink to orange-red in colour. Any infections need to be pruned out quickly, as sadly there are no chemical controls. Often the whole tree needs to be cut down. Fire blight is no longer a notifiable disease in mainland Britain, but suspected cases on the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands must be reported to the relevant plant health authority.
Apple scab (Venturia inaequalis) is a fungal disease that causes brown patches on leaves and sometimes fruit. It results in leaf drop. Good cultivation and gardening hygiene are recommended to combat scab. Dispose of all infected leaves and fallen fruit. The ripe fruit itself is still edible and only suffers from damage to its outer appearance.
How to propagate quinces
Quince propagation is possible by several means, including by taking hardwood cuttings and grafting. As with most fruit trees, grafting is a very popular and successful method of propagation. Grafting creates a clone of the mother plant and combines the desired variety with another with specific characteristics, known as the rootstock. Grafting is typically done by commercial growers.
To propagate quince trees from hardwood cuttings, remove an at least one-year-old branch in the dormant season, late autumn or early winter. Cut a 25cm long section, above a bud at the top and below a bud at the bottom. Either insert the cutting directly into the ground or into a pot filled with multi-purpose compost, making sure two-thirds of the cutting is below soil level. Keep it well watered. It might take up to 10 weeks to start growing roots. Overall, this method has a low success rate.
You may be wondering if growing quince from seed is a viable method of propagation? The answer is that, like many other fruit trees, quince can be grown from seed. However, there is no guarantee that the resulting tree will be true to the parent plant from which the seed was obtained. It is recommended to graft quince trees or take cuttings, as they are reliable methods of quince variety-true propagation.
Quince trees are a rare sight in the UK nowadays, but they are regaining some popularity. One fruit tree that has always been popular is the Golden Delicious apple. If you want to grow this classic apple variety, check out our article to find out all about Golden Delicious apples.
