Quince

Family. Rosaceae.

Where does grow? Caucasus, Asia Minor, Northern Iran.

Quince description. Quince is a deciduous tree reaching 7.5 m in height or a large shrub up to 4 meters. Tolerates frosts down to -15° C. The leaves are elliptical, simple, light green, pubescent on the underside, fall off in winter, or remain dried out hanging on the tree. The length of the leaf plate is from 5 to 10 cm, width - 3 - 5 cm. The flowers are solitary, white-pink in color, reminiscent of apple flowers, but somewhat larger - about 5 cm in diameter, there are male and female. Quince fruits are bright yellow berries - pear-shaped or apple-shaped, ripening in autumn. The pulp is dry and mealy.

Height. 4 - 7 m. Home quince has more modest dimensions and tolerates corrective pruning well.

Planting and care

Growing, pruning

When growing quince in open ground, and also if you take the plant outside in summer, it is necessary to provide protection from the wind. With the help of pruning, the tree is formed - the shape of the crown can be kept compact and at the same time get rid of old, diseased and dead shoots.

Propagation 

Growing from seeds at home is quite troublesome. Quince seeds are sown in a cold greenhouse in February. Seeds will require 18 weeks of cool stratification before planting if they are fresh, while old ones will need 2 weeks of warm stratification followed by 18 weeks of cold stratification. They are planted in a permanent location in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frost. It is also propagated vegetatively by mature cuttings in a cold greenhouse.

When it blooms 

Flowering occurs at the end of spring, lasts about three weeks, when spring frosts are not dangerous. Flowering quince is very attractive.

Transplanting

Planting in fresh soil and a larger pot is carried out in the spring, as it grows or if it is necessary to replace the substrate. For large tub plants, the top layer of soil is replaced with fresh one every year. 

Diseases and pests 

Quince is very prone to bacterial diseases; sometimes they rot if the soil moisture is too high.

Among the pests, scale insects, mites, and aphids pose a certain danger. When grown in open ground, codling moths, cherry flies, leaf miners, and sawflies may appear.

Containment temperature

Temperatures ranging from 18 to 24 °C are suitable for cultivation in spring and summer. Plants are frost-hardy around -15 °C, although the fruit rarely ripens in cool conditions. 

Feeding

During the period of active growth, apply mineral fertilizers every 2 weeks. 

Lighting

Quince can grow in full shade, partial shade or in full sun. Lack of light negatively affects the quality of the fruit.

Soil for quince

Prefers light, moist, rich, well-drained soil. Suitable for sandy, medium loamy and clayey soils. Soils with pH 6 - 7. 

Spraying

The tree does not require high air humidity and tolerates the dry atmosphere of living spaces well. Spraying can be done to prevent the appearance of harmful insects.

Watering

It tolerates both drought and wet soil well, but it is better to provide proper, abundant watering during the growing period.

Purpose

The plant can be used as a hedge and is also often used as a dwarf rootstock for pears and some other fruits.

Note

The seeds of the plant are poisonous. Like many species of the Rosaceae family, they contain hydrogen cyanide. In small quantities, hydrogen cyanide stimulates respiration and improves digestion. In excess, however, it can cause respiratory failure and even death.