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Quince

Cydonia oblonga

Fruit treeDeciduousFrost HardyToxic

Quince is a small, deciduous fruit tree of the rose family with large, pale pink to white solitary flowers in late spring and aromatic golden-yellow fruit. The hard fruit ripens in autumn and is mostly cooked into jelly, paste or preserves; the tree is self-fertile.

Overview

Height2.5–4.5 m
Crown diameter2.5–4.5 m
Root systemTap-rooted
ShadeDense shade
SunFull Sun
WaterMedium
HardinessUSDA zones 5–8

Seasons

Flowering (Central Europe)May
Harvest (Central Europe)Oct, Nov

Planting time for bare-root trees. Container trees can be planted whenever the soil is workable.

Grafted forms

FormHeightCrown diameter
Bush tree3–4.5 m3–4.5 m
Half-standard2.5–4 m3–4.5 m

Typical sizes; the rootstock, variety and pruning decide the actual size.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

None

Bad Companions

None

Shared disease: fire blight

Other hosts in the database: Apple, Pear, Rowan, Serviceberry, Crabapple. An infected tree can pass the disease on to them.

Only relations with a documented cause are listed.

Toxicity

SeverityMildly toxic
Toxic toHumans, Dogs, Cats

Fruit is edible once cooked. Seeds contain toxins (cyanogenic glycoside amygdalin) and should be removed; RHS advises the fruit is not for pets.

Planting Tips

LocationWarm, sunny, sheltered spot; blossom is vulnerable to late frost.
SoilDeep, fertile, moisture-retentive soil; add organic matter on light or shallow soils. Quince A and BA29 rootstocks need warm, well-aerated soil.
WateringWater new trees in dry spells for the first couple of years; on free-draining soils water established trees in prolonged dry spells, especially while fruit is swelling.
FertilizingMulched trees usually need no extra feed; if cropping is poor apply an organic granular fertiliser in early spring. Container trees: high-potassium liquid feed every two weeks.

Care Tip: Main problem is quince leaf blight (Diplocarpon mespili) in wet summers; 'Serbian Gold' and 'Aromatnaya' are tolerant. Harvest before the first frost and store 6–8 weeks to mellow.

Sources