Quince
Fragrant golden fruit from a small tree, usually cooked into jellies or desserts.
Quince (Young tree)
£24.99 in the shop
Calendar
Sow
November–March from a young tree
Plant out
Choose a sheltered sunny spot; pick fruit when golden and aromatic.
Harvest
October–November
Conditions
Sun
Full sun, minimum 6 hours a day, ideally south-facing.
Water
Keep young trees well-watered. Established trees need extra water during dry periods, especially when fruit is swelling.
Soil
Deep, fertile, well-drained loam, pH 6.0–7.0. Avoid heavy clay or very sandy soils.
Spacing
Varies by rootstock: Quince C (dwarf) 2.5–3.5m, Quince A (semi-vigorous) 3.5–4.5m.
Containers
Dwarf rootstocks (Quince C) are suitable for large containers (min. 50cm diameter), with regular watering and feeding.
Indoors
Not suitable for indoor growing.
Care and harvest
Feeding
Apply a balanced general-purpose fertiliser in early spring; supplement with high potash feed for fruiting trees if growth is poor.
Pruning
Winter prune (Dec–Feb) to shape and remove dead/diseased wood; summer prune (Jul–Aug) to improve light and air circulation, and restrict growth.
Harvesting
Choose a sheltered sunny spot; pick fruit when golden and aromatic.
Storage
Store picked, hard pears in a cool, dark, frost-free place (e.g., shed). Bring a few indoors to ripen at room temperature for eating.
Good companions: Comfrey, French marigold, Chives