What Is Quince Tree?
The quince tree is a fruit-bearing small tree. They have fleshy leaves that are dark green in color. Quinces grow in warm climates and do not tolerate extreme cold climates or draughts. It originates from Asia, but it grows well in the Mediterranean region as well?
Quince Tree Care & Maintenance
The quince tree grows best if planted in full sun, but it can tolerate light shade. It is not tolerant of drought conditions and prefers fertile, well-drained soil.
Make sure the area where you want to grow your quince tree gets lots of water and nutrients.
Choose a place that has space between plants to accommodate its ultimate size. Quinces are propagated from seeds or grafted trees grown from cuttings; however, only blue quinces produce usable fruit.
Light Requirements:
Quinces require lots of sunlight. They prefer locations in warm climates and do not tolerate frost or drought conditions.
The quince tree tolerates almost any soil type as long as the pH is not too acidic or alkaline. They are fairly tolerant of drought conditions and prefer to have moderately fertile soil, but they should never be allowed to dry out completely.
Dense Shade • Sunlight: Lots of sun with some protection from harsh afternoon sun • Moisture: Moderate • Temperature: Average 65°-90°F (18°-32°C) • Soil Type: Fertile, well-drained, slightly moist
Light Shade • Sunlight: Light shade with some protection from strong midday sun; full sun in colder climates • Moisture: Average water amounts needed; do not let plants dry out • Temperature: Average 65°-85°F (18°-29°C) • Soil Type: Fertile, well-drained, slightly moist.
Water Requirements:
Quince trees have shallow root systems and need to be watered well during the growing season. Inadequate water can cause immature fruit, which is bitter and inedible.
They prefer moderate moisture levels with plenty of available nutrients and are sensitive to drought conditions.
Soil Requirements:
Quince trees prefer fertile and well-drained soil, but they are tolerant of a range of soil types. Make sure the area where you want to grow your quince tree gets lots of water and nutrients. Choose a place that has space between plants to accommodate its ultimate size.
Quinces have shallow roots, so choose a location with plenty of room for growth, especially if you plan to grow them in pots; these trees do not like small confined spaces.
Soil pH Requirements:
Quince trees are tolerant of acid and alkaline soils but prefer neutral soil with a pH between 6.5-7.5. Too much or too little lime in the soil can make it more difficult for the quince tree to absorb nutrients from the soil, which may cause poor growth and decreased crop yields.
Soft Water vs Hard Water:
Quince trees grow best if watered with soft water (water that does not have a lot of dissolved mineral salts).
Hard water contains lots of these minerals, and it is recommended to let your tap water sit out overnight before watering your plants to allow most of the dissolved minerals to evaporate off; otherwise, it can cause nutrient deficiencies and poor plant growth.
Hard Water • Water Hardness: Moderate-hard • Water Amount Needed: High • Watering Frequency: Every day to 3 days • Soil Type: Average to dry, well-drained soil.
Soft Water • Water Hardness: Lowest amount possible, no higher than 20 mg/L • Water Amount Needed: Low • Watering Frequency: Every 2-3 days during growing season; weekly in winter months • Soil Type: Moist, fertile, well-drained soil
Cold Tolerance & Frost Protection for Quince Trees
The quince tree is not very cold tolerant so it should never be planted outdoors in colder areas. It will thrive in milder climates as long as it has lots of sun and well drained soil.
Small Fruit Size & Pollination Requirements:
Quince trees produce small fruit with a single cluster of yellow blossoms. Blue quince trees produce large, blue fruit that is inedible while the yellow variety produces edible apples like fruit; however, yellow quinces are difficult to grow from seed and are only propagated through grafting techniques.
The plant needs cross-pollination between different varieties to produce adequate crops; otherwise , you may only get a few fruits on your tree each year. If cross pollination does not occur, then the flowers will not set or be very small and deformed due to self-fertilization, resulting in poor harvest yields.
Temperature and Humidity Requirements:
Plant in warm climates with moderate humidity, but are tolerant of a wide range of environmental conditions.
Quince trees prefer temperatures between 65-95 F (18-35 C). A humid, warm environment will produce a higher quality fruit.
When growing quince trees indoors, it is recommended to keep them at cooler temperatures until they have adjusted to their new environment.
Propagation:
The quince tree grows best if planted in full sun, but it can tolerate light shade. It is not tolerant of drought conditions and prefers fertile well-drained soil. Water regularly during the growing season so that the soil stays slightly moist (you don’t want water pooling around your quince) throughout the spring and summer seasons when active growth occurs.
Choose a place that has space between plants to accommodate its ultimate size. Be sure the soil drains well and avoid overly damp soils that can cause root rot.
To grow multiple quince trees, plant one tree per hole spaced 6-8 feet apart in rows at least 8 feet apart with a 3-4 foot buffer between each row of trees.
Quince grows best as far away from other flowering plants such as raspberries or strawberries and is more likely to get a virus if it is grown next to these types of plants.
If you have already planted your quince next to fruit-bearing or raspberry/strawberry plants then separate them by at least 12 ft. when they are young so that they will not cross-pollinate with the other tree or bush. Let the trees mature to have at least 20 feet between them. You should have no trouble growing multiple quince trees.
Quinces will begin to bear fruit after about 5 years but may take up to 10 years before they are bearing full crops of fruit. Quinces generally produce a medium crop each year.
Fruit is ready for harvest when it is the deep golden yellow color when cut open, with an aroma that smells like almond extract or marzipan and has a sweet taste similar in flavor to apple; wait until the brown outer skin falls off before eating.
If the flesh appears grainy or white spots appear on the skin it indicates frost damage which can be prevented by wrapping a sheltering fabric around the tree in cold temperatures
Fertilizing Requirements:
Quince trees require a lot of nutrients to produce fruit. Fertilize every spring with a complete, balanced fertilizer such as 12-12-12 or 10-10-10. Avoid fertilizing the leaves of quince trees because it can result in the growth of fungus that will cause leaf spotting and other health problems for your tree.
If you find this post useful, please share it with your friends through Facebook or Twitter! Reply Delete I have seen Quinces before at several Asian markets here in NJ, but have ‘t given them much thought. Will have to go back and give them another look! Reply Delete
Do you think it would be a good idea to graft a sweet quince onto an astringent quince rootstock? I’m working on growing my own fruit using scion wood from Fruit Trees, Etc., so I’d imagine that the taste of the fruit, in this case, would be similar to the kiwifruit (which is very tasty). Reply Delete
Sweet & Sour Quinces are really easy to grow as house plants. They love lots of light and watering during their Summer dormancy period. In warm climates, they will continue to flower and fruit year-round if given enough water. You might try planting one at your front door
Potting and repotting Requirements
Do not pot the Quince too deeply. Put it in a pot just large enough to hold its roots and then only use organic material on the bottom inch of soil.
Mulch the surface with pine bark or sphagnum moss (pea gravel can be used but keep it at least 1/4″ from the surface of the soil). Feed every week during the growing season using an all-purpose plant food such as 10-10-10.
Quinces need plenty of air circulation, especially when they are young & also protected from heavy rain, strong winds, and direct sunlight which can burn their leaves.
Trees can be regularly pruned to maintain shape and control size; thinning out branches will help light penetrate into lower areas.
Quinces are especially vulnerable to Powdery Mildew – related to the fungus that can cause a lot of damage in the right conditions. Quince trees should be kept well ventilated and dry during periods when it is most likely to occur (i.e., mornings with dew, warm days followed by cool nights, etc.).
If Powdery Mildew has already taken hold, spray with Bordeaux Mixture or a copper fungicide such as Cupreem. ( Both can be found at Gardener’s Supply Company )
Quince Tree Problems
When shopping for a quince tree, look for one that has dark green leaves and is bushy with branches sticking out in all directions. The bark should be smooth and grayish-brown in color. Do not purchase quinces that show signs of disease such as leaf spots or powdery mildew.
Quinces can attract pests, including aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, whiteflies, scale insects, and borers.
They are also sensitive to certain diseases such as powdery mildew which causes a covering of white mold on the foliage and fruit. A bad case of this fungus can kill your entire tree!
It’s important to keep an eye on your Quince Trees so you will notice if they’re under attack. Spray them with insecticidal soap or other natural product that will kill bugs without harming the plant, or growing material inside.
