I'd like to plant a quince tree, but I've never grown one so looking for some advice really and are they a good choice of fruit tree? I remember eating gorgeous quince jelly when I was little, though I've not had it since. Do I get a tree or a dwarf type? It's a fairly windy spot here often quite wet, will this be ok? Any recommendations for variety?
I haven't a clue about quince trees, hover I have an ornamental chaenomeles japonica which regularly produces bucket loads of fruit. I make membrillo and quince jelly - totally delectable served with cheese. I don't know how many people you are catering for - for me, my son and visitors this one bush produces enough for a year.
Mine is Vrajina, but it does seem to need a good summer.
Irregular or too wet and the fruit splits and then can go off quickly. Also I did not prune it last year -oops- so not had as good a crop.
I'm not sure how well it would do in your area, I've just looked at Welsh fruit stockists tand they do not supply Quince so maybe not so good ?
I've planted a chaenomeles to mix with it as some recipes suggest this.
I don't want to highjack the thread, but I was wondering how the fruit of the low growing quince shrub compares with the fruit from the trees. Do they taste the same? I have used fruit from the tree, but don't have room for another tree myself, but could probably squeeze in an extra shrub. Is it a good option?
Hmm, looks like a quince tree may not be such a good idea then. I think looking at the pictures on the net it was a chaenomeles japonica with red flowers and grown under a window, that I remember. Although I don't remember it being very thorny. How savage and unruly are they?
Mine is small yet but I haven't seen any savage or unruly characteristics!
I remember one from home when I was a kid and it seemed tame enough, and I wasn't aware of this side of it's nature.
Not had fruit yet either.
Quote from: Jayb on September 29, 2012, 08:16:59
Hmm, looks like a quince tree may not be such a good idea then. I think looking at the pictures on the net it was a chaenomeles japonica with red flowers and grown under a window, that I remember. Although I don't remember it being very thorny. How savage and unruly are they?
Chaenomeles is not that bad..they are easier grown as bush rather than trained..bit prickly but nothing like gooseberries.
Only 'trouble' with chaenomeles is that each individual variety's fruit vary a lot..regarding the quantity and quality of the fruit. I think it was in Estonia (or somewhere over that direction) where they have made some breeding attempts to 'produce' Chaenomeles variety with best possible yield and fleshiest fruit in mind rather than their ornamental flowers in mind.
I've got one particular variety in my lotty growing that I rescued couple years ago from being thrown away..it was planted into border for its flowers...but it produce 'cracking' fruit..reasonably large and fleshy and in good quantity.
I'll have a look (if you want one) if it has put some new growth on that could be separated with some roots on..
thanks Goodlife, that would be lovely- the one I bought has really nice flowers.
I'll check it out when I go to the plot and check the name for if it is listed for good fruit as well, but another would be great (if one available).
If you want a nice red flowered one I can do the same.
Ooops missed that one, I guess you don't have a name for your rescued one? I've been looking at a few I'll see if I can find out about 'Estonia' ones. Leaving it grow as a bush would suit me better than trying to train, fit in much better with the over-grown look!
Quote from: Jayb on September 30, 2012, 09:53:05
Ooops missed that one, I guess you don't have a name for your rescued one? I've been looking at a few I'll see if I can find out about 'Estonia' ones. Leaving it grow as a bush would suit me better than trying to train, fit in much better with the over-grown look!
Nope..no name..it is orange flowered one and though I have another orange one, but bought from garden centre, its fruit is not nearly as nice/good as the rescue one.
I had a look at the shrub yesterday...and I think I might be able to split it and get side shoot or two for you and Pumpkinlover to grow..
Winecap -sorry not able to answer your question as not had fruit yet off the shrub, but remember seeing it as a kid and people using it then.
I think I read somewhere that it is a good addition to the true quince- hence me getting one.
Quote from: winecap on September 28, 2012, 23:42:15
I don't want to highjack the thread, but I was wondering how the fruit of the low growing quince shrub compares with the fruit from the trees. Do they taste the same? I have used fruit from the tree, but don't have room for another tree myself, but could probably squeeze in an extra shrub. Is it a good option?
I don't have any experience of 'true' quince so cannot compare..but the fruit from Chaenomeles that I've picked have been nice..they've been bright yellow 'satsuma'-size fruit and when fully ripe they have slightly apricot-like fragrance and cook into apple sauce kind of puree but with very distinctive citrus-like flavour going on same time. I found the puree best mixed with apple sauce..but that's my taste buds.
I once made apple and chaenomeles pie..using apple/chaenomeles sauce with apple pieces as 'lucky lumps' for the bite and it was to die for....one of the best 'apple pies' I've ever had and it made you really think hard what is that 'extra' flavour with apple.
I have a beautiful chaenomeles japonica with stunning large salmon pick flowers. I begged a cutting from a neighbour who was hoving it into a skip and told me not to bother as it was very flower shy. It has flowered and fruited its socks off. Mine seems to like sunshine and brutal pruning. Fruit very hard but OH say it gives great taste added to an apple crumble.
We have a fair number of Chaenomeles of different hues and apart from a white flowered one, they all produce good sized usable fruit. I think the white one does not fruit as it gets all the leaves blasted off after flowering by a savage wind which we often get in April. The others are more sheltered. You may well be advised to grow more than one bush as they definitely do better when cross pollinated.
Our Queeche's Prolific tree has never produced a fruit and is always badly affected by Black spot despite spraying with fungicide.
Is that black spot as in the one roses get?
Yes, as they are in the Rosaceae, they get the same sorts of diseases. Rarely see it on the Chaenomeles bushes or fruit though.
Air's clean here so black spot has always been quite a problem.
More ticks for a Chaenomeles!
Goodlife,
Is it possible to have more details about Estonian attempts to improve chaenomeles for fruit production.Do you remember where you found that information?
This makes interesting reading.
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/ncnu02/v5-385.html
Quote from: John85 on October 02, 2012, 12:14:06
Goodlife,
Is it possible to have more details about Estonian attempts to improve chaenomeles for fruit production.Do you remember where you found that information?
Oh..that was couple of year ago that read about it ..I'll see if I can dig it out..it was some kind of research report for the species.
Quote from: Palustris on October 02, 2012, 12:58:06
This makes interesting reading.
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/ncnu02/v5-385.html
:toothy10:..YES!!!...that was part of the 'report' I was reading!..I'll see if I can dig the whole 'story' that was based on your link.
Sorry Jayb....your thread has been totally hijacked by japanese quince now.
I'm still on a look out for 'that' report...but while I've been searching..I found these..
http://pub.epsilon.slu.se/5191/1/6Breeding.pdf
http://pub.epsilon.slu.se/5201/1/14Processing.pdf
http://pub.epsilon.slu.se/5200/1/13Ripening.pdf
http://pub.epsilon.slu.se/5182/1/4Flowering.pdf
...this 'epsilon' source seem to have quite few different studies bublished about Chaeonomeles.
OH..and look at all the different kind of fruits on this family.. http://www.mezhenskyjv.narod.ru/eng_page_3.htm
Quote from: John85 on October 02, 2012, 12:14:06
Goodlife,
Is it possible to have more details about Estonian attempts to improve chaenomeles for fruit production.Do you remember where you found that information?
I haven't found 'the' report yet, but I'm on trail of it now...http://www.mezhenskyjv.narod.ru/article_scientific/dobele_1996.pdf
Gosh there is a lot of stuff on net about Chaenomeles..I didn't realize how studied crop it is.
Hi Jayb
In a good year we can have carrier bags full of fruit and the scent ooh !
The tree can grow 5-7 feet a year ,ours is in a tiny space but doesn't mind and the blossom is delightful , still have plenty of quince jelly which is great in stews etc. Mind not every year is good.
We are not a million miles away from so might be okay ,ours is sheltered.
Quote from: markfield rover on October 24, 2012, 15:43:43
Hi Jayb
In a good year we can have carrier bags full of fruit and the scent ooh !
The tree can grow 5-7 feet a year ,ours is in a tiny space but doesn't mind and the blossom is delightful , still have plenty of quince jelly which is great in stews etc. Mind not every year is good.
We are not a million miles away from so might be okay ,ours is sheltered.
Is yours 'proper' quince..not Chaenomeles sort? Do you know the variety that you are growing? How big is your tree?
I'm only asking these questiong as my brain has started 'ticking' over the thought of getting one...but I don't know much about 'proper' quinces. Are they selfpollinating? How much space do they require..or what sort of space they can be grown within (minimum)?
I WANT one....!!!!!!!!!! :blob7:
Hi good life
Yes I think it's proper ,the pears are on average twice the size of a conference pear same shape ,we have several fruit trees near but not a quince. It could grow quite big but we really do hack back hard and show no mercy. As time goes on we may fan it but I do like the way it grows with gay abandon ! Bought from the farmers market about seven years ago I will try to remember its name
I think it may well have been mentioned earlier . We only have room for one fruit tree and I think we made the right choice. I love the huge flowers too.
mine is not huge Goodlife, it must be about 8-9 ft and I have not got round to pruning it for the last two years so it is a bit "dense" at the moment, spread wise it is about 6ft at a guess.Taken about 8 years to fruit though, so you need to get one soon!!!
Taken about 8 years to fruit though, so you need to get one soon!!!
Well..I'm about to start another mulberry , the first one took me 8 yrs to fruit as well..but since I'm still a VERY young 'bird'..I'm sure there is no rush as yet.... :tongue3:
Are some of the Quince bushes that have fruit not safe to eat? I have something growing in the boarder by our drive that as lovely fruit, but was told not to use it as it was ornamental. The fruit on there this year is really big compared with other years. I will be very cross if I now find out I could have been using the fruit :BangHead:. How do I tell the difference ?
Chaenomeles=Japanese quinces are all sold in this country as 'ornamental' shrubs..but the fruit from all of them are edible once cooked.
You can taste the ripe uncooked fruit why they have to be cooked before eating/using them....they are VERY sour and tart.
Don't bang your head too much......
I hope so as I've just made and eaten quince marmalade from some fallen that I got scrumped a week ago. It's flippin lovely. :blob7:
And the stuff left in the muslin has gone in with 2 spare peaches for quince and peach wine.
And the seeds have been sown for potential future root stocks.
DT Brown has a patio quince which I'm very tempted by but not sure how well it will do in a pot. Sibley's patio quince I think it's called.
Quote from: Digeroo on September 30, 2012, 12:44:00
... It has flowered and fruited its socks off. Mine seems to like sunshine and brutal pruning. Fruit very hard but
I didn't know until this year that the fruits were edible. I'd given a sapling to a friend and she made some jam. I've never pruned ours but have always cut many branches and forced them in late winter for the salmon blooms indoors. Some years there seem to appear a fair number of hard yellow fruits.
Digeroo, what do you mean by brutal pruning. How far down do you cut yours? I'm thinking I might try for a crop next year instead of bouquets.
WOuld it not be possible to grow some quince seedlings in pots and then use them as graft stocks to go onto an apple or pear that was on a dwarfing stock?... advantages are probably cross pollination (dunno if quinces help the others but at least youd get several quinces adn that would have to help) and they'll fruit quicker (probably) ... I've been given a few and made some quince adn blackberry jelly.... if I like it (and get good reports form folks I've given some little jars to) then I'd like to grow them and am establishing fruit at the lottie next year.... so they'd need to be dwarfing trees.... I can pot grow a few quinces to try this with I guess...
chrisc
WOuld it not be possible to grow some quince seedlings in pots and then use them as graft stocks to go onto an apple or pear that was on a dwarfing stock?...
I've just been reading about quince grafting..and as far as I know..you cannot unite apple and quince but pear& quince will work.
Quince can be crafted into more drawfing quince rootstock too keep the growth smaller, where as pear root stock would make growth bigger. Quince is commonly grafted as a rootstock for pears to keep them more drawfing...so suppose your pear has quince 'stock', yes, you could graft...but you propably would be much 'safer' with results using cutting rather than seedlings..there is always room for 'error' with finished results.
OH..this quince 'business' is bugging me now... :BangHead: I keep reading and reading and the obsession of owning a quince tree is not leaving me alone :BangHead:
Oh well...I must surrender then... :icon_cheers:...I had sneaky peek on Deacons site and they still have their 10% discount going on.. :icon_cheers: I WILL make a call today and see what is available.. :icon_cheers:
Don't know where I am going to plant it though..... :drunken_smilie:
I DID IT ! :blob7:
Meeche's prolific quince is coming to my address sometime soon :icon_cheers:
...and lovely lady in Deacon's didn't fail me again..we had good chat about quinces and what they 'require'. What did surprise me was that as comparison to apples...their quinces, what they crafted on, only take about same amount of room than apple on M26 rootstock.. :icon_cheers:..they are smaller than I thought!..and Meeche's is slow grower too and don't need much pruning at all!
And...I was given good growing tip!....when I'm planting my quince..if I tip John Innes no3 bag compost to the planting hole, that will give 'everything' what my new tree require in its first year and will give it good start.
This thread is getting a bit complicated with two different plants.
The ornamental ones do like pruning. My method is simple, I do it when it is in flower, no flowers and it gets cut off!!!
Sorry Taurus I think you have missed a tasty morsel, but we use very few because they are so hard to prepare.
Quote from: markfield rover on October 24, 2012, 15:43:43
Hi Jayb
In a good year we can have carrier bags full of fruit and the scent ooh !
The tree can grow 5-7 feet a year ,ours is in a tiny space but doesn't mind and the blossom is delightful , still have plenty of quince jelly which is great in stews etc. Mind not every year is good.
We are not a million miles away from so might be okay ,ours is sheltered.
Good to know, I think I'll have another look at varieties and go from there. I'm hoping it will go with a crab apple so they will give a bit of height and interest.
Chaeonomeles - Although Goodlife came out tops and has sent me a lovely cutting, thank you again :wave:, I'm also going to go for a another Chaeonomeles when funds allow, I've got a spot they will be able to grow into and if they are a bit unruly it won't matter too much, hopefully they will do well. Thanks everyone :toothy10:
"...we use very few because they are so hard to prepare."
Sorry if I have written this before, but if you wash them and bake them very slowly, covered, with some water for a few hours, they go soft and pink and the skin rubs off like paper. The juice is delicious too, with a little sugar. At that point they are very easy to slice and core and add to things, or freeze. I agree they are tiring to chop and peel when raw.
http://www.travelerslunchbox.com/journal/2006/12/8/quinces-the-lazy-way.html
"This brilliant recipe (if it can even be called that) consists of washing a number of quinces, placing them in a baking dish with some water and sugar, covering it tightly with foil, and then going and relaxing in front of the television for approximately three hours...................... you will not only have the most luscious softly-yielding braised quinces to eat in any way you like, but also a fragrant ruby syrup Skye terms 'quince cordial', which when topped with a splash of prosecco or champagne, will easily be the hit of your next party."
An exact recipe follows without all the chat.
I don't think Japanese quinces are too bad for preparation wise...I just cut them into 2 or 3 pieces..scrape seeds out and chucke the whole fruit (minus seeds) into pan..cook it until soft..push it through sieve to get smooth puree without skin and cores.
Resulting puree is easy then to use up or freeze until needed. :toothy10:
Maybe my one is different - it is rock hard, cutting it in half is extremely difficult and peeling is more like chipping off bits of wood with a chisel. But a lovely aromatic smell and taste. I just like leaving them around, they give off a lovely smell. It has gorgeous large salmon pink flowers and is for me a sign the spring is really getting on, it is time for sowing a few things.
How about microwave whole, cool and then cut it about? SOrt of a high-power blet...
Just thought I'd update,
The little Japanese Quince Goodlife sent is flowering :icon_cheers: I've been growing it on in a large pot and It's about ready for planting in it's spot.
Fingers crossed for a few fruit this year - thank you :happy7:
I did buy a quince tree too, Vranja, from Blackmoor. It's growing well and has a lovely show of flowers this year, though not sure we will get any fruit with the winds we have had the last few days.
Anyway very happy with both types, thanks all for the advice :happy7:
Hope your Meeche's is doing well Goodlife.
Hope your Meeche's is doing well Goodlife.
Oh yes it is... :toothy10:
I was just about to dig this post up too... :icon_thumleft:
Mine has its first flowers out...and there is plenty on the tree :icon_cheers:..now all I need is to this rain to stop and dry out so bees can do their thing. Would be nice to have one or two fruits to trial this year.
And the garlic water sprays have done their trick..all leaves are spotless.. :icon_cheers: I just have to make so more and fill up the spray bottle again..its been almost permanent fixture next to my tree and every now and then I give it a go when I happen to notice the bottle. I won't other wise remember to spray if I have to fetch it from some storage place..
About that Japanese quince.... for some curious reason, my bush, from which yours is from, it not willing to set fruit....and yet when it was in flower border in work it fruited its 'socks off'?! I wonder if it is soil thing as mine over here (loamy and not very acid at all) is very different than the soil in work (acid and very sandy). Well..it is pretty thing to see if its not fruiting and where it is, it is not taking up valuable space...maybe it will fruit one day...it is still teeny baby compared what it used to be before I rescued it....it was massive thicket..
I have made jelly many times with our Chaenomeles bushes (think they were called "Apple Blossom - but they suddenly died a few years ago) and it is slightly sharper than "normal" quince and makes a lovely substitute for red currant jelly with lamb, for example. I have two quince trees, but one way or another have not had much fruit from them, though a neighbour's is very prolific. One tree, quite young, went brown all over last year and dropped any fruit and flowers. It is looking good this year so far.....
Great minds eh?.... I was heading here to report that both my Japanese quinces are flowering away merrily ....
Quote from: goodlife on May 12, 2014, 09:57:45
Hope your Meeche's is doing well Goodlife.
Oh yes it is... :toothy10:
Excellent :toothy10:
Good to know the garlic spray is doing the trick.
No worries if it doesn't fruit, I'm happy it's growing and has pretty flowers. Perhaps this will be the year your Japanese quince rewards you :blob7:
Quote from: artichoke on May 12, 2014, 11:24:47
I have made jelly many times with our Chaenomeles bushes (think they were called "Apple Blossom - but they suddenly died a few years ago) and it is slightly sharper than "normal" quince and makes a lovely substitute for red currant jelly with lamb, for example. I have two quince trees, but one way or another have not had much fruit from them, though a neighbour's is very prolific. One tree, quite young, went brown all over last year and dropped any fruit and flowers. It is looking good this year so far.....
Sounds great, I love red currant jelly so look forward making some sometime in the future :drunken_smilie:
I bought a couple of quince to try last year and used them in a pork recipe I found on google, yum yum yum :sunny:
Quote from: chriscross1966 on May 12, 2014, 17:02:23
Great minds eh?.... I was heading here to report that both my Japanese quinces are flowering away merrily ....
Yayyy :toothy10:
My Vranja blossomed in April and is now back to leaves - I've been told it won't set fruit till it's 5 years old, so I have a couple years to go yet.
But I have a small map of all the japanese hedges in my area - I find they are much more peppery than true quinces.
One thing that I can't recommend highly enough s quince brandy - raw quinces in a jar, topped with a bottle of brandy. Leave for 4 months in the dark. Heaven.
raw quinces in a jar, topped with a bottle of brandy. Leave for 4 months in the dark. Heaven.
I don't have no idea how that might taste...BUT it sounds nice :drunken_smilie:..something to think about while I wait my quince to mature and start cropping.