Quince
Cydonia oblonga · Rosaceae
📷 Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around quince and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- April to May, pale pink flowers
- Adult size
- 3 to 4 meters in height and spread
- Growth
- Moderate to slow
- Hardiness
- Very hardy, down to -20°C
- Origin
- Caucasus region and Western Asia
- Soil type
- Well-drained soils, tolerates limestone
- Edible fruits
- Yes, ripe in autumn (September-October)
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Quince produces generously if pruned short in February (reduce to 5-6 clear framework branches, hollow the center). Fruits early (3-4 years).
The common mistake
Light pruning creates a tangled mess that shades the fruit and reduces production.
The pro's trick
Harvest in October-November after a light frost: the fruits improve their organoleptic qualities.
Seasonal watch
Scab possible from June onwards in humid climates: space out, aerate, intervene at the first sign.
Care
Sunlight
Plant your quince in full sun for generous flowering and optimal fruiting. A minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight per day is needed. Choose a location sheltered from strong winds to protect the flowers.
Watering
Water regularly during the first year to encourage root establishment. Once established, the quince tolerates drought well. During the active growing season (spring-summer), keep the soil slightly moist without waterlogging. Reduce watering in autumn.
Soil and planting
The quince prefers well-drained, fertile, and slightly alkaline soil. Amend the planting soil with mature compost. Avoid overly compact or waterlogged soils that promote fungal diseases.
Pruning and structure
Prune lightly after flowering to maintain a balanced shape and open up the center of the tree. Remove dead, crossing, or diseased branches. Quince fruits well on 2-3 year old branches, so preserve them.
Fertilizing
An annual application of well-decomposed compost in late winter is generally sufficient. Avoid excess nitrogen which promotes foliage at the expense of fruiting. For poor soils, a balanced fertilizer in spring can be beneficial.
Health and prevention
The quince is generally robust. Watch for aphids in spring and fungal diseases in humid conditions. Good drainage and air circulation limit problems. Remove fruits affected by rust or other diseases.
Did you know?
The quince has been cultivated for over 4000 years and was already known to the ancient Greeks, who called it the 'golden apple'. A symbol of fertility in Greco-Roman mythology, the quince from the biblical Garden of Paradise is believed by some historians to be a quince rather than an apple. Quinces are not edible raw but transform into delicious fruit pastes and jams once cooked.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Cherry treePrunus avium
- Apple treeMalus domestica
- BlackthornPrunus spinosa
- Salad burnetPoterium sanguisorba
- Bird cherryPrunus padus
- BrambleRubus fruticosus
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.