Cultivation Of Quince

2024 Author: Sebastian Paterson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:47

Cydonia - ornamental and fruit shrub

Among the numerous ornamental shrubs, a special place is occupied by a hybrid of the oblong quince (Cydonia hybr. X oblonga), reminiscent of the Japanese quince, but favorably distinguished from it by its valuable fruits.

Cydonia is a low (up to 1 m tall) shrub with strong arcuate shoots, equipped with spines up to 1 cm long. Leaves are numerous, bright green, oblong, alternately arranged. In the spring it is one of the most elegantly flowering shrubs: large single orange-red flowers of various shades sit densely on the branches. Flowering lasts about a month. A hedge made of quince is decorative throughout the season.

Gardener's guide

Plant nurseries Stores of goods for summer cottages Landscape design studios

In September, the bushes delight with the sight of numerous fruits, similar to flat yellowish-green apples weighing 20-30 g, with dense and sour pulp. Fruits become ripe by the end of September, acquiring a bright golden color and an unusually pleasant aroma, which remains in fresh and processed fruits.

Quince fruits contain proteins, carbohydrates, sugars, fiber, tannins, organic acids (malic, citric, tartaric), and essential oils. They are rich in vitamin C, a pectin substance that jellies well in the presence of sugars. In terms of the amount of pectin substances, the fruits of quince occupy one of the first places among fruits and berries. On average, they surpass apples in the content of pectin and vitamin C by 1.5-2 times.

The most important dietary value is the so-called alkalinity (alkalinity is understood as the content in the juice of fruits and berries of all alkaline earth metals: sodium, potassium, calcium, etc.). This group of substances regulates the alkalinity and acidity of the environment and is especially valuable for nutrition, since it removes excess acidity in a living organism. In comparison with apples, the alkalinity of quince is 3-4 times more.

The fruits are used in raw chopped form with equal amounts of sugar. They store such a blank in the refrigerator, add it to tea, coffee, compotes, salads with apples and pumpkin. Quince fruits are processed into jams, jellies, wine, soft drinks, liqueurs, to which it gives a beautiful amber color and a stable aroma.

In the culture of Asia Minor, quince has existed for more than 4 thousand years; it came to Greece in the 1st century BC. In Russia, it is cultivated mainly in the south; it is also grown in the Baltic countries. The result of breeding work is a hybrid contained in separate collections.

Cultivation of quince is not difficult. It grows well and bears fruit in the Northwest. Only the tops of young shoots over the snow cover freeze, so the extended arrangement of the branches contributes to successful wintering and fruiting on the branches of the second year of life.

Quince is propagated by seeds and root suckers. The seed germination energy is quite high.

Notice board

Kittens for sale Puppies for sale Horses for sale

Fresh seeds are sown in the fall (October-November) on the garden bed or in the spring, but after their obligatory stratification for at least 50 days. For this, seeds are mixed with wet sand, peat or sawdust and kept at a low positive temperature in a refrigerator or basement, stirring occasionally for better air access. Seedlings of the second year of life are cut to a quarter of the height for better branching of the crown. Fruiting of seedlings begins in the third year.

In a permanent place, seedlings are planted no deeper than they grew in a distribution bed. The place should be sunny, the soil is fertile, drained, with an acidity of 5.5. The main dressing includes the introduction of 10 kg of compost, 200 g of superphosphate, 30 g of potassium nitrate per square meter of area. The distance when planting seedlings is 0.7-1 m. The best planting time is spring, if you do it in autumn, then the seedlings must be spud up for the winter.

Care consists in spring nitrogen feeding, after flowering and harvesting - phosphorus-potassium (20-30 g per square meter). Loosening and weeding are carried out, if necessary - watering. In autumn, the soil is mulched with peat, with a bark layer of 3-5 cm. Underdeveloped, dry, broken or very old shoots are cut out after flowering. For the winter, they provide snow retention, especially of young plantings.

Cydonia is used in the garden as a curb along paths, on rocky hills, on the lawn in groups, at the entrance to the gate, and everywhere it creates a spectacular decoration and provides vitamins in winter.