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alexandra_parker23

So today I bought this....

10 years ago

It's a Quince tree, and I'm so in love with the fruits, but am still a bit perplexed as to how to prune it. I do know, however, that you can only prune this tree when it's completely defoliated and dormant, so January/February time, here... There is no blossom on it, so I am obviously not expecting fruits this year. I think I will forget any thoughts of pruning at all, until it's well established, and has blossomed at least once.

My mother has a quince tree, and the first time it flowered, she had 5 quinces on it. last November, she gathered 13... this year may not be quite as prolific as we had a late frost.... but she has still got a good crop on her tree.... the Quince Cheese was amazing....


Comments (14)

  • PRO
    10 years ago


    When will you be planting this tree in the ground?

    The only thing I would consider pruning off at this time is the little low, sideways branch on the left, not likely to fruit, may be in the way when time to plant.

  • 10 years ago

    I won't be planting it out, it's going to stay in the pot. I planted it in the pot, because it was in a much smaller (non-rigid) plastic container... the root-stock is 'dwarfing. It won't get much taller than it is (maybe a metre or so) but judicious pruning (I'm advised) will keep it fruiting and manageable...

  • 10 years ago

    Nice tree Alexandra. Most dwarf rootstock trees can be kept at any height, even if you were to cut the tree in half it would branch out from side buds. Looks like a really cool tree, I kind of want one now!

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    They're well worth it. The fruits are amazing and absolutely delicious. They cannot be eaten raw, but have to be processed through being cooked. I also have a Medlar....


    The blossoms have all opened and set (there were more after this flush) and I'm expecting to pick or have at least 20 fruits this autumn.

  • 10 years ago

    Nice pruning work! I do like the blossoms a lot. i bet it grows out nicely again

  • 10 years ago

    It was a bit of a mish-mash mess when I first received it, and specific pruning advice is scant, although there is plenty of advice recommending it be pruned as for apples... So I pruned it as well as I could and fortunately it was kind enough to reciprocate with abundant blossoms.... :D

  • 10 years ago

    Quince has such an exquisite flavor, it's a shame most people have never tried it (or know how to eat it). And the fruits are so fragrant, the best smell there is!

  • 10 years ago

    Alexandra - maybe you know this but Medlars are a bit odd about pruning, in my experience. They tend to shoot off in random directions from cuts, unlike apples, pears, etc. You can't predict where a new branch will decide to go. Medlars end up looking very gnarly and zigzag because of this feature. And, as you can see on yours, it can put on a huge amount of growth very fast after pruning. Do you know what variety yours is? It seems to have quite large leaves, very similar to my Large Russian. I gave up trying to prune mine, apart from keeping it from poking my eyes out, because it always did just what it wanted to. Note how that bottom branch just turned back towards the trunk when I tried to get it to produce an open habit.

  • 10 years ago

    It's a Mespilus Germanica "Nottingham" (unsurprisingly quite common round here!) Yes, it's actually put out some long shoots, and is looking somewhat bushier...as long as I can keep the centre open, and prevent too much branch-crossing, I think I might be doing ok! :D

  • 10 years ago

    Couple of pictures taken just now...


    Branching anew...

    Plenty of medlar fruits setting...

  • 10 years ago

    Looks as if it knows who's boss .... for the time being anyway ;-)

    Mine is still flowering, no fruit setting yet.

  • 10 years ago

    I see the fruit coming in! Too Coo!

  • 10 years ago

    Mine's just a 'baby' but I'm advised it's never going to get too big because it's grafted onto a dwarf rooting stock, so allegedly, it's going to stay manageable. (half of me is thinking, 'yeah, right, we've all heard THAT one before...!' :D )