How to Grow a Quince Shrub

Quince is often used for jam.

The quince (Cydonia oblonga) is an irregular shrub or small tree, up to 15 feet tall, that is grown for its fragrant, yellow fruit. Originally from the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains in Asia, the quince grows in temperate and subtropical regions of the world and is damaged by temperatures below 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Quince fruits are used as a source of pectin and are eaten stewed or made into jams and jellies.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Pruners
• High-nitrogen fertilizer

Instructions

1. Plant your quince during the winter while it is dormant. Choose a sheltered but sunny spot in the garden with rich, well-draining soil. Quince plants suffer from iron deficiency in alkali substrates and prefer slightly acidic soils. Plant your quince at the same depth that it was planted in its container.

2. Water your newly planted quince shrub as soon as the surface of the soil starts to dry out. Remove any weeds that grow up and compete for light. Cut back any suckers that develop from the base of your shrub.

3. Prune your quince regularly as it grows, removing any weak or overcrowded branches from its center. Remove unwanted branches at the base rather than simply shortening them. Cut back the main growing tip once your quince shrub has reached the desired height. Continue to remove any suckers that start to grow to concentrate all the plant's energy on its main stem.

4. Fertilize your quince in the spring with a high-nitrogen fertilizer, aiming to provide 12 oz. of nitrogen per plant per year.

5. Harvest quince fruit once they have turned yellow during the fall. The fruit can be stored during the winter in a cool place. In colder areas, the fruit can be harvested before the first frost and ripened indoors.

6. Propagate your quince shrub from hardwood cuttings 10 inches long taken during late fall or early winter. Quince shrubs can also be grown from seed. Harvest seed from mature fruit and store in the refrigerator until planting them during the spring.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose a self-pollinating quince cultivar if you only have room for one shrub. Quince shrubs can be grown in containers.

• Quince plants grown from cuttings will produce more suckers than those grown from seed. Quince shrubs are vulnerable to sudden changes in temperature and should be planted away from cold winds and frost pockets.

References

• Cornell University Department of Horticulture: Quinces
• New South Wales Government; Quince Growing; July 2001
• The Telegraph; Quince Charming; Charlie Ryrie; November 2004
• The University of Tennessee; Fruits and Nuts: Planting Fruit Trees; David W. Lockwood; March 2001

Resources

• The Observer; Nigel Slater's Quintessential Quince; Nigel Slater; November 2009