The quince as well as being a productive fruit tree is an attractive ornamental tree. It has a crooked trunk and branches and bears ovate dark green leaves with grey undersides which turn yellow in autumn. Attractive bowl-shaped pale pink to white flowers are borne in late spring.
Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun. In areas where the temperature falls below -15°C grow as a fan-trained specimen, in warmer areas grow as a half standard.
Rootstocks
Rootstocks in order of their vigour are outlined below: –
Quince ‘C’ – Dwarf. A good rootstock to be used in good fertile soils. It has poor anchorage so requires permanent staking. It will reach a height of 2.5-3m. Trees grown on this rootstock will bear fruit within three to four years. Used for bush trees, pyramids, cordons, and fans.
Quince ‘E’ – Dwarf. Similar in size to Quince ‘C’ but more productive and hardy. Smoother fruit with less russeting.
Quince ‘A’ – Semi-Dwarf. A general purpose rootstock which is suitable for most soils including relatively poor soils. It will reach a height of 3-3.5m. Trees grown on this rootstock will bear fruit within four to five years. Used for bush trees, half-standards, cordons, espaliers, and fans.
Varieties
Quinces are available as bare-root one-year-maidens from November to March. Trained forms of quinces are available in 12 litre pots all-year-round.
