Quince – watering the quince tree

• Quince Origin
• Quince care and location
• Cutting quince
• Fertilizing quince
• Watering quince

Quince Origin

The quince (Cydonia oblonga) is a small tree with a rounded crown that grows to about 6 meters tall and belongs to the rose family. It is known for its aromatic, edible fruits. The quince is an ancient cultivated plant that probably originated in the Caucasus or the eastern Mediterranean. It was cultivated in ancient Greece. It was very popular with the Romans and thus made its way to Europe. 
The quince has often been used in mythology and symbolism. In Greek mythology, it was associated with Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. In Roman mythology, the quince was a symbol of fertility and rebirth. The quince has also been frequently depicted and mentioned in art and literature. 

The quince flowers are hermaphroditic and have a double perianth. They appear after the leaves and are usually arranged singly, rarely in pairs. The flower stalk is a maximum of 5 cm short and often reddish and lightly hairy. The flowers usually open in May in Central Europe and are white, light pink to deep pink, and have a diameter of about 2,5 cm. 
The leaves of the quince are green and have a length of 5 to 10 cm and a width of 3 to 7 cm. They can come in various shapes, such as egg-shaped, broad-egg-shaped, heart-shaped, rounded, elliptical, pointed or rounded to blunt.
Quince fruits range in color from light yellow to orange-red and have a diameter of 4 to 8 cm. They are round or slightly oval in shape and about the size of a pear. The quince skin is green or yellow and slowly turns brown as it ripens. The skin is relatively hard and usually covered with a thick, velvety layer of wax. The quince flesh is initially hard and sour, but becomes soft and sweet when cooked. Quince fruits contain many vitamins, minerals, and fiber. They are often made into jam, jelly, cakes, or liqueur.

Quince care and location

Quince trees prefer sunny locations that are sheltered from the wind. Nutrient-rich, well-drained soil is important for the trees to grow well. Quince trees have shallow roots and should therefore be secured with a stake and planted in a sheltered location, such as in front of a wall.

Cutting quince

The best time to Cutting is after the harvest in summer. In the first two years, competing shoots to the leading shoot are removed. Dead wood and vertically growing branches, so-called water shoots, should be removed annually. Branches nibbled by animals can pose a risk of infection and should therefore also be removed. In winter, dead branches of the quince tree and branches growing inward should be removed.

Fertilizing quinces

To harvest juicy and tasty fruits, the quinces are fertilized in late winter and spring. A mulch layer of leaves, grass clippings or bark mulch after Fertilize It is recommended to apply it, but it should be kept away from the trunk to prevent rot.

Watering quince

Quinces do not tolerate waterlogging and cool soils. Therefore, watering should only take place when the soil surface is dry. However, during prolonged dry periods in spring and summer, sufficient watering is necessary, especially if the tree is located against a house wall. There, the soil is often interspersed with construction rubble, which acts as a drainage layer. The roots of young quince trees are not yet as branched and should therefore be carefully monitored and watered earlier than established trees. In the first year, regular watering is important to promote rooting. From the second year onwards, additional water is generally not required. During dry periods, water at least once a week. Giessen, but is recommended. Signs of drought stress in quince trees include limp, drooping leaves, weak young branches, discolored or withering leaves, and early fruit drop.

Drought and high temperatures can cause stress in quince trees, so in climate-related situations, it may be necessary to water them more frequently than in the past. The water requirements of a quince tree depend on various factors, such as the length of the dry period and the tree's condition. A guideline for young trees is 75 to 100 liters per watering, and for older trees, 200 to 250 liters. With conventional watering, much of the water seeps away or evaporates before it can be absorbed by the roots.

 
Watering quince trees with tree bath watering bags is very efficient. The water is slowly and evenly released into the soil as drip irrigation over several hours through two small holes. This ensures even moisture and the water is better absorbed by the surrounding soil and roots. Using tree bath watering bags helps to save time and water.
By filling a watering bag, young trees are provided with sufficient water. Existing trees that are fully hanging need a lot of water to supply the fruit. In this case, it is advisable to connect two or more watering bags with a zip to ensure they are sufficiently watered. Trees in pots generally require more water.