Quince – watering the quince tree

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

Quince Origin

The quince (Cydonia vulgaris) is a small tree with a round crown that grows to about 6 m in height and belongs to the rose family. It is known for its sweet, edible fruits. The quince is an ancient cultivated plant that probably originated in the Caucasus or the eastern Mediterranean. It was already cultivated in ancient Greece. It was very popular with the Romans and thus came to Europe.
The quince has often been used in mythology and symbolism. In Greek mythology, it was associated with the goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite. In Roman mythology, the quince was the symbol of fertility and rebirth. The quince has also been frequently depicted and mentioned in art and literature. In the Bible, for example, there is the story of Esau selling his birthright for a bowl of lentils and a quince.

The flowers of the quince are hermaphroditic and have a double perianth. They appear before the leaves and are usually arranged singly, less frequently in pairs. The flower stalk is a maximum of 5 cm short and often reddish and slightly hairy. The flowers open between March and April and are white, light pink to strong pink in color 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.
The quince fruits are light yellow to orange-red in color and have a diameter of 4 to 8 cm. They have a round or slightly oval shape and are about the size of pears. The skin of the quince is green or yellow and slowly turns brown as it ripens. The skin is relatively hard and usually covered by a thick, velvety layer of wax. The flesh of the quince is hard and sour at first, but becomes soft and sweet when cooked. The quince fruits contain many vitamins, minerals and fiber. They are often made into jam, jelly, cakes or liqueur, but are also eaten raw or used in salads.

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 prune is after the harvest in summer. In the first two years, shoots that compete with the leading shoot are removed. Every year, dead wood should be removed and vertically growing branches, so-called water shoots, should be eliminated. Branches that have been nibbled by animals can pose a risk of infection and should therefore be removed. In winter, dead branches of the quince tree and branches that grow inwards should be removed.

Watering quince

Quinces do not tolerate waterlogging and cold soils, so watering should only be done when the surface of the soil is dry. However, during prolonged dry periods in spring and summer, sufficient watering is necessary, especially if the tree is against a house wall. There, the soil is often interspersed with building rubble, which acts as a drainage system. The roots of young quince trees are not yet as branched and should therefore be carefully monitored and watered earlier than existing trees. In the first year, regular watering is important to encourage rooting. From the second year onwards, no additional water is usually needed. However, watering at least once a week during dry periods is recommended. Signs of drought stress in quince trees include limp, drooping leaves, weak young branches, discolored or drying 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 condition of the tree. For young trees, 75 to 100 liters and for older trees, 200 to 250 liters per watering can serve as a guideline. With conventional watering, a lot of 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.

Fertilizing quinces