General
Quince (Cydonia oblonga) is a small, broad-crowned fruit tree prized for its fragrant, golden fruits used in jellies, marmalades, preserves, and baking. It flowers late compared to apples and pears, helping it escape spring frosts. Many cultivars are grafted onto quince rootstocks that control vigor. In Scandinavian conditions it prefers warm, sheltered sites with reflective heat (south-facing walls). Most cultivars are hardy in Swedish zones 1–3; a few robust selections can cope with colder microclimates if well-sited.
Light
Full sun; at least 6–8 hours of direct light for reliable flowering and fruiting.
Soil type
Deep, moisture-retentive but well-drained loam; tolerates clay if drainage is adequate. Mulch to keep roots cool.
Water requirement
Moderate; keep evenly moist during flowering and fruit swell. Drought reduces fruit set and size.
Nutrient requirement
Medium; yearly compost plus a balanced, slow-release organic fertilizer in spring.
Precultivation
Quince is almost always propagated by grafted plants bought from nurseries. Seed raising is mainly for rootstocks or breeding and requires cold stratification. If sowing seeds, stratify 8–12 weeks at 1–5°C, then sow indoors late winter to early spring. For simple outdoor stratification, fresh seeds can be sown in autumn in a protected seedbed and allowed to germinate in spring.
Planting
Plant bare-root trees in early spring as soon as the ground is workable (air temp consistently above ~5°C) or container-grown trees from spring to early summer. Choose a sunny, sheltered spot with fertile loam and good drainage. Space trees about 3.5–4.5 m apart. Plant at the same depth as in the nursery; keep the graft union 10–15 cm above soil level. Water in thoroughly and mulch 5–8 cm with composted bark, wood chips, or leaves, keeping mulch a few cm away from the trunk. Stake for the first 1–2 years in windy sites.
Pruning
Prune lightly to form an open, well-lit crown. Winter (late winter) pruning shapes structure: remove dead, damaged, crossing branches, and thin congested interior growth. Summer pruning (mid-summer) can check vigour and improve light to fruiting wood. Quince fruits on short shoots (spurs) formed on 2+ year wood; avoid heavy annual heading. Remove rootstock suckers promptly.
Maintenance
Mulch annually to conserve moisture and moderate soil temperature. Water deeply during dry spells, especially from bloom to 6 weeks after fruit set. Feed in early spring with compost and a balanced organic fertilizer (e.g., 5-3-8) based on soil test. Maintain an open canopy for airflow. Monitor for fire blight; use clean pruning cuts and disinfect tools when removing infected wood. Encourage pollinators with flowering groundcovers. Net trees if birds peck ripening fruit.
Harvest
Harvest when skins turn golden-yellow and fruit is aromatic, typically late September to October. Fruits are firm even when ripe; handle carefully to avoid bruising. Store at 0–4°C with high humidity; they keep for weeks and perfume nearby fruits. Best used cooked (jelly, paste/membrillo, poached slices); some cultivars soften enough for limited fresh eating after bletting.
Common issues
Fire blight (Erwinia amylovora) is the most serious disease—remove infected shoots 20–30 cm into healthy wood during dry weather and disinfect tools. Leaf spots and scab-like blemishes can occur in wet seasons; improve airflow and avoid overhead irrigation. Codling moth and sawfly larvae may burrow into fruit; use pheromone traps, encourage birds/bats, bag young fruit, or apply Bt where permitted. Frost during bloom can reduce set; choose sheltered microclimates and consider a frost cloth for small trees.
Pollination
Mostly self-fertile but better yields with a second quince cultivar nearby; insect-pollinated (bees).
Companion plants
Spring bulbs under the canopy; comfrey as a dynamic accumulator for mulch; flowering herbs (borage, thyme) to attract pollinators; clover or low grasses as living mulch.
Incompatible plants
Avoid high water-demanding trees (willow, poplar) nearby; keep away from plants that host fire blight (highly susceptible pears) if disease pressure is high.
