Home → WV Guide → Planting Guide → Fruit Trees → Quince — Cydonia oblonga

Quince — Cydonia oblonga

Growing resilience through ancient wisdom and modern practice

← Back

Quince — Cydonia oblonga

layout: base.njk title: Quince description: Growing Quince in West Virginia (Zone 6b/7a) category: fruit-tree

Quick Reference: See detailed growing information below

Type: Deciduous tree or large shrub
Family: Rosaceae
Sun: Full sun (6-8 hours)
Water: Moderate; drought tolerant once established
Soil pH: 6.0-7.5 (tolerates wider range than apples/pears)
Hardiness: Zones 4-9
Chill hours: 600-800 hours
Mature size: 15-20 ft tall x 15-20 ft spread (often grown as multi-stemmed shrub 10-15 ft)

📅 Planting Calendar (WV Zone 6b/7a)

Method Timing Notes
Plant bare-root March 15 - April 20 While dormant, after last hard frost
Plant container April - May or September - October Easier than bare-root; flexible timing
Bloom time Late April to early May Late bloomer—avoids spring frost damage
Harvest Late September to October After first light frost improves flavor
Years to first fruit 3-5 years Earlier than many tree fruits

🌱 Expected Yield

  • Young tree (5 yrs): 20-40 lbs
  • Mature tree (10+ yrs): 60-100+ lbs
  • Lifespan: 30-50 years (sometimes longer)

🌿 Growing Conditions

Soil: Adaptable to many soil types—clay, loam, sandy. Tolerates poor drainage better than apples or pears. Prefers moist, fertile loam but surprisingly drought tolerant once established. Incorporate compost at planting for best results. Soil pH 6.0-7.5 optimal; more adaptable than other rosaceous fruits.

Rootstock: - Quince seedling (most common—quince is its own rootstock) - BA29 (clonal selection, more uniform) - Provence quince (French selection, vigor control) - Grafted on pear rootstock (creates more vigorous tree, less common) - Own roots (many quince trees sold on own roots; will sucker)

Note: Unlike apples and pears, quince is often sold on its own roots or quince seedling rootstock. This makes it more affordable and simpler. Trees may sucker and can be grown as multi-stemmed shrubs.

Pollination: Partially self-fertile but benefits from cross-pollination with another quince variety for larger crops. Some varieties are self-fertile enough for good production alone. Insect pollination (bees) required. Bloom period overlaps with late apples and early pears.

Companions: - Nitrogen fixers: Clover, vetch in understory - Accumulators: Comfrey, yarrow, nettle - Beneficial insects: Dill, fennel, alyssum, buckwheat - Other Rosaceae: Apples, pears (shared care requirements)

Avoid: - Black walnut (juglone sensitivity) - Overcrowding (poor air circulation) - Waterlogged sites (though more tolerant than apples)

Pests: - Codling moth: May infest fruit; bag fruit or use pheromone traps - Aphids: Usually minor; beneficial insects handle them - Scale: Dormant oil in late winter - Leafrollers: Bt or spinosad if severe - Deer: Browse young shoots; tree guards for young trees - Japanese beetles: Hand-pick if present

Generally, quince has FEWER pest problems than apples or pears. Very low-maintenance.

Diseases: - Quince leaf blight: Fungal; causes premature leaf drop. Rake fallen leaves, apply sulfur or copper fungicide preventively if severe. - Fire blight: Can be affected but much more resistant than pears. Prune infected wood if present. - Powdery mildew: Rare; good air circulation prevents it - Rust: Related to cedar-apple rust but less severe - Brown rot: May affect fruit in wet seasons; good air circulation helps

Quince is one of the most disease-resistant tree fruits in the Rosaceae family. Rarely needs spraying.

Pruning: Prune in late winter (February-March). Can be grown as: - Single-trunk tree: Remove all but one leader, train to open center - Multi-stemmed shrub: Allow 3-5 main stems from ground; thin oldest stems annually - Espalier: Quince responds well to espalier training

Remove dead, diseased, crossing branches annually. Thin crowded growth to improve air circulation. Quince produces fruit on both old and new wood. After 10-15 years, rejuvenate by removing oldest stems at ground level. Thin fruit if branches are overloaded to prevent breakage.

🏺 Heirloom Varieties (8+)

'Pineapple' Quince

  • Source: Edible Landscaping, One Green World, Raintree Nursery
  • Bloom time: Late spring
  • Harvest: October
  • Notes: Small to medium fruit with distinctive pineapple-like aroma when ripe. Golden yellow skin. Can be eaten fresh when fully ripe (rare for quince). Excellent for jellies and preserves. Compact grower. Very cold hardy.

'Champion' Quince

  • Source: Stark Bro's, Edible Landscaping, Fedco Trees
  • Bloom time: Late spring
  • Harvest: Late September to October
  • Notes: Large fruit (3-4 inches). Golden yellow with fine fuzz. Exceptional aroma. Cooks to pink color naturally. Excellent for jellies, marmalades, and quince paste (membrillo). Vigorous grower. Reliable producer. Most widely available variety.

'Orange' Quince

  • Source: Raintree Nursery, Edible Landscaping, specialty nurseries
  • Bloom time: Late spring
  • Harvest: October
  • Notes: Medium fruit with orange-yellow skin. Sweet aromatic flavor. Less astringent than most varieties when cooked. Turns beautiful pink-orange when cooked. Excellent for preserves. Cold hardy to Zone 4.

'Portugal' Quince (Luxembourg)

  • Source: Fedco Trees, Cummins Nursery, Edible Landscaping
  • Bloom time: Late spring
  • Harvest: October
  • Notes: Portuguese heirloom. Large, oblong fruit. Exceptionally fragrant. Less gritty texture than other varieties. Excellent cooking quality. Vigorous grower. Good cold hardiness.

'Rea's Mammoth' Quince

  • Source: Fedco Trees, Edible Landscaping, Rare Fruit Exchange
  • Bloom time: Late spring
  • Harvest: Mid to late October
  • Notes: Largest quince variety—fruit can reach 4-5 inches, 1+ lbs. Yellow fruit with red blush. Less aromatic than smaller varieties but productive. Good for jellies and baking. Vigorous, spreading tree.

'Smyrna' Quince

  • Source: Edible Landscaping, One Green World
  • Bloom time: Late spring
  • Harvest: October
  • Notes: Turkish heirloom. Medium-large fruit, pear-shaped. Exceptional fragrance. Cooks to deep pink. Excellent for traditional quince dishes. Cold hardy. Less common in commerce but prized by enthusiasts.

'Van Deman' Quince

  • Source: Fedco Trees, specialty nurseries
  • Bloom time: Late spring
  • Harvest: October
  • Notes: Named for 19th-century illustrator Mary V. Van Deman. Clear yellow fruit, medium size. Excellent aromatics. Reliable producer. Good cold hardiness. Underutilized heirloom.

'Bereczki' Quince

  • Source: Edible Landscaping, rare fruit exchanges
  • Bloom time: Late spring
  • Harvest: October
  • Notes: Hungarian variety. Large, apple-shaped fruit. Golden yellow. Intense fragrance. Excellent for membrillo (quince paste). Cold hardy. Less common but excellent quality.

Note on Quince Varieties:

Quince variety selection is much smaller than apples or pears. Most nurseries carry 3-5 varieties. 'Champion' and 'Pineapple' are most common. All quince varieties have similar growing requirements and uses. Choose based on availability and fruit size preference.

📜 Cultural History & Domestication

Domesticated: Quince is one of the oldest cultivated fruits, domesticated in the region between the Black Sea and Caspian Sea (modern-day Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Turkey, Iran) around 4,000 years ago. Some evidence suggests cultivation as early as 2000 BCE.

Archaeological Evidence: Quince seeds found in Bronze Age sites throughout the Near East and Mediterranean. Depicted in ancient Egyptian art. Mentioned in ancient Sumerian texts.

Historical Record: - Greek Mythology: The "golden apple" that Paris gave to Aphrodite (triggering the Trojan War) was likely a quince, not an apple. Quince was sacred to Aphrodite/Venus. - Ancient Greece: Quince was used in wedding rituals—the bride and groom shared a quince to symbolize sweet life together. Plutarch wrote that quince between lovers prevented bad breath. - Roman Empire: Romans called it "malum cydonium" (apple of Cydon, a Cretan town). Apicius' Roman cookbook (1st century CE) includes quince recipes. Romans preserved quince in honey—the origin of the word "marmalade" (Portuguese "marmelo" = quince). - Medieval Europe: Quince was more common than apples in many regions. Monasteries cultivated quince extensively. Quince paste (membrillo) was a medieval delicacy. - Colonial America: Pilgrims brought quince to North America. By 1800s, quince was common in American orchards. Lost favor in 20th century due to labor-intensive preparation.

Cultural Significance: - Symbolism: In Mediterranean cultures, quince symbolizes love, fertility, and happiness. In Jewish tradition, quince is one of the fruits of the Garden of Eden. - Culinary: Quince was the primary "sweet" fruit of antiquity—honey-poached quince was a luxury dessert. Quince paste (membrillo) accompanied cheese in medieval Europe, a tradition that continues in Spain and Latin America. - Medicinal: Ancient physicians prescribed quince for digestive issues. Quince seeds were used as a cough remedy (contain mucilage).

Modern Context: Quince production declined sharply in the 20th century due to: 1. Inability to eat raw (high tannins) 2. Labor-intensive preparation 3. Rise of sweeter, easier fruits

However, quince is experiencing revival among: - Artisan food producers (membrillo, jellies) - Heirloom fruit enthusiasts - Permaculture growers (low-maintenance, disease-resistant) - Mixologists (quince shrubs, cocktails)

Uzbekistan is currently the world's largest quince producer. In the US, quince is rare in commerce but beloved by those who know it.

🌾 Propagation

Seed: Seeds require 90-120 days cold stratification. Quince grown from seed may not come true to variety and takes 5-8 years to fruit. Seedlings are variable in fruit quality. Useful only for rootstock production or breeding.

Grafting: Quince is grafted using whip-and-tongue (late winter) or chip budding (late summer). Many quince trees are sold grafted on quince seedling or clonal rootstock (BA29, Provence). Some nurseries sell quince on own roots (from cuttings).

Cuttings: Quince roots readily from softwood cuttings taken in early summer. Dip in rooting hormone, place under mist or in humid environment. 70-80% success rate. This is how clonal rootstocks are propagated.

Layering: Simple layering works well for quince. Bend low branch to soil, wound it, bury with tip exposed. Roots form in one season. Cut from parent and transplant.

Suckers: Quince on own roots produces suckers that can be dug and transplanted. Easy propagation method but may perpetuate disease if parent is infected.

Special Notes: - Quince is often infected with viruses (quince yellows, quince rugose mosaic). Buy certified virus-free stock. - Quince is susceptible to cold injury in extreme winters; choose hardy varieties for Zone 6 - Multi-stemmed shrub form is easier to manage and harvest than single-trunk tree

📖 Sources Consulted

  1. Edible Landscaping (ediblelandscaping.com) - Quince varieties and growing tips
  2. Fedco Trees (fedcoseeds.com/trees) - Heirloom quince selection, cultural notes
  3. Raintree Nursery (raintreenursery.com) - Quince culture and variety descriptions
  4. West Virginia University Extension - Home fruit production guides
  5. Janick, Jules, et al. "Quince." In: Fruit Breeding, Volume 1: Tree Fruits. Wiley, 1997.
  6. Morton, Julia F. "Quince." In: Fruits of Warm Climates. 1987.
  7. North American Fruit Explorers (nafex.org) - Heirloom quince discussions
  8. Peterson, Lee Reich. Uncommon Fruits Worthy of Attention. Addison-Wesley, 1991.
  9. Cohen, Steven. "The Quince Revival." Edible Magazine, 2018.
  10. Traditional recipes and cultural notes from Mediterranean and Middle Eastern sources

Added to WV Planting Guide 26155 — The Loop Farmstead