Japanese quince, or chaenomelis as it is also called, has long been known to gardeners in Europe, where it was grown as an ornamental crop for almost two centuries. And only at the beginning of the last century, its valuable fruit qualities were finally recognized.
Next, breeders got down to business and developed a number of high-yielding varieties with large fruits and almost no thorny shoots. In total, there are about 500 varieties of Japanese quince, but the vast majority of them have insufficient frost resistance for our region, and therefore are not grown in Russia.
Japanese quince: description of the bush
Japanese quince is a small (up to 1 meter) deciduous or semi-evergreen shrub. The homeland of Chaenomelis is Japan, China, Korea. The shrub has arched shoots with glossy leaves, and the species and many hybrid forms also have thorns on the shoots.
Japanese quince flowers are large, up to 5 cm, very beautiful red-orange in color, but there are also varieties with white and pink flowers, and even with terry ones. Quince blooms very profusely and for a long time in May-June.
Fruiting occurs in 3-4 years; quince fruits ripen in the middle zone in September-October. They are shaped like an apple or pear with colors ranging from yellow-green to bright orange.
Japanese quince: cultivation and care
Chaenomeles has a long tap root, therefore it is a drought-resistant plant, but this circumstance interferes with replanting: chaenomeles is almost impossible to replant without damaging the root. Quince is undemanding to soils - it can grow in poor soils. However, rich humus soils - loose and moderately acidic and moist - are accepted with a bang, that is, they bloom and bear fruit profusely. But Japanese quince does not tolerate saline and calcareous soils at all. And quince is sensitive to light, so it needs to be planted in well-lit areas, otherwise you won’t get a good harvest.
Japanese quince is planted both in spring and autumn. For planting, holes are dug 50 cm deep and 60 cm wide, which are filled with compost or humus with the addition of ash and complex mineral fertilizer. The seedling is buried in the soil to the level at which it grew in the nursery, after which the quince is watered abundantly, and the ground around the bush is mulched. It should be remembered that Japanese quince is cross-pollinated, so to obtain good harvests, you need to plant at least three seedlings on the site. The distances between bushes are maintained at 1 - 1.5 m.
Caring for Japanese quince is not difficult, since quince is an unpretentious shrub. It is necessary to regularly loosen the soil in tree trunk circles in spring and autumn and weed out weeds. Since quince is drought-resistant, it needs to be watered rarely and in cases of prolonged lack of rainfall.
Japanese quince needs fertilizing with fertilizers. Root feeding carried out twice - before flowering and during the initial formation of fruits. For the first feeding, take 1 tbsp per 10 liters of water. a spoonful of urea and 2 tbsp. spoons of any complex fertilizer. The second feeding can be done in combination: for 10 liters of water, 2 tbsp. spoons of organic matter and 1 tbsp. spoon of complex fertilizer.
In the spring, the quince crown is formed by pruning. Pruning is carried out as early as possible, cutting out all branches older than 5 years. A properly formed quince bush should have no more than 12-15 branches.
Japanese quince is harvested before frost sets in, removing both ripe and unripe fruits. After three months of storing fruits at a temperature reduced to 3-5 degrees, their taste improves.
For the winter, it is advisable to bend the quince branches and pin them to the ground, despite the fact that the shrub is considered frost-resistant. Quince branches sprinkled with snow will survive the winter better in severe frosts.
Large, aromatic, hard fruits similar to apples or pears, called “quinces,” are often found on sale. It has many beneficial properties, but for maximum positive effect the plant must be provided good conditions for growth and development. Let's try to find out what quince is and how to properly care for it.
In fact, it is very similar to apple and pear trees, since it belongs to the same family with them - Rosaceae. However, quince is a separate genus of plants, including several species. In gardening, the most popular are the common and large-fruited quinces.
Did you know? Quince contains a lot useful substances: vitamins C, E, B1, B2, B6, PP, carotene, pectin, potassium salts, phosphorus, iron and copper, and has anti-inflammatory, stimulating and astringent properties. It is also called the “golden apple”.
How to grow quince in the country, choosing a location
Common quince is a southern plant, but at the same time it is quite frost-resistant and unpretentious when grown. The place where the quince will grow must be well lit and protected from drafts, otherwise you may not expect a good harvest. It is better to plant the quince in the middle of the garden, but the neighboring trees should be no closer than 2 m away so as not to block the sun.
Important! Cross pollination contributes to better quince yield. To do this, at least one must grow on the site. fruit tree of this family: another quince, apple or pear.
What should be the soil for quince?
Quince has a shallow root system, so it prefers nutrient-rich loamy soils. On lighter sandy loam soils, quince will also grow, but the yield will be noticeably worse. It can also be successfully grown in areas with groundwater no closer than one meter from the surface.
What should be the lighting, temperature and humidity?
Knowing how to properly grow quince in your dacha, you can get good harvest useful fruits. So, it requires a lot of light, but it is not demanding on air humidity. This is a heat-loving plant, so it is good if the average annual daily temperature exceeds +9°C.
What you need to know when planting quince
For successful cultivation Quinces must follow the rules of planting and subsequent care.
Soil preparation
You can plant quince seedlings early spring or in the fall in a pre-prepared hole about 40 cm deep and 60-80 cm wide, at the bottom of which a small layer of clay is placed. A few days before planting, you need to mix organic and mineral fertilizers, for example, 50 g of wood ash and 150 g of superphosphate with soil and fill the planting hole with this mixture. If the soil is acidic, you can add a little lime.
How to plant quince
When planting quince, remove some soil from landing pit, place the seedling in the hole, straighten its roots in a horizontal position and cover with the removed soil. When planting a seedling, make sure that the root collar is at ground level. Lightly compact the soil around the seedling without touching the root collar. Form a circle near the trunk to retain water by pouring an earthen bank 5-7 cm high around the perimeter of the crown. Then water the seedling with 30-40 liters of water and, when the water is absorbed, sprinkle with dry soil and mulch with peat or dry leaves. For better development roots, branches of the seedling can be shortened by 1/3 - 1/2 of the length, depending on their size. You need to trim 1-2 cm above the bud. If the seedling has leaves, half of them must also be removed.
Feeding and watering quince in a summer cottage
Quince responds to abundant watering by increasing productivity. Therefore, during the growing season, the plant needs to be well watered at least three times: before flowering - for better ovary, in June - for the development of the tree and fruits, at the end of summer - for fruit filling. For one watering, you need to use at least 400 liters of water, and for a large tree - up to 800 liters, so that the entire circle around the trunk is well moistened.
Common quince is also favorable to fertilizers and fertilizing. In the spring, when loosening the soil, nitrogen fertilizers of 25-30 g per 1 m² or complex mineral fertilizers of 50 g per tree are applied along the tree trunk. If it was not possible to fertilize the quince in the spring, then you can fertilize it until mid-summer nitrogen fertilizer, diluting 10 g of fertilizer in 10 liters of water (per one hole dug around the perimeter of the crown). You can also feed the tree with a solution of slurry diluted in 5-10 parts of water.
After fertilizing, the quince needs to be watered generously so that the fertilizer is evenly distributed. In the fall, add potassium, phosphorus, 20 g per 1 m² and organic fertilizers in the form of mulch along the tree-trunk circle, then dig up the ground with half a shovel. Together with autumn and winter precipitation, these fertilizers will gradually penetrate the soil and nourish the quince.
Help in the first years of life, how to properly tie a quince
You can purchase seedlings where the quince is grafted onto a mother plant and will grow in the form of a tree, although most often it grows as a bush.
Important! When buying quince seedlings, be careful. Breeders are developing varieties for use as a rootstock for other varieties of quince and pear. Such quince will have small fruits and low yield. It differs from the large-fruited one in having smaller leaves.
In order for the quince shrub at your dacha to have a beautiful vertical shape, it must be tied up when planting. The support is installed at the bottom of the hole in which the quince is planted, and should be 1-1.5 m higher than the branches of the seedling. All branches must be tied to the support, and in such a way that there is a small gap between them. As the seedling grows, the fastenings should be moved higher so that the quince does not bend and break. When the seedling gets stronger and begins to bear fruit, the support is removed.
Features of quince pruning, how to do it correctly
With the onset of autumn, the plant does not shed its leaves for a very long time, so it is better to prune quince in early spring, before the buds open. All damaged and frozen branches must be removed. Also, for a good harvest, you should shorten the growth of last year - branches up to 50 cm by 1/3, longer ones by 1/2, while vertically growing branches must be shortened. It is also necessary to ensure that the middle of the crown is not thickened and is well lit, for which excess branches are completely removed.
Important! With intensive pruning, a large number of fruits may set, which due to the heavy load will not be large.
Quince propagation
It is quite easy to propagate quince, and it can be done in different ways.The easiest way to propagate is by cuttings and root shoots. Cuttings for planting are cut in the spring, when the leaves have already bloomed. Annual cuttings are ideal for the role of planting material, preferably from the lower branches of a tree, which can be specially left when pruning. To plant, there should be 5-6 buds on the cuttings(the lower cut is made immediately under the bud, and the upper cut is made at a distance of 2-3 cm from the upper bud, so that when the cutting dries, the bud remains alive). The leaves on the cuttings are completely removed.
The cuttings are deepened into the prepared dug soil by about 2-3 buds. To increase the survival rate of cuttings, you can cover them with film and build a small greenhouse. After 20 days, the cuttings will take root and in the fall they can be transplanted to permanent place.
The root shoots are cut off with a small piece of bark so that the root remains intact. This procedure can be carried out both in spring and autumn, and when planting, the central root of a seedling is often shortened so that the lateral roots begin to develop faster, and the leaves (except for the very top ones) are removed. Such seedlings need a little shade.
To propagate by layering, in the autumn, it is necessary to bend the lower branches, cut the bark, and cover with earth. In the spring, roots are formed in places where the bark is cut, and in the fall, the cuttings are separated from the mother plant and planted separately. Quince also reproduces well with the help of grafting. Good varietal cuttings can be grafted onto already growing trees in the spring, when intense sap flow begins. On annual seedlings quince is grafted with a bud (eye), and this grafting method can be carried out in the summer in July-August.
Did you know? As a rootstock for quince, breeders use not only other types of quince, but also rowan and hawthorn..
Seed propagation is the longest process of growing quince. When propagated by seeds, quince varietal characteristics may not be preserved, however, such seedlings have a well-developed root system and grow quickly, so they are often grown as a rootstock for varietal cuttings.
Seeds for planting need to be collected from ripe fruits, washed well to remove mucus and dried. Before direct planting, they are stratified for 2-3 months. In autumn, seeds can already be sown in open ground, then the stratification will be natural and sprouts will appear in the spring. Moreover, seeds can be stratified in early February and also sown in open ground at the end of April.
Japanese quince, or chaenomeles ( Chaenomeles) - not only decorative, but also fruit plant. This is a shrub with a dense crown and beautiful glossy leaves. Japanese chaenomeles (Ch. japonica) can grow up to 2 and even 3 m, and Maulei chaenomeles (Ch. maulei), also called low Japanese quince, can grow up to 1 m. In May, the bushes are covered with numerous large bright flowers scarlet and red-orange flowers, rare for shrubs. There are varieties with different original coloring flowers. For example, descriptions of Japanese quince varieties such as ‘Nivalis’ are characterized by white petals, while ‘Pink Lady’ has pink petals.Varieties of Japanese quince: photos and descriptions of shrubs
Chaenomeles develops and blooms better on open place, but also tolerates partial shade. When planting Japanese quince, you need to take into account the fact that harsh winters branches above the snow cover freeze over. Chaenomeles is propagated by green cuttings, suckers and layering, species - by seeds.
Chaenomeles are planted in groups on the lawn
The Japanese quince shrub looks good as an addition to taller plants. For example, chaenomeles can be used to cover the exposed stems of mock orange. Those who decide to grow this plant should pay attention to some very important features in the description of Japanese quince. First of all, chaenomeles is a heat-loving plant, so experts consider regions with a mild climate to be favorable areas for its growth. If you plan to plant and care for Japanese quince in northern latitudes, where the temperature can drop to -30 ° C, you need to take into account that the part of the bush that is under the snow will definitely bloom in the spring, but annual shoots or buds that are above the level snow cover are unlikely to give a lush color. However, even such slightly capricious and demanding characteristics of the Japanese quince do not stop skilled gardeners, because the plant is distinguished by a number of other features and advantages:
- for example, Chaenomeles is characterized by smooth, small, juicy green leaves;
- True, in addition to leaves, quince also has spines that reach up to 2 cm in length;
- fruits that resemble apples or apples are not very large in size - about 3-5 cm - and are located on the surface of the shoots;
- V landscape design Japanese quince will delight the eye from May until about mid-June (flowering lasts about 20 days), when pink, white or red-orange buds will bloom.
Due to the fact that today there are many varieties of Japanese quince, real gardeners and those simply wanting to decorate their garden can choose the variety of plant that they like.
Resistant varieties of Japanese quince for the Moscow region
Taking into account the climatic and soil specifics of the Moscow region, experts advise carefully choosing one or another variety of this plant. For the Moscow region, Japanese quince varieties should be distinguished, first of all, by their resistance. Therefore, you should pay attention to interspecific Chaenomeles hybrids and selection varieties.
Growing and caring for Japanese quince in open ground: how to plant a shrub correctly
To know how to plant Japanese quince, carefully read the following recommendations from experienced gardeners. In principle, chaenomeles is distinguished by a certain capriciousness and demandingness only at a young age. During this period, the plant really needs moderate moisture, which implies the absence of moisture stagnation.Such difficulties should not arise in the future. True, you still need to take into account that in poor lighting the plant may not bloom so luxuriantly and is unlikely to bear fruit.How to plant Japanese quince correctly so that it pleases you with its delicate flowers? As you may have guessed, you should choose a place for planting that is sufficiently lit. Next, do not forget that in winter period the plant must be under the snow for some time. Therefore, look for a place where massive snow cover forms. And if snowstorms are very frequent guests, do not forget to cover the bush with spruce branches or fallen leaves. Very characteristic feature The plant is that it can develop well and grow in almost any soil. So, if you plant a shrub on damp clay or poor sandy soil, Japanese quince will grow well and produce lush color. But this will only happen if the soil is moderately moist, as mentioned earlier, and rich in humus.
Chaenomeles will not be able to grow only on soils such as calcareous and saline soils. Please note that alkaline soil will cause leaf chlorosis.It is best to plant Japanese quince in an area that is located on the south side country house, or in a secluded corner that is well protected from northern winds. Pay attention to the photo of Japanese quince: if the planting was done correctly, your plant will produce a similar beneficial color:
You need to remember that if you decide to plant shrubs in the spring, you need to prepare the soil in the fall. To do this, you should completely clear the area of weeds, if any, and keep the selected area under black fallow until planting. Fertilizers such as peat manure compost in a volume of 10 kg/m2, potassium and phosphorus fertilizers in a volume of 40 g/m2 must be added to the soil. This helps create the necessary water- and breathable ball of earth. If you want to decorate your garden with a plant that has an open root system and plant it in a permanent place, choose the time for planting in the spring, when the soil has already thawed, but the buds have not yet begun to bloom. In the fall, it is also possible to plant Japanese quince, but since Chaenomeles is heat-loving, it may suffer or even die. Be sure to take a good look at the photo of Japanese quince, the care and planting of which suggests that the shrub will be planted in small groups or along paths to form a low hedge:
In such cases, each plant should be one and a half meters apart from each other if they are collected in a row, and at a distance of up to 1 meter if the quince forms a group. Planting Japanese quince in open ground is considered incorrect: the root collar of the bush must be located at soil level, but the root should never be exposed! Another important point is that the root collar, which is too deep into the ground, does not contribute to slowing down the growth of Chaenomeles.
Remember that this plant reacts very poorly to transplantation, and an experienced gardener will never disturb it again. It is known that in one place a quince can produce lush flowers for up to 60 years.Well, when chaenomeles has already been planted, it’s time to think about how to grow Japanese quince healthy and beautiful. In order for the plant to bloom magnificently in the summer, the soil around it is carefully loosened to a depth of about 10 cm. This procedure is combined with the destruction of weeds. For an even more effective result, which you will see if you look at the photo, in caring for Japanese quince they use a method such as mulching - that is, covering the ground with a layer of mulch (peat, sawdust or crushed bark) to protect the bush:
To apply this method, better stock up on everything you need late spring and carry out the procedure while the soil is still quite wet, but already well warmed up. In autumn, mulching is carried out only when a constant low temperature has already established. When growing and caring for Japanese quince, which was planted a year ago, gardeners do not recommend using liquid fertilizers, which can easily injure young roots. And without the use of these products, the plant will have enough nutrients located in the landing hole. But already in the second or third year, when spring comes and the snow melts, experts advise applying organic and mineral fertilizers. They will contribute to the lush color and fruiting that you can see in the photo of Japanese quince, which was also grown using fertilizers in the form of liquid fertilizers:
Propagation of Japanese quince by seeds and cuttings
It is the seeds that are considered the simplest and most proven method of propagating Japanese quince by dozens of generations of gardeners. You need to know that when already ripe fruits are sent for processing and the core is cleaned, large brown seeds can not be disposed of, but left for further sowing. They are sown in the soil in the fall. This method is so loved by many people because, thanks to it, you are guaranteed to get thick shoots already next spring. But if you were unable to realize your plans during the mentioned period, you will have to plant the seeds for stratification - long-term aging (2-3 months) in peat or moist soil at a temperature of +3+5o C. In the spring, the seeds are naturally transferred to the ground. You can resort to another method - propagation of Japanese quince by cuttings. However, experts say that this method is considered less effective. In most cases, the cutting procedure is used to preserve the varietal qualities of Chaenomeles. Pay attention to the photo so that growing and caring for Japanese quince does not become a problematic and unloved activity for you in the future:
Remember, these green cuttings are usually harvested in early June, while the weather is dry but not hot. Be sure to cut them early in the morning. Gardeners say that the most effective in rooting - 80% guarantee - are cuttings cut with a small piece of last year's wood. They are also called “with heels”. To stimulate growth, use a solution of indolylbutyric acid with 0.01%. The cuttings must be planted obliquely in a mixture of peat and sand (the required ratio is 1:3). If the outside temperature stays within +20+25° C, then rooting can easily occur in 40 days.
How to propagate Japanese quince by offspring
Since the plant always produces a lot of root shoots, you can use them too. How to propagate Japanese quince in a similar way, have already known for a long time experienced gardeners. To do this, shoots are selected that are approximately 10-15 cm long and at least 0.5 cm thick. Be sure to ensure that the offspring have a well-developed rhizome system. Then they are planted vertically and watered regularly so that the soil maintains the necessary moisture. Next, they resort to the mulching procedure that is already familiar to us - they fill the soil around the plant with wood chips, shavings or humus. True, chaenomeles grown in this way has one drawback: it was noticed that the plant produces smaller fruits than its counterparts propagated by seeds or cuttings.But there is also a special advantage in this situation: with this method of reproduction, Japanese quince very often then spreads in different directions and at the age of 20 years can occupy an area of up to 2 m2. This is very beneficial in cases where you want, for example, to hold the soil on some slopes.Growing Japanese quince in the Moscow region: planting, care and pruning A very valuable feature of the Japanese chaenomeles is that it loves to “preen itself”. True, gardeners are in no hurry to approach the plant’s thorns. They do this only when they are armed with thick gardening gloves - leggings.
Japanese quince really needs sanitary pruning in the spring: during this period, all dry shoots that have died from frost should be carefully removed. To do this, you can use ordinary well-sharpened tools - a garden saw and pruning shears. After the procedure, be sure to treat the cut areas with garden varnish.
But how to prune Japanese quince if it is associated with the formation of a bush, which begins at the age of 4-5 years? Firstly, the procedure is carried out in early spring. Every year, part of the root growth is cut out.Only 2-3 offspring are left for further growth. It is desirable that these are horizontal shoots that are located at a height of up to 40 cm from the ground. Other shoots that spread along the ground or grow vertically are safely removed. Another type of pruning, which is indicated in the description of planting and caring for Japanese quince in the Moscow region, is a rejuvenating procedure. It is used when the plant reaches the age of 8-10 years. Gardeners understand that the time has come for this pruning when the annual growth is reduced to 10 cm. The procedure is carried out as follows: the bush is thinned out, all thin and weak branches are removed, and only a dozen strong shoots are left. Look at the photos of the beautiful varieties of Japanese quince, the description of which is presented above - for them, the worst threat is a pest such as aphids:
If you find these monsters on plants in your garden, immediately use special means. An equally vicious and dangerous enemy for Chaenomeles is damp, cool weather, which causes the manifestation of many fungal diseases:
- if the plant begins to experience necrosis and numerous spots appear on the leaves, this is a sure sign that the Japanese quince may soon die;
- in cases where chaenomeles is affected by cercospora blight, all kinds of brown spots, fading over time;
- brown spots are a sign of ramulariasis.
Japanese quince bush in landscape design (with photo)
After reading the description of Japanese quince and looking at the photo different varieties of this plant, which are presented below, you can see that Chaenomeles can be considered one of the most magnificent ornamental shrubs:
Each variety has its own unique color scheme buds (from delicate snow-white to massive fiery red), which literally shimmer in the sun. And the fruits that come from Japanese quince resemble either outlandish pears or amazing fairy-tale apples. Moreover, Chaenomeles attracts many avid gardeners because it retains its regal appearance for a long time. Certain varieties can live up to 50 years! Blooms amazing plant in the spring, pleasing the eye and bringing pleasure to the inhabitants of the country house, and in the summer and autumn it shares its juicy fruits.
Japanese low-growing quince is very often used for landscape design of garden paths. This variety does not grow higher than 1 meter. In addition, in May and early June, chaenomeles begins to be covered with orange-red flowers, which look very attractive in any garden.Japanese quince is also ideal for creating hedges. It can be seen either individually seated or gathered in small groups, which very often create real artistic compositions. In the garden, chaenomeles looks great on a trunk - a vertical or inclined element in the shape of a letter. To get the desired result, the plant should be grafted onto a pear or rowan using cuttings.
- for example, to create alpine slide, you can combine chaenomeles with dwarf spruce, varietal thuja or slate pine;
- if you plant shrubs along garden path every one and a half meters, you get a whole picturesque ensemble;
- In combination with daffodils and Carpathian bluebells, Japanese quince helps add bright colors to landscape design.
Northern lemon is another name for Japanese quince. This fruit is gaining popularity every year in cooking, as a side dish, jam, and jam. To grow it, no special conditions are required, but you must follow the rules. As a result, you will be able to appreciate everything beneficial properties fruits bush plant.
What is quince?
Quince tree is different dwarf in size, so you can often find the description: quince is a shrub ( small tree), grown to produce fruits for making sweets. They can also be eaten without processing. The quince fruit looks like a pear-shaped apple. Originally, Japanese quince is a wild plant. Its second name is Chaenomeles, the photo shows what it looks like. The tree's medium-sized leaves are similar to those of an apple tree. The Japanese quince fruit is yellow, with a lemon flavor.
Japanese quince - benefits and harm
This is a fruit that, due to the concentration of beneficial components, can negatively affect the human body. The benefits and harms of Japanese quince are due to the high content of biologically active substances. The product is an assistant for:
- Obesity. Nutritionists recommend its use not only because of its low calorie content, but as a means to strengthen cardiovascular and nervous system.
- Pregnancy. The product relieves toxicosis and has a diuretic effect. Application prevents the formation of edema and normalizes the balance of iron and copper, serving as the prevention of anemia.
- Colds. High content of vitamin C, carotene, vitamin E improves immunity. The infusion of the seeds is an excellent expectorant.
- Tree leaves and branches are also popular in folk medicine and have medicinal properties. Infusions and decoctions help strengthen hair roots, lighten pigmented skin and perfectly cleanse oily skin, and normalize blood sugar levels.
The beneficial properties of Japanese quince and contraindications must be taken into account. The structure of the skin worsens the condition of the larynx, so people whose profession is related to the activity of the vocal cords are not recommended to use the fruit raw. If we talk about contraindications, it is not recommended to eat the fruits for people with constipation due to the high content of tannins. It is forbidden to consume fresh quince if you have pleurisy.
Japanese quince - varieties
Great looking buds different colors delight owners in the spring. low trees easy to care for. In autumn, you can use the fruits to make delicious sweets that are good for the body, especially for kids. A pleasant plus is the absence of allergens in the fruits. There are 3 varieties of Japanese quince in total, some are easy to distinguish in the photo, but there are about 500 interspecific varieties.
The main representatives of the Chaenomeles family were able to take root in conditions middle zone Russia. These include the following varieties:
- Garnet bracelet. It is characterized by frost resistance and rapid ripening of fruits. The height of the plant does not exceed 100 cm, and the flower in diameter is 4 cm.
- Pink Queen, Falconet Scarlet. The height of the tree reaches 3 m, and the diameter of the flowers is up to 4.5 cm. It loves warmth, so the plants must be covered for the winter.
- Cameo, Pink Trail. The height of the bush is only about 1 m, but depending on the variety, it will certainly delight you with the different colors of the buds. There are also two-color buds.
Japanese quince - care
The origin, as well as the homeland of this fruit, is China and Japan. However, it can also grow in harsh conditions. Proper care of Japanese quince guarantees a good harvest. What care conditions does it require? ornamental shrub:
- Watering should be moderate. The plant easily tolerates periods of drought, but does not like abundant soil moisture.
- Formation. The number of permissible branches on the bushes is no more than 20. Dead and dry branches lying on the ground should be trimmed annually. These manipulations need to be done in the spring.
- Winter care. In winter, the plant should be covered spruce paws, small bushes - wooden boxes. In winter, make sure that there is a lot of snow above the bush.
- The harvest must be done in the fall. If the apples themselves have not had time to ripen on the branch, then they should be transferred to a cool room. With good humidity they can ripen and be stored until December.
By following simple rules of care, in 2-3 years you can get the first fruits, the beneficial properties of which have been known since ancient times. Dried quince pieces can be added to compotes and hot dishes. This fruit makes wonderful dishes, recipes for which are easy to find:
- Japanese quince jam;
- jams;
- compotes and other preserves;
- marshmallow, marmalade;
- liqueurs.
Japanese quince - planting
This is a heat-loving plant, so Japanese quince is planted in the spring. The soil should be loose, as in the photo, and free of weeds. To make the soil “lighter,” you can add a little sand. The choice of location for the future plant should be based on good lighting. It is recommended to choose the southern part of the dacha, garden plot. The plant does not tolerate replanting well, so it is advisable to choose a permanent location. Tips:
- Preparing a hole for a plant requires compliance with several rules: the width should be no more than 0.6 meters, the depth should be no more than 0.8 meters. This hole must be filled with fresh soil and fertilizer.
- Fertilizer preparation: 1-2 buckets of humus, 300 g of superphosphate, 30 g of potassium nitrate and wood ash.
- When the soil is ready, you can plant the plant. The main condition: the root collar should not be bare.
Japanese quince - reproduction
Japanese quince is propagated by division, cuttings and seeds, the latter method being the most popular. To do this, prepare fertile soil and plant the seed (February-March). After 1.5 months, small sprouts will appear, which it is advisable to transplant into peat cups to strengthen the root system. By the end of May, the shrub is ready for planting in open ground.
