How to Grow Quince in Autumn: Planting and Care, Fertilizing, and Pruning

Japanese quince is a valuable fruit crop. It is a member of the Rosaceae family. More famous members of the family are apples and pears. Quince is widely used in delicious dishes and preserves, and it is a preventative measure against certain diseases. It has a healing effect on the gastrointestinal tract, liver, and skin.

It's become increasingly popular recently. It's quite common in garden plots. To ensure it grows healthy and produces a bountiful harvest, certain care guidelines must be followed.

Features of the variety

Japanese quince is an ancient plant variety, dating back approximately 4,000 years. It began its global journey in Central Asia and the Caucasus, but was only considered a cultivated fruit in Greece. Currently, it is widespread throughout Russia, but its most favorable locations are the southern regions of the country.

For cold climates, certain varieties have been bred that are immune to frost and cold weather.

The Japanese quince fruit is visually similar to a pear, but the skin is covered with fine, soft fuzz. Small red spots are also acceptable. The Japanese quince begins to color during the May holidays, and the fruit ripens in late September. It is used to make jams, candied fruits, and marmalades.

The fruits contain:

• potassium;
• calcium;
• phosphorus;
• iron;
• sodium;
• magnesium and many other elements.

It can reach a height of five meters. Care, pruning, and yield depend directly on the tree's age and variety. Japanese quince typically bears fruit for about 35–40 years.

Planting quince in autumn

To plant Japanese quince in the fall, you need to purchase a 12-month-old seedling. The tree's roots should be closed. If planting older seedlings, pay attention to their root system. It should be open. This is necessary to detect diseases and pests early. It has a massive root system, so take this into account when planting it. It should be planted at least five meters away from other shrubs, trees, and outbuildings.

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It grows in fertile, loose, and light soils. The pH level should be neutral. This plant loves sunlight, so it should be planted in the brightest and sunniest spot on the plot. When choosing a planting site, keep in mind that quince does not like drafts and cold winds.

Preparing the site for planting Japanese quince begins in the spring. This begins with adding fertilizer and nutrients to the soil. The recommended dose (per square meter) is 50 grams of superphosphate and 20 grams of potassium salt. Afterward, dig and water the soil.

Fourteen days before planting, dig a hole 0.5 meters deep with a radius of 25–45 cm. The hole's width should match the quince's root system. Before planting, fill the hole with:

• clay;
• nutrient mixture from garden soil;
• superphosphate 150 grams;
• 50 grams of wood ash.

Next, a stake is driven in to ensure the trunk's stability. The root system is carefully placed on top of the prepared soil in the hole. Then, the entire area is covered with soil and compacted. After planting, the tree is watered. A couple of buckets of water are needed per seedling. Now the quince tree is tied by the trunk to the stake that was originally planted. To maintain soil moisture for as long as possible, the soil is sprinkled with peat or humus.

Growing and care rules

To ensure your quince-growing efforts are not in vain and you enjoy a delightful harvest every year, follow a few simple tree care rules:

1. The area where the Japanese tree is planted must be well lit, as it is a light-loving plant.
2. The soil should be light, sandy loam, loamy, or woody-podzolic. Acidity should be below pH 5.
3. The planting site for seedlings is chosen on the southern side of the plot.
4. There should be no drafts or severe frosts.
5. In cold regions, Japanese quince is protected for the winter. To do this, the soil around the trunk is covered with fallen leaves, spruce branches, or sawdust. The crown is covered with cardboard or wooden shields. Covering the trunk with snow is also an excellent option for protection from the cold.
6. If the summer is dry and rainless, water at least six times per season. The first watering occurs before the tree begins to bloom. The second, after this process. The third, after the flowers have completely fallen. The fourth, when the shoots begin to actively grow. The fifth, 21 days after the last. Finally, the last watering occurs when the fruit begins to ripen.

Fertilizing quince

The tree needs to be fed throughout the growing season.

1. Spring. Mineral and organic fertilizers are added to the soil.
2. Summer. Fertilize with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers. These increase the yield.
3. Autumn. Apply mineral and organic fertilizers. They help the quince prepare for winter.

Features of quince growth

Japanese quince is characterized by the appearance of numerous shoots (over 1 meter long). This active growth occurs in the first years of the tree's life. Growth slows during the fruiting period. The location where the ovaries form can vary, depending on the tree variety.

Fruiting on young trees and dwarf varieties occurs on long, one-year-old shoots. Other varieties bear fruit on branches. These branches grow for several years and are considered generative. They can produce fruit for five to ten years. The main branches are evenly spaced along the trunk, allowing sunlight to penetrate unimpeded throughout the crown.

Pruning fruit-bearing trees

The Japanese quince is not only an ornamental tree but also a fruit-bearing one. To ensure consistent fruiting, it should be thinned and excess branches removed.

The main branches of a fruit tree are not cut down; only the tops are trimmed. This procedure is performed only on branches that have grown more than a meter. This pruning has a positive effect on stimulating fruiting throughout the entire branch, and new buds begin to emerge at the base. New branches that fill the crown are completely removed.

Branches that are undergoing budding are pruned using a special method. From some shoots, pieces up to the fourth or fifth bud are pruned, while others are left alone. This is because unpruned branches are responsible for the entire tree's fruiting, while pruned branches are responsible for the production of generative buds. This is how regular fruiting is ensured.

If a new shoot is well-located, it can be left in place. When pruned, it immediately becomes a "generative branch."

If a tree has not been pruned for a long period of time, it is first thinned out, and only after that the main branches are shortened.

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Why are fruit trees pruned?

Fruit trees produce much more fruit efficiently, but only if unnecessary branches are pruned. Pruning affects the tree in the following ways:

1. Growth is becoming slower.
2. The growth of the generative branch is stimulated.
3. There are more fruits.
4. The life cycle of the tree is extended.
5. Prevention and treatment of many diseases, as well as additional protection against harmful insects.

Timing of pruning

The Japanese quince has a short recovery period. In the spring, dormant buds located on the root system awaken. This is what will become the tree's new crown.

1. Spring pruning is the ideal time for this procedure. It's best to do it during the last week of March and the first of April. Later pruning can result in the tree's death, as the sap within the tree begins to actively move, causing the shoots to heal slowly.
2. Autumn pruning. This is done after all the leaves have fallen. It has sanitary properties. Only branches with damage or disease are pruned.
3. Pruning is contraindicated in winter, as the branches become brittle.

Purposes of pruning fruit trees

The season in which quince branches are pruned influences its purpose. The time of year and the results are closely related.

Crown shaping is carried out in the spring months. During this process, branches are directed in a specific direction. This allows for monitoring of harvest volumes. In the summer, selective pruning—corrective pruning—is carried out, removing excess shoots from the tree. As mentioned above, autumn is the time for sanitary pruning.

Pruning quince in autumn: diagram

When pruning in the fall, the most important thing is to prune the tree in a way that causes minimal damage. There's a specific pattern for this.

To ensure successful fall pruning of your Japanese quince, and to ensure the tree grows and produces excellent fruit, remember one thing: the more light, the more abundant the harvest.

At five years old, the Japanese quince should have the following parameters:

• the tree reaches a height of at least 0.6 meters;
• at least ten main lateral branches;
• the angle between the main branch and the trunk is 45 degrees.

The quince tree's crown should be cup-shaped. The foliage should be evenly distributed to ensure that light reaches all shoots equally.

Young quince trees are pruned regularly. This is when the tree's crown is shaped. Once the tree reaches six years of age, pruning is reduced to only when necessary.

1. In the first year of growth, quince trees need to be pruned to form the upper tier of main branches. The distance between them is seven buds. Each tier contains five shoots. They should be directed in different directions, and the distance between them is approximately 12 cm. At this age, the tree also forms a second tier of crown. The distance between the first and second tiers is approximately 40 cm.
2. In the second year, the second-tier branches are pruned back to 0.5 meters. The gardener's primary goal is to shape the third tier, as this is the base of the mature tree. All branches are pruned back to 0.5 meters.

Pruning tools

In order to perform high-quality pruning and not cause significant damage to the Japanese quince, the equipment must be sharp, free of rust, clean and in excellent condition.

For the pruning process itself, use:

1. Pruning shears. These are used to trim branches up to 24 millimeters in diameter. Visually, this tool resembles a pair of pliers. Pruning shears are available with two types of sharpening—one on one side and one on both sides. There are quite a few different types. But they all have rubber handles, which reduce slippage in your hands.
2. A limb pruning tool with long handles. It's great for cutting thick branches (up to 49 mm in diameter) and plants with thorns and spines. This tool is bulky, but much more comfortable to use than pruning shears.
3. A hacksaw. It helps remove dry branches of various sizes. The blade is carbon steel, and the handle has a rubber grip. The tool should be lightweight.
4. Garden saw. Used for cutting living branches because it leaves no burrs.
5. Garden shears. The blades are slightly longer than those of metal shears. They are used for trimming small branches and bushes.

Methods of tree rejuvenation

With regular pruning, the quince's fruiting life can be extended to fifty years. This process rejuvenates the tree. It occurs as follows:

1. Branches that are three years old are subject to pruning.
2. The shoots that were formed at the age of 4–7 years are removed.
3. If deep pruning is required, branches that formed between 10 and 12 years of age must be removed.
4. The main thing is that rejuvenation of Japanese quince occurs only if 2/3 of all branches are removed.

Japanese quince or Chaenomeles The tree is naturally endowed with unforgettable beauty, and its fruits are beneficial to human health. It deserves a place of honor in any orchard. With proper care and attention, the first harvest can be obtained within 3-4 years after planting. To grow a fruitful tree, you must adhere to all the rules. This will ensure high yields and a delightful fruitfulness.