Chinese quince: the intricacies of growing

Description

Quince is the only plant in the genus. Most often, the culture looks like a tree, the leaves of which fall off in autumn. Much less often, the culture is a shrub from one and a half to five meters in height. Usually branches growing upwards form at an angle. Quince bark is usually rough to the touch, and comes in different colors - from brown to brown or even black. Young branches are usually grayish, and the stems are gray with a green tint.

The leaves of the plant are usually oval in shape, occasionally they resemble an egg. These organs are placed alternately, at the base they form a wedge or "heart". The color of the leaves is deep green. The flowers are regular and white or pink in color. Their diameter does not exceed 0.05 meters.

The fruits of the culture outwardly resemble an apple, a specific feature of which is hairiness. Sometimes the shape is spherical or pear-shaped. The fruit contains many brown seeds. It can reach two kilograms. A wild-grown false apple weighs about 0.1 kilograms. The pulp is tough, tart and slightly sweet.

The flowering period falls in May-June, and harvesting is already possible, most often, from the beginning of autumn. The most fertile culture grows on heavy loamy soils. However, individuals growing in sandy loam begin to bear fruit earlier.

Quince is good for gardeners in that it can multiply, and, accordingly, spread in different ways: by seeds, cuttings, root shoots.

The natural habitat of the fruit covers the territory from Central Asia to the southern countries of Europe. The shrub is also actively grown in America, Australia and Oceania.

Video "Useful properties of quince"

From the video you will learn a lot about this fruit tree.

Growing

The shrub, as mentioned above, propagates by seeds or by a vegetative method: cuttings, root shoots, sometimes by grafting.

The shrub is undemanding to environmental conditions and is unpretentious in care. It gives a good harvest, and the fruits of the plant are famous for their beneficial properties. The technology of growing quince does not differ much from the technology of growing pear or apple trees. The culture grows well in areas with a sufficient amount of light and heat, it survives drought normally, but it loves a lot of moisture. You can effectively grow fruit in sod soil.

As for the timing of planting, it is best to carry it out in mid-October or mid-April. For this purpose, choose seedlings with formed and developed roots and crown. Usually they are buried half a meter. At the same time, the pits for planting must have a diameter of at least one meter. Before planting, it is worth filling the "holes" with humus or compost. Since the quince itself is sterile, 2-3 trees should be planted near it. In fertile individuals, it is worth pruning powerful annual branches. For the purpose of thinning, dry, damaged organs or those that contribute to thickening are usually removed.

Reproduction

The shrub can reproduce in a variety of ways, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.

Speaking of seed propagation, it is worth noting that this method is the most well-known, reliable and simple.During the processing of ripe fruits, the core with large brown seeds is usually cut out. So you shouldn't throw it away. After all, it is these seeds that are an excellent sowing material. It is better to sow them in the fall so that they "overwinter" in the soil. The seeds give excellent germination, even in imperfect soil. If it is not possible to plant seeds before winter, you need to lay them for stratification. It is enough to place them in moistened sand at a temperature of 3 ° - 5 °. After the first rudiments of sprouts appear, the seeds should be transplanted into open ground. Sprouts at the age of 2 years form a powerful root, therefore, with inaccurate planting, there is a risk of damage to this organ. This phenomenon can lead to the death of individuals. To avoid such a development of events, it makes sense to transplant young plants to a permanent place as early as possible.

Reproduction of quince in a vegetative way will require more economic costs than seed. However, a significant advantage of grafting or grafting is the preservation of the quality of the plant itself.

Green cuttings should be harvested in early summer at moderate air temperatures and on a non-planting day. It is worth cutting them in the morning, as early as possible. Cuttings have two internodes. Individuals that were cut with part of last year's wood (up to a centimeter long) take root well. It is necessary to use substances that stimulate the growth and development of culture (for example, "Kornevin"), since they increase the likelihood of survival by 20%. The cuttings are planted at an angle into a soil mixture consisting of sand and peat (in a proportion of 3 parts of sand to one part of peat) according to a 0.05 meter pattern. If the ambient temperature is 20 ° -25 °, the formation of powerful roots occurs after 40 days.

Quince is a shrub prone to the formation of a large number of root processes. This is why they are often used for plant propagation. Thanks to such processes, the plant begins to grow in width and occupy a large area. Many shoots help the quince to firmly "fix" in the soil and even strengthen the slopes. The underground part of the fruit is so branched that it will not be easy to remove the plant from the site, even with all the desire.

Digging up the root and its shoots, shoots are selected with a length of 0.1 - 0.15 meters and a thickness of half a centimeter. Up to 5 shoots can be obtained from one bush. It is better to plant them vertically and water them systematically. The ground must be constantly moist, as the plant loves water. After the bush, it is necessary to mulch with humus, shavings and wood chips.

The disadvantage of this method of reproduction is the underdeveloped root system of some processes, so some seedlings need to be grown. Such individuals even form fruits that are smaller than those of their relatives.

Collection and procurement

Chinese quince fruits are harvested as they ripen. The peculiarities of the plant determine the possibility of their long-term storage. Fresh false apples can be stored for about 5 months. However, in this form, they are practically not used. Quince is usually boiled or baked. Often the fruits are used to make marmalade, preserves, candied fruit, compotes. The essential oil, which is present in the fruits, gives them a special taste. That is why the culture is often used as a side dish for meat. Canned quince is used in the cuisines of some countries.

The fruits are also available to dry and dry. For this, it is better to use fruits without seeds and peels. They are cut into pieces, covered with sugar and remain in this form for some time. Further, the fruits are boiled in syrup and dried in the oven.

So, quince is a healthy fruit that is widely used in food in various forms.

Cultivation and Care Video

From the video you will learn how to grow and care for this fruit tree.