Fruits· Cydonia oblonga

Quince Growing Guide

Quince is a deciduous pome-fruit tree of the Rosaceae and the sole species of the genus Cydonia, grown for its hard, aromatic, golden-yellow fruit. Ripe fruit is tart and astringent and nearly all cultivars are too hard to eat raw, so it is almost always cooked; its very high pectin content makes it set preserves readily and it is the basis of Iberian quince cheese (dulce de membrillo) and Portuguese marmelada, from which the word marmalade descends. Quince is also propagated as a dwarfing rootstock for pear (Quince A, semi-dwarfing, and Quince C, dwarfing, both from East Malling), a commercial role independent of fruit production. It should not be confused with the ornamental flowering or Japanese quince (Chaenomeles), a distinct genus of spiny shrubs grown for flowers rather than fruit, nor with Chinese quince (Pseudocydonia sinensis); all three are separate genera within the pome-bearing tribe Maleae of the Rosaceae, and molecular data place Pseudocydonia closest to Cydonia.

How Long Does Quince Take to Grow?

Quince typically reaches its first harvest about 4 years after planting.

1460

Days to Harvest

10,280

kg/hectare

moderate

Water Needs

full sun

Sun Needs

Growing Conditions

Frost Tolerance

moderate

Drought Tolerance

low

Humidity

low tolerance

Heat Tolerance

moderate

Soil Requirements

Soil Type & pH

Best soil types: loam, sandy loam, clay loam

pH range: 6 - 7.5

Drainage: good

Nutrient Needs (N-P-K)

Nitrogen (N)low

Planting Guide

Planting Methods

grafted nursery tree, hardwood cuttings, budding onto quince rootstock

Plant Spacing

500 cm apart, 500 cm rows

Plant Density

400 plants/hectare

Planting Season

fall, winter

Irrigation

Deep watering through summer while the fruit is swelling; the root system is shallow, so trees are drought-susceptible. On deep moisture-retentive soil an established tree may need water only in prolonged dry spells. Do not irrigate during bloom and avoid overhead irrigation, which drives fire blight and quince leaf blight.

Yield & Economics

Yield Range

5,920 - 25,320 kg/ha

Common Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Codling moth (Cydia pomonella)
Aphids
Scale insects
Mealybugs
Leafroller caterpillars (Tortricidae)

Common Diseases

Fire blight (Erwinia amylovora) - the defining risk; quince and pear are rated extremely susceptible
Quince leaf blight (Diplocarpon mespili, listed as D. maculatum by some sources)
Brown rot (Monilinia spp.)
Cedar-quince rust (Gymnosporangium clavipes)
Powdery mildew

Use AI crop disease detection to identify issues early and prevent crop losses.

Growing Tips

Treat fire blight (Erwinia amylovora) as the defining risk: UC IPM rates pear and quince as extremely susceptible. Keep nitrogen light, since lush vegetative growth is what the bacterium exploits; do not irrigate during bloom; and cut blighted wood well below the visible margin (UC IPM advises removing all discoloured tissue plus a further 15 to 20 cm on trunk infections, UW-Madison at least 30 cm below symptoms), disinfecting shears between cuts.

Leave fruit on the tree to ripen fully and pick in October or November, once it has turned from light yellow to deep golden and is strongly aromatic, but before the first frosts. Cut the fruit off rather than pulling it, then let it mellow for six to eight weeks before cooking.

Flowers are self-fertile, so a single tree will crop, but yields are better with cross-pollination from a second quince. Bloom is in late spring, after the leaves emerge, which gives some natural escape from early spring frosts.

The root system is shallow and the tree is drought-susceptible, so water deeply through summer while the fruit is swelling, and shelter the site - quince is easily damaged by strong wind.

In wet summers watch for quince leaf blight (Diplocarpon mespili), which causes heavy leaf spotting and early defoliation and can cost the crop. Rake up and remove fallen leaves and avoid overhead irrigation; orchards already sprayed for scab tend to stay clean.

Do not plant near junipers. Cedar-quince rust (Gymnosporangium clavipes) needs two hosts to complete its cycle, one of them normally a juniper, so separating the two breaks the cycle.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Quince take to grow?

Quince typically takes about 4 years from planting to first harvest. The best planting season is fall, winter.

What soil does Quince need?

Quince grows best in loam, sandy loam, clay loam soil with a pH of 6-7.5. Good drainage is required.

What temperature does Quince need?

Quince grows best at -15-varies°C. Frost tolerance: moderate. Heat tolerance: moderate.

What is the expected yield for Quince?

Across 8 countries with grounded data, reported national yields for Quince range from 5,920 to 25,320 kg/hectare, with a median of 10,280. These are national statistics, not a best-case figure — an individual farm's yield depends on variety, climate, soil and management.