How to plant and care for quince in open ground, methods of propagation and pest and disease control

Planting and caring for quince in the open ground is not difficult, and even a beginner in gardening can cope with it. When planting, you should strictly follow the rules of agricultural technology and do not forget about care. After all, without this it is impossible to grow a good harvest.

What you need to know when planting quince

Before planting a quince seedling, it is important to study all the details. Future productivity, as well as the health of the tree, depend on the correctness of the event. First of all, it is important to study the soil requirements of quince and what place to plant it should be.

How to choose a healthy and strong seedling

Only the healthiest and strongest seedlings are suitable for planting. Weak trees do not take root well, and in some cases do not take root at all. Seedlings must have a well-developed root system. The roots are elastic and not dry. The stems are strong, do not break when bent and show no signs of damage. The main trunk is strong and thick.

Soil requirements

The root system of quince is of the surface type, so it is advisable to plant the plant on loamy soils. Sandy loam soils are also suitable, but the yield will be slightly worse. Fruit crops are also planted near groundwater. In this case, the distance between the rhizome and groundwater should not be less than 1.5 m.

Choosing a suitable place

To obtain a rich harvest, quince is planted in open sunny areas. In shade and even partial shade, the plant grows poorly and produces a meager harvest. It is not recommended to plant a tree in lowlands and in places where water accumulates in the spring.Excessive moisture harms the root system.

How to plant quince

Growing quince is quite simple, the main thing is to follow the rules of agricultural technology. It is important to determine the timing of planting and study the technology of planting seedlings in a permanent place.

Optimal planting dates

Quinces are planted twice a year - in spring and autumn. Each time of planting a seedling has its own advantages. Many summer residents still do not agree on which time of year is the most optimal.

Spring

When planting in the spring, the soil begins to be prepared in the fall. The principle of preparation is the same as for autumn planting. Quinces are planted after the ground has completely warmed up. Immediately before planting, the soil is slightly loosened. The advantage of spring planting is that the seedling does not have to survive the winter.

Autumn

If autumn is chosen for planting quince, the soil should be prepared in spring. The soil is dug up and organic fertilizers are added. In the fall they begin planting. The optimal dates are September-October. Quinces should be planted before the onset of cold weather. The advantage of autumn planting is that the seedling will have time to take root in a new place over the winter, and in the spring it will immediately enter the growth phase.

Landing scheme and technology

The technology for planting quince is practically no different from planting other fruit crops. How to plant quince seedlings in open ground:

• Dig a hole to a depth of 1 m.
• Mix the topsoil with manure and wood ash.
• Drive a stake into the center of the hole.
• Carefully place the seedling and straighten the roots.
• Fill the hole with soil and lightly compact the soil near the trunk.
• Tie the seedling to a stake for the first time until it takes root in a new place.

At the end of planting, the quince is watered generously with water heated in the sun.

Agricultural technology

Caring for the crop is not so difficult.Although garden quince is rarely found in domestic summer cottages, its cultivation is no different from the cultivation of any other fruit crops. It is important to regularly feed the plant and carry out preventive procedures against diseases and insects.

Feeding and watering quince in a summer cottage

Water and fertilize 4 times per season:

• The first time is during the formation of kidneys.
• The second time - during the flowering period.
• The third time is when the fruit begins to fill.
• The last one is before the onset of cold weather during preparation for winter.

In the first half of the season, nitrogen-containing fertilizers are used. For example, ammonium nitrate or urea. In the second half of the season, quince needs potassium and phosphorus. Superphosphate and nitrophoska are used as fertilizers.

In addition, manure, compost, bird droppings or dolomite flour are added to the soil.

How to properly tie a quince in the first year of life

After planting, young quince seedlings are tied to a stake until they take root in a new place. The stake should be the same height as the tree. The trunk is tied so that it does not bend, but stands straight.

Tree crown formation

An important stage in growing any fruit tree is the formation of the crown.

Schemes and cutting technology

The procedure is carried out twice per season - in spring and autumn. In the spring, rejuvenating pruning is carried out, and in the fall, sanitary pruning is carried out. If necessary, additional summer pruning is carried out. Remove stems only with sharp pruning shears to avoid creases. The cut areas must be disinfected.

Work period

It is advisable to prune on a warm, dry day. It is better to check the weather forecast so that prolonged or heavy rains do not begin a few days before and after the procedure. The most favorable time is considered to be the evening after sunset.

Spring molding

In spring, young shoots and some branches are cut off. 3-4 skeletal branches are left on the tree, the rest is cut off. If the quince variety is tall, part of the top is also cut off.

Summer

Summer pruning is carried out if the tree is infected with some disease, and to prevent its development it is necessary to remove some of the branches.

Autumn

In autumn, sanitary pruning is carried out. Remove all dry and damaged branches, leaving only healthy ones.

Mulching

Mulch the soil in the fall after harvesting. The soil around the trunk is dug up and weeds are removed. Manure, peat or sawdust are used as mulch. The mulch layer should not be less than 15 cm.

How does a tree reproduce?

How to grow quince from seeds? Many summer residents are interested in this question. But quince can be grown not only from seeds. There are many methods for propagating a tree.

Seeds

For autumn planting, it is not necessary to wait several months for the seeds to be prepared. Cut the largest and healthiest fruit from the tree. Leave it for a month to ripen. After a month, remove the seeds, rinse them under water and dry. Plant the seeds directly into the ground. Plant and cover them with spruce branches. In spring, small quince sprouts should appear in this place. When the sprouts grow and are strong enough, they need to be planted apart from each other.

Root suckers

Another method of propagation is by root suckers. Each tree has young shoots nearby, which gradually grow and become a full-fledged tree. To propagate quince using this method, it is enough to separate the root suckers from the mother tree and plant it in a new place. This method is considered the easiest.

By layering

In the fall, you need to cut young shoots, the age of which does not exceed two years.Then they are bent to the ground and covered with soil. First, you should dig grooves 5-9 cm deep and place the shoots there. After the shoots are laid, they should be secured. In the spring, the cuttings will have roots, and in the fall of the same year they can be planted in new places.

By cuttings

Quince is also propagated by cuttings. This method is used if there is a goal to preserve the varietal characteristics of a particular tree. To take cuttings, young green shoots are cut from the tree. It is not advisable to use woody shoots. The cuttings should be 20-25 cm long and have 4-5 buds on each.

The cuttings are cut with sharp pruning shears to avoid creases. The lower cut is made at an acute angle, and the upper cut is made at a straight angle above the kidney itself. Before planting the cuttings in the soil, they are placed for a day in a solution that activates growth. After which the cuttings are planted in the ground. You can transplant to a permanent place after a year.

Vaccination

Growing this way is suitable for experienced gardeners. In most cases, quince or apple trees are used as a rootstock. As a scion, take a healthy branch without signs of damage with several buds. Quince is propagated by grafting in the spring, after warm weather sets in.

Quince diseases and the fight against them

To find out how to properly deal with quince diseases, you need to study what diseases most often affect trees. Treatment should be aimed not only at eliminating the cause of the disease, but also at preventing further occurrence of diseases.

Brownish leaves

When the leaves become brownish, they dry out and small brown spots appear on them. Then they fall off. In order to cure quince, after flowering it is treated with a solution of Bordeaux mixture.

Gray rot

This disease is characterized by the appearance of necrosis - large brown spots on shoots and leaves that quickly increase in size. If prolonged rainfall begins outside, the affected areas become covered with a white fluffy coating. The danger of gray rot is that its pathogen can spread to any plants in the garden.

To combat gray mold, the drugs “Topaz” and “Kuproksat” are used. As preventive measures, you must adhere to the following rules:

• Regularly destroy weeds from the site.
• After harvesting, trees are treated with Bordeaux mixture or copper-containing chemicals.
• In spring, water the soil around the trunk with copper-containing preparations.

These measures will be enough to prevent gray rot from appearing on the site.

Rust

Another disease that occurs on quince is rust. Signs of rust:

• The appearance of orange tubercles on the top of the leaf.
• Pustules form on the lower part.
• The spots transform into stripes as the disease progresses.
• The leaves turn yellow and fall off en masse.

To combat rust, trees are treated with fungicides after the leaves bloom. There should be two treatments with a break of two weeks.

Powdery mildew

The first signs of powdery mildew are a white or red coating on the tips of annual shoots. As the disease progresses, the plaque thickens and becomes brown with black dots. The shoots do not develop, the leaves are deformed, and the ovaries fall off en masse. To combat powdery mildew, trees are treated with fungicides after flowering. After 2-3 weeks, the treatment is repeated.

Rotting of the ovaries

Another reason why quince blooms but does not bear fruit is the rotting of the ovaries. The ovaries begin to rot on the tree for many reasons.Initially, dark spots appear on the leaves, which, as the disease progresses, spread throughout the entire leaf. Then the spores fall into the ovaries, and the inflorescences begin to fall off.

You need to fight rotting with the help of the drug “Fundazol”. First, all dry and damaged branches are cut off and dry fruits are destroyed. The crop is treated with the drug during the flowering of inflorescences and after it.

Moniliosis

This disease affects trees that grow in climate zones with wet spring. The disease first affects fruits with mechanical damage. Brown spots appear on the peel and quickly increase in size. The pulp becomes loose, then the fruits fall off. To combat moniliosis, the drugs “Abiga-pik”, “Rovral”, Bordeaux mixture and copper sulfate are used.

Pests and methods of prevention

But it’s not just diseases that affect culture. You can often find harmful insects on trees. To combat them, chemicals and traditional methods are used.

Leaf-eating moth

The leaf-boring moth is often found on quince. Particularly dangerous to the tree are insect larvae that feed on the leaves of the tree. If leaf-rotting moth larvae appear on a crop, the leaves first become light and then fall off. You can get rid of the insect using the drug “Fundazol”.

Fruit mites

Fruit mites suck the juice from young shoots, which subsequently fall off. Because of the pest, productivity decreases and the tree stops growing. One of the signs of a fruit mite is the appearance of sticky spots on the tree. Urea will help get rid of the insect. This product is sprayed in the fall after harvesting.

codling moth

The codling moth reproduces quickly, and several generations can change at once over the summer. To destroy the pest, plants are treated with Lepidocid or Dendrobacillin.

Aphid

The danger of aphids appearing on fruit trees is not only that they suck the juice from the leaves, but also carry viral diseases. These diseases can no longer be cured. To combat aphids, a soap solution and insecticides are used. As you know, the first sign of the appearance of pests is the appearance of ants on the site, so you will also have to deal with them.

What can be grafted onto quince

Some varieties of pears and apples can be grafted onto quince. Quince is also grafted.

When does a young tree begin to bear fruit?

Quince begins to bear fruit quite early after planting. Depending on the planting method, the timing of fruiting may vary. Trees grown by seed begin to bear fruit in the 4th-5th year.

Seedlings grown using cuttings begin to bear fruit earlier, 2-3 years after planting. Flowering begins later than other crops, when the threat of spring frosts has completely passed.

Ripening time and harvest

For those summer residents who plant quince and harvest for the first time, questions such as how to store and when to harvest become more relevant than ever. Quince is one of the latest fruits, so you can prepare for harvesting only in October. And sometimes the fruit harvest extends until November. If meteorologists predict an early winter, then you need to harvest without waiting for frost. Even if the fruits do not have time to ripen to the end.

The first sign that it is time to harvest is that the fruits have begun to fall off en masse.But there is no point in waiting until everyone falls off. Such fruits do not last long. It is better to harvest quinces while most of the fruits are hanging on the tree.

Store the crop in a cool room with high humidity. If there are a lot of fruits, they should be stored in sand or sawdust. It is undesirable to keep the fruits next to a pear; such proximity causes the quince to quickly ripen and spoil.