Quince can be a fruit and ornamental plant. The harvested quince is grown as a tree, and the ornamental quince, such as the Clementine variety, is grown as a shrub. Decorative can also bear fruit, but it is attractive, first of all, for its flowering. Let's consider the classification of crop varieties and the best garden varieties that can be grown on personal plots.
Classification of varieties
Quince is the only species of the genus that belongs to the Rosaceae family. A fruit crop that is grown in temperate and warm climates in private and industrial gardens.
Common quince
The height of the tree is 1.5-5 m, the crown is often broadly oval. Old branches and trunk are dark gray with a reddish tint, young shoots are pubescent and gray. The leaves are green, with a grayish tint, pubescent, round in shape. The flowers are large, pinkish-white, the tree blooms late - at the end of spring, ripens in autumn. The common quince begins to bear fruit at the age of 3-4 years and lives up to 50-60 years. The fruits are pear-shaped, large, yellow, pubescent. There is little juice in them, the flesh is dense, the taste is sweetish, tart, and strong aroma.
Decorative quince
This species is called Chaenomeles. Comes from Asia, the plant is heat-loving, therefore suitable only for regions with a temperate climate. When grown as a tree, it reaches a height of up to 3 m, and in the form of a shrub – 1-2 m. The main advantage of decorative varieties is lush and long-lasting flowering. The plant blooms with large pink-orange or white flowers. The leaves resemble apple leaves, green when young, then in some varieties they become dark brown.
Garden quince
The group of garden varieties includes about 40 varieties that can be grown in Russia. Varieties differ in characteristics - cold resistance, disease resistance, yield, shelf life of fruits, their size and taste. The main criteria by which garden quince are classified are crown shape, ripening period, habit.
Pear quince
Pear-shaped quinces are divided into varieties according to ripening period into early, mid-ripening and late, and according to the shape of the fruit - into pear-shaped and apple-shaped.The former produce sweet and juicy fruits, the latter are considered more early ripening. According to the crown shape, varieties are divided into pyramidal, spherical and wide-pyramidal. According to habit, the group is divided into low-growing, medium- and vigorous-growing varieties.
The best varieties
There are many varieties of quince for home gardens, some of which are especially popular. The Rossoshanskaya apple-shaped variety comes from the Voronezh region, has an average ripening period, the degree of cold resistance and yield are average. Fruits weighing 250-300 g, with yellowish, fragrant, dense pulp. Used for jam and preserves.
The Donetskaya variety ripens in the fall, is characterized by cold resistance and average resistance to diseases and pests. Advantages: productivity and self-fertility. It is grown in a bush-like form, the fruits for technical purposes are 100-150 g, of medium keeping quality. The skin and pulp are yellow, sweet and sour, tart.
The Krupnoplodnaya variety is recommended for temperate climates. Grows well in open areas in chernozem and sandy soils; watering requirements are moderate. Blooms with pink flowers in March-April. The height of the tree is 2-3 m, the fruits are large yellow. Used for jam and compote.
The Zolotistaya variety is early ripening, blooms in March-April, ripens in autumn. Plant height is 2-4 m, easy to care for. It is recommended to plant on the bright side of the garden, in sandy or black soil. The fruits are intended for processing into jam and canning in the form of compote.
The Moscow Susova variety is zoned for the central regions. The tree is medium-sized, the fruits are small, about 50 g, round, almost hairless. The pulp and skin are yellow, dense, aromatic, not juicy. The taste is sweet-sour, medium-tart.The fruits are suitable for processing into jam, marmalade, jelly, and for making wine and compotes. Moscow Susova is characterized by cold resistance, resistance to infections, the variety is self-fertile and productive, and adapts well to different growing conditions.
There are several hundred varieties of fruit and ornamental quince. Many of them grow well in summer cottages. The crop is recommended to be grown in the central and southern regions of Russia. The fruits are mainly intended for winter harvesting.
