Re: Quinces, medlars

 

Nicholas Turland wrote:

 

Medit-planters,

Does anyone out there have any experience of growing quinces (Cydonia oblonga), specifically the cultivar "Smyrna"? I'm planning on trying one in my USDA zone 6A garden here in St. Louis, MO, where it should theoretically be hardy. We rarely get any frost after mid-April

 
Also, does anyone grow that wierd old European fruit, the medlar (Mespilus germanica)? I'm planning on giving that a try too.
Aha Nick,

My neighbor in Palos Verdes, Cal. grew a dwarf quince, mainly for the spring flowers it produced. Yes, it did produce fruit as well, and in coastal Cal.

But what I tried to grow was that gorgeous medlar tree after having seen it in the meadow garden at Great Dixter.  The bare-root tree lasted 2 years, then died during the summer.  I got the message that this tree probably needed more soil moisture and colder winter temperatures than coastal Cal. could offer.  You'll probably be much more successful!

Groves full of medlar grow in the inland valleys of central western Italy, near Cetona. What a sight!

And now I have your attention, I must tell you how much I learned from your talk on Canary Island endemics at the last "Gardening Under Medit. Skies" conference- a belated "thankyou so much"!
Jan

 

Any hints most welcome!

Many thanks,  Nick Turland

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Jan Smithen,
Upland, California

jansmithen@earthlink.net
Sunset zone : 19
USDA zone   : 10

http://home.earthlink.net/~jansmithen/

Visit the Los Angeles County Arboretum
Victorian Rose Garden website at:
http://victorian-rose.org/
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