An interesting ornament of any garden can become a quince of Japanese quince, it is also a chaenomel. You can also meet Japanese quince trees up to three meters high, but they do not have such decorative qualities as a bush. Due to its appearance and ability to fructify this plant will benefit both soul and health, because quince is a very useful and valuable fruit.
The native land of Japanese quince is East - Japan and China. This is how it was discovered and domesticated in the wild-growing form, and after it was already transported to the European continent. The quince can grow and bear fruit even in a temperate and cool climate and is able to withstand winter frosts up to 30 ° C, although part of the tops and buds freeze. To prevent this from happening, the bush is covered with lapnik and thrown with snow.
Description of the quince of Japanese
Chanomeles is a deciduous or evergreen shrub or a tree that can grow and bear fruit for 60-80 years, and this period makes it a long-liver among fruit-berry plants. Dimensions of the bush of Japanese quince reach a height of about one meter, and in the girth there are quite large specimens - up to 10 meters. But this plant is sometimes used instead of a hedge, which is cut strictly in the right shape and does not allow it to grow so much, especially when there is not enough space.
Many varieties and hybrids of quince have spines on the branches, but smooth-bodied specimens are also found. Thanks to a powerful stem root, which goes far into the soil, quince is drought-resistant.
The fruits of quince Japanese have a very tart and sour taste and are not suitable for use in food in an unprocessed form. But jams, jams, pastilles and compotes of these fruits turn out amazing in color and smell. They retain vitamin C for a long time even after heat treatment.
According to the shape of the fruits of Japanese garden quinces are like a pear or an apple, and the color variations from yellow-green to a saturated lemon color. One fruit weighs at least 45 grams, but the plant is literally strewn with such odorous "apples." Inside, almost half of the fruit is occupied by a chamber with large seeds, which can be used to produce new plants.
Fruiting begins after three years of age, but each branch can yield only for 5-6 years, after which it is removed, giving way to the young.
Only in the last century it was discovered that Japanese quince is edible, and before that people only admired its decorative colors, which are of white, pink or red-orange colors. You can harvest in October before freezing.
Classes of Japanese quince
There are three species that are found in nature and several interspecies hybrids. During selection work, a lot of varieties were distinguished, differing in their decorative qualities and fruits. In particular:
- Garnet bracelet. Frost resistant variety, common in the territory of Russia. In height, the plant is too large - from 0.5 to 1 meter, which is to the benefit of resistance to frost, because quince wintering under the snow cover. The flowers of this species are large, and the fruits are small and very fragrant.
- Pink Trail (Cameo). This variety is also called "quince excellent", and it's not for nothing that such magnificent flowers can not be found among the representatives of this family. The variety can only grow in a warm climatic zone, and already north requires a reliable shelter for the winter.
- Nicholas. Variety, bred by Ukrainian breeders, short, not
has a thorn, which makes it convenient to harvest. Fruits reach 80 grams and have a slightly bumpy surface. - Nika. Another Ukrainian variety that does not have thorns. Large fruits up to 100 grams make it the champion among the henomeles.
- Ally Mosel. Shrubs of meter height have numerous spines. On such a quince the flowers of bright red color give fruits up to 90 grams. This variety was bred by the Dutch.
Whichever grade of chanomeles you choose to grow in your garden, they will all bring a lot of positive emotions when they blossom, and complement the ranks of summer conservation with fine jams and jams.