Japanese Quince Cido Red - Chaenomeles japonica

The 'Cido Red' Japanese Quince forms a dwarf and compact bush that is generous and easy to integrate into the garden. Firstly, with its long and bright orange-red spring flowering and then its autumn fruiting of very decorative quinces on the plant, it is much appreciated for jams, compotes, quince pastes, jellies or syrup-soaked fruits... The fruits have the shape of an apple, large-sized, measuring 7 to 8 cm (3in) in diameter, ribbed and slightly flattened at the base, with a golden yellow skin that turns orange at ripeness. The light yellow, fir, delicate flesh releases an intense and lemony fragrance, containing brown seeds. This Nordic lemon, rich in vitamin C, is astringent when raw, but its delicately flavoured flesh reveals its taste and aroma when cooked. Not exceeding 1.50 m (5ft) in height and without thorns, harvesting the fruits is easy. Hardy, reasonably vigorous, and resistant to diseases, the quince is easy to grow and requires almost no maintenance. Inn Latin Chaenomeles japonica, the Japanese Quincea, more commonly known as the Northern Citrus or Japanese Apple, belongs to the Rosaceae family, just like the apple and pear. This shrub is native to the mountainous and wooded areas of China, Japan, and Korea. It was introduced to Europe in the 17th century as a widespread ornamental shrub. Since then, numerous cultivars have been known for their intense flowering or fruit production. Chaenomeles comes from the combination of two Greek words: "chaïen" which means "to split", and "mêlea", which means "apple", hence its other name ", Japanese apple".

The variety 'Cido Red' has been selected in Latvia, where it is cultivated on a large scale for fruit production. This quince forms a small bush with reasonably rapid growth, bushy, dense, and spreading, spreading through the formation of branches from its stump, often creating a somewhat tangled, irregular branch structure without thorns. It can reach 1.20 to 1.50 meters (4 to 5 feet) in all directions at maturity, depending on the growing conditions. Its deciduous foliage comprises lanceolate, alternate leaves measuring 4 to 6 cm (2in) in length and 1.5 to 3 cm (1in) in width, with dentate edges, medium green and shiny on the upper side. The young shoots are reddish, and the young leaves bronze copper. In March-April, more or less early, depending on the duration of the winter, flowering occurs before the appearance of the leaves. The flowers bloom for 4 to 6 weeks, first on the bare branches, then among the young leaves. They are broad, 3 cm (1in) in diameter, with slightly open cups, with five petals, ranging in colour from red to orange. They are grouped in clusters of 3 or carried by a very short or absent pedicel on the previous year's branches. It is a fragrant, honey-bearing, and nectar-bearing flowering, widely visited by bees and other pollinating insects. This hardy shrub can tolerate temperatures around -20°C (-4°F) but dislikes summer humidity, which promotes the appearance of spots on the leaves and fruits. Its flowering is not very sensitive to spring frosts. This self-fertile variety does not require other quinces nearby for pollination, but the presence of another quince will improve fertility. The harvest of fruits begins in early September and extends until the end of October as they ripen.

The quinces are harvested by hand before they fall from the tree to prevent damage. The fruits can be consumed immediately after harvest. Their hard and astringent flesh makes eating raw unpleasant, so cooking them is essential. The flesh oxidises quickly once the skin is removed but without alteration of taste. Low in sugar, quince is particularly rich in fibre, especially pectin, a naturally gelling form of carbohydrate. It is also rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, and minerals (copper and potassium). This natural pectin richness facilitates the transformation of fruits into jams, quince pastes, jellies, or syrup-soaked fruits. When combined with apples, quince is delicious in compotes. It also adds flavours to sweet recipes (crumble, tart, cake, etc.).

Easy to grow and undemanding, the quince prefers sunny exposure, ordinary soil, rich and deep without excessive limestone. The 'Cido Red' Japanese Quince offers an abundant harvest and rapid fruiting, around 3 to 4 years, with optimal fruit production after 5 to 6 years. It is suitable for cultivation in all regions but needs warmth in autumn for proper fruit ripening. Compact, it is ideal in small gardens or a container on the terrace or balcony. With its naturalness, it offers an eagerly awaited early flowering after a long winter, just like Forsythias, Abeliophyllum, and Japanese dogwoods. Its branches can also be trained against a wall, on a wire frame, and accompanied by winter jasmine to save space. Its bare branches, filled with buds, are also an opportunity for beautiful tall vase bouquets. With a wide range of quince varieties, it is easy to find the best one for you.