Cydonia oblonga Reas Mammoth

Cydonia oblonga 'Rea's Mammoth' forms an ornamental small fruit tree with fragrant pink-white spring flowering and a high autumn production of delicious quinces. It produces a large fruit, measuring 8 to 10cm (3 to 4in) in diameter, weighing up to 600 grams, with a round shape, ribbed and slightly flattened at the base. Its thick skin is golden yellow, with greenish hues on the shaded side, covered with a light fuzzy layer that disappears when fully ripe. Its light yellow flesh is firm, fine, highly aromatic, moderately sweet, with a slightly astringent taste, and contains brownish seeds. Astringent when eaten raw, the quince's flesh reveals its flavour and aroma when cooked, in countless sweet or savoury recipes. Hardy, fairly vigorous, and resistant to diseases, the quince tree is easy to grow and requires almost no maintenance.

Quince trees belong to the Rosaceae family, just like apple trees and pear trees. This bush is native to temperate regions of the Caucasus and Iran, from the Caspian Sea to the Black Sea: Iran, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Caucasian Russia, Turkmenistan. 

The 'Rea's Mammoth' variety was developed by Joseph Rea in 1895 in Coxsackie, New York, United States. It forms a small bushy tree, with an upright habit and a rounded crown, reaching a height of 4m (13ft), with a diameter of about 2 to 3m (3 to 10ft). It is recognisable by its twisted branches, with grey-brown bark covered in lenticels. Its deciduous foliage consists of oblong, alternate leaves measuring 6 to 10cm (2 to 4in) in length and 4 to 6cm (2in) in width, with wavy edges. The leaves are almond green on the upper side, and silver-white on the lower side, turning yellow-orange in autumn before falling. In April-May, the solitary flowers appear as pink buds, then open up into a wide corolla with 5 petals, measuring 3 to 5cm (1 to 2in) in diameter. The flowers are white, tinged with pale pink. It is a remarkably decorative flowering in spring, which is fragrant and particularly attractive to bees and other pollinators. This hardy tree can tolerate temperatures as low as -25°C (-13°F), but dislikes summer humidity, which promotes the appearance of spots on the leaves and fruits, such as entomosporiosis. Its late flowering is not easily affected by spring frost. It is a self-fertile variety and does not require other quince trees nearby for pollination. However, the presence of another quince tree will improve fertility. The harvest of the fruits begins around mid-October and extends until November, as they ripen.

Quinces are harvested by hand, before they fall from the tree, to prevent damage. The fruits can be consumed as soon as they are harvested. Their hard and astringent flesh makes them unpleasant to eat raw, so it is essential to cook them. The flesh oxidizes quickly once the skin is removed, but without altering the taste. It is rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, and minerals (copper and potassium). Low in sweetness, quince is particularly rich in fibre, especially pectin, a naturally gelling carbohydrate. This natural pectin richness facilitates the transformation of the fruit into jams, quince pastes, or jellies. When combined with apples, quince is delicious in compotes. It also adds flavour to sweet recipes (crumbles, tarts, cakes, etc.), and also as an accompaniment to savoury dishes based on poultry (guinea fowl, duck, etc.), pork, game, or fish (salmon, sea bream, etc.), or as part of a cheese platter. Quinces affect the ripening of other pome fruits, so it is recommended not to store them together.

Easy to grow and not demanding, quince trees prefer a sunny exposure, and ordinary, rich, deep soil, without excess limestone. 'Rea's Mammoth' offers an abundant harvest and rapid fruiting. It will produce fruit after around 3 to 4 years, with optimal fruit production reached after 5 to 6 years. It requires warmth in autumn for proper fruit ripening. With a wide range of quince varieties, it is easy to find the one that best suits your needs.