Organic Quince Champion - Cydonia oblonga

The Champion Quince Bush is a vigorous, self-fertile variety, known for the delicious taste of its fruits, which have a firm and particularly juicy and aromatic flesh. The spring flowering of this small tree, with its white flowers tinged with pale pink, is decorative and attractive to bees. Quinces, sometimes called golden apples or Cydonia pears, ripen from late October, turning a bright yellow and emitting a very pleasant fragrance. They store well and can be cooked in compotes, jams, jellies, pies, crumbles, fruit pastes, and sweet or savory dishes. Plants from Organic Agriculture.

The quince tree, scientifically known as Cydonia oblonga, belongs to the Rosaceae family, just like apple and pear trees. This shrub is native to the temperate regions of the Caucasus and Iran, from the Caspian Sea to the Black Sea: Iran, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Caucasian Russia and Turkmenistan. It is a deciduous and hardy small tree, with a spreading habit and a rounded crown, whose leaves fall in autumn. The 'Champion' cultivar was selected in the United States around 1870. It thrives in ordinary soil, neither too chalky nor too dry, and prefers deep and fertile soils. This variety is self-fertile, but fruit production will be higher in the presence of another quince tree that blooms at the same time. The production is good and regular in most regions.

The Champion Quince is rather vigorous, with a semi-erect to erect habit, reaching an average height of 5 metres (16 feet) and a width of 2 metres (7 feet) at maturity, depending on the growing conditions. This variety is easy to shape. Its medium green leaves are entire, measuring 6 to 11 cm (2 to 4in) long, with a hairy edge. 'Champion' blooms in April, it is a mid-late flowering variety, two days after the flowering of 'Vranja' quince. The flowers have 5 petals, white with a pink hue, and are approximately 4 cm (2in) wide. After pollination, the fruits develop and reach maturity from October 15, depending on the region. Quinces have a pear-like shape and can weigh up to 500 grams each. When immature, they are green and covered in a velvety fuzz. They lose this fuzz by the end of autumn when the fruit changes colour and becomes golden yellow. They are very hard fruits, with thick skin, containing firm, yellow flesh that is juicy and pleasantly aromatic. The fruit core contains brown seeds.

The Champion Quince is easy to grow and thrives in sunny locations with rich, deep soil that is not overly chalky. It is very hardy and can be grown in all regions but it needs warmth in autumn for the fruits to ripen properly. As quinces affect the ripening of other pome fruits, it is advisable not to store them together. The main pests of quince trees are aphids and codling moths, and the main diseases are entomosporiosis and brown rot (storage diseases).

For transportation reasons, our tallest scions may be pruned before shipping. They are suitable for all common training forms: cordons, espaliers, goblets, half-standards, and low standards, but not tall standards. If you would like more information or advice on training your fruit trees, please do not hesitate to contact us.