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Quince

victoriacadamsvictoriacadams Posts: 57
in Plants
Good Evening All Gardeners.  

We have inherited a small quince tree.  It currently has about 15 fruits on its small frame. Unfortunately the fruit is held very tight and we can not separate it from the branches.

Do any of you know how to pries the fruits off?  Any ideas would be welcomed.  Thank you.

Posts

  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    Can I just check?
    Presume you mean Chaenomeles..common name Japanese quince.A shrub

    As opposed to Cydonia oblonga ...common name Quince ...a tree
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • victoriacadamsvictoriacadams Posts: 57
    Thank you for your interest.

    The previous owner of of 73 years assured us it was a quince.  The RHS book sign posted me to Chaenomeles Nicoline.

    I can post photographs tomorrow with the light.

    Vicky
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    victoriacadams said:
    Thank you for your interest.

    The previous owner of of 73 years assured us it was a quince.  The RHS book sign posted me to Chaenomeles Nicoline.

    I can post photographs tomorrow with the light.

    Vicky
    Ahh. I fully understand.
    That is the problem when common names are used.
    Many do not understand the difference.
    I just wanted to clarify which one you had.

    Chaenomeles  x superba Nicoline,  is a shrub ,a glorious  Japanese quince with rich red flowers and small roundish fruits that are tight to the branches as my pic above.

    https://www.gardenia.net/plant/chaenomeles-superba-nicoline-japanese-quince
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • victoriacadamsvictoriacadams Posts: 57
    I don't want to damage the fruit at all as there is so little.  Should I be a bit braver and give a good tug????
  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    I would twist the fruit gently, holding on to the branch with the other hand.  If you have two fruits back to back, hold them both in your two hands and twist them in opposite directions.
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • cmarkrcmarkr Posts: 142
    Do you cook with Japanese quince in the same way as quince?
  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    Yes you can make a jelly and cheese just like you would with true quince. Japanese and Chinese quince fruits stay tight to the branch until they are ripe then loosen and fall. Even when ripe they are rock hard and inedible fresh.
  • victoriacadamsvictoriacadams Posts: 57
    Silver surfer said:
    Can I just check?
    Presume you mean Chaenomeles..common name Japanese quince.A shrub

    As opposed to Cydonia oblonga ...common name Quince ...a tree

    Sorry for the late reply, see attached 

  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    edited November 2021
    victoriacadams said:

    Sorry for the late reply, see attached 

    Thank you.
    This confirms that it is the shrub....Chaenomeles sp ...common name Japanese Quince.
    Suggest you do as Liriodendron advises.
    Watch out for any thorns.
    Personally I am not keen on the fruits made into jam.
    Maybe jelly is better.
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • victoriacadamsvictoriacadams Posts: 57
    Good Evening Gardening Friends. 

    Thank you for helping me to remove and process our quinces. The twist off the branch did the trick! A success!  Two of the fruits fell down so that was cue to bring them all in.  All 21 (1.0kg) fruits will go to a jam for my first try, fingers crossed.   One of our elderly neighbors knows our garden very well and she has encouraged me to have a go to.  She has lived in the village since she was six years old and and enjoys sharing her tips and memories of the fruit garden.  

    Thank you very much.  :-)
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