Content
Planting and caring for Japanese quince in the Moscow region requires compliance with certain rules. It is real to grow bushes. It must be borne in mind that the fruits themselves will be greenish (most likely, they will not have time to ripen). Therefore, they will have to be kept at room temperature at home.
Does quince grow in the suburbs
The Japanese quince (henomeles) tree can be grown in the climatic conditions of the Moscow region and other regions of the middle zone. Some varieties are winter hardy, so they will withstand moderate frosts and even yield a harvest. When growing, several rules of care should be taken into account:
- The bushes cope well with drought and require a little watering (more often in the heat). But in order to obtain a harvest, it is important to regularly apply additional fertilizing.
- A very important point of care: plants are demanding on sunlight. Therefore, a completely open area is chosen for planting.
- The bushes bear fruit, but they ripen rather late - usually by the beginning of October. Moreover, in a cloudy summer, they will remain green. Therefore, they are harvested and left to ripen at room temperature.
- Even winter-hardy varieties need shelter. In autumn you need to lay out a high layer of mulch (20-30 cm). This care rule is especially important for young seedlings.
Planting and caring for Japanese quince in the Moscow region
Japanese quince can be grown in the suburbs, but for this it needs to be provided with proper care. The basic requirements for planting: fertile soil, timely watering, fertilization and thorough mulching for the winter.
Landing dates
In the climatic conditions of the Moscow region, it is better to plan the procedure for late spring. Planting is best done in the last decade of April or early May. At this time, the soil should have time to warm up to at least 10-12 degrees. This can be determined by burying the thermometer to a depth of 15 cm and holding it for 15–20 minutes.
If the spring turned out to be cold, it is better to postpone the planting of quince in the Moscow region 1-2 weeks later.
An autumn procedure is possible, but not desirable. If the deadline is missed in spring, the seedlings should be planted in the first half of September, i.e. 1.5–2 months before the first frost. In this case, you need to take particular care of the winter shelter.
To ensure proper care of Japanese quince in the Moscow region, seedlings should be planted on a fine day, early in the morning or late in the evening.
Site and soil requirements
Japanese quince ripens in the Moscow region, but for the bush to feel comfortable, it is important to choose the right place for planting it. It should be:
- completely open (even weak shading is not allowed);
- protected from drafts, strong winds (especially from the north side);
- not waterlogged (lowlands, where moisture periodically accumulates, should be excluded).
Japanese quince prefers light, fertile loamy soils. It is best if the reaction is slightly acidic (pH = 6.0–6.5). Therefore, the soil for planting should be prepared in advance. To do this, in the fall, the site is cleaned and dug up.A bucket of compost or humus is added to the soil (2 m2), as well as 1 kg of sawdust or sand for the same area (if the soil is heavy, clayey). Sometimes the soil in the Moscow region may be alkaline (pH more than 7.0). Then it needs to be watered with 9% vinegar before planting. Working solution for 1 m2 area - 100 ml per 10 liters.
How to plant correctly
It is better to buy Japanese quince seedlings for planting in the Moscow region in nurseries or from trusted suppliers. Their age should be 1 - maximum 2 years. The root system is closed (in planting containers).
Prepare for planting in a few weeks:
- Dig holes with a depth and diameter of 60 cm at a distance of 1.5 m from each other.
- Small stones are laid out at the bottom. This should be done when the groundwater comes too close to the surface. The drainage layer should be strong enough - up to 15 cm. Then further care will not cause difficulties.
- Pour a mixture of sod land with compost, black peat and sand (2: 1: 1: 1) and let it sit for 2-3 weeks.
- Then the seedlings of Japanese quince are placed exactly in the center and the soil is slightly tamped so that the root collar goes to a depth of 5–7 cm.
- Make a small indentation around the trunk.
- Mulch with bark, sawdust, needles or other materials.
When planting Japanese quince in the fall in the suburbs, it is important to carefully mulch the roots.
How to care
Along with planting, it is important to provide proper care for Japanese quince in the Moscow region. There are several rules to follow:
- Young seedlings need increased weekly watering. In this case, the soil must have time to dry out - moisture stagnation is unacceptable.
- The grown bushes need watering only during the dry season. They are given 3-4 buckets of water every week. If it rains periodically, additional moisture is not needed.
- Another important rule of caring for Japanese quince in the Moscow region is top dressing. If fertilizers have already been applied on the eve of planting (or during it), then new fertilizing is given only from the next season. In April, you need to close up 150 g of potassium nitrate and 300 g of superphosphate for each seedling. In June, ammonium nitrate (20 g) is used, and in September they are fed with mullein (30 g per 3 liters per plant).
- The trunk circle is mulched even in summer. This eliminates weeds and protects the soil from drying out quickly, and the roots of the Japanese quince from recurrent frosts. Although it is still necessary to loosen the soil and periodically remove the grass.
- An essential maintenance requirement is regular pruning of Japanese quince. In the spring, you need to remove frozen, diseased and weak branches (at the very beginning of April). And in the fall (mid-October) they make a shaping and rejuvenating haircut. To do this, you need to cut the branches that go beyond the general outline, leaving at least a third of their length. All cuts are treated with crushed charcoal or garden pitch.
When and how to collect Japanese quince in the Moscow region
In the climatic conditions of the Moscow region and other regions of the middle zone, the Japanese quince ripens quite late. This occurs in the fall: from the end of September and lasts until mid-October. The yield from one adult bush reaches 1-2 kg. If you organize the correct planting and good care, you can achieve 2.5-3 kg per crop.
Japanese quince in the suburbs does not have time to ripen completely and remains green
An unripe crop must be removed before frost, otherwise it will die and disappear. The pulp may become watery and lose its flavor. Therefore, the fruits are removed and placed in one layer on the floor in the room. They can be stored for a long time in such conditions. Gradually, the fruits will acquire a normal yellowish color.
It is better to pick Japanese quince in dry, clear weather so that it does not get wet. The fruits are plucked by hand, while not thrown, but carefully placed in a bucket or other container.
Ripe quince is stored at a temperature of 2-3 degrees Celsius (on the balcony, in the cellar, basement). The humidity in the room should not be very high - up to 70%.In such conditions, the Japanese quince is preserved without additional care for 4–5 months.
Preparing for winter
One of the main rules for planting and caring for quince in the Moscow region is timely preparation for winter, which is especially important for young seedlings (the first 2-3 years). Warming activities begin three weeks before the first frost, i.e. around mid-October.
To protect the roots, you need to pour a high layer of mulch (at least 20 cm) into the tree trunk circle. It is permissible to use spruce branches, bark, fallen leaves (but only from other trees), sawdust. It is also recommended to install a shield from wind and snow next to the plant.
The best self-fertile varieties of Japanese quince for the Moscow region
When growing ordinary quince in the Moscow region, it is important to choose the right variety. It should be not only winter-hardy, but also self-fertile. Thanks to this, you will not need to plant other varieties or attract pollinators - the fruits will set on their own.
Quince is used for producing fruits, as well as as an ornamental culture.
Zubutlinskaya
Zubutlinskaya is a medium-sized bush. With proper planting and care in the suburbs, it gives quite large fruits. They have good transportability and keeping quality, so they can be transported over long distances. This variety of quince is winter-hardy, it tolerates strong gusts of wind well.
Zabutlinskaya quince is immune to common diseases
Pink lady
Pink Lady (Pink Lady) - another winter-hardy variety that needs easy care
The bushes are low, reaching only 120 cm. At the same time, the crown is beautiful, lush, and the flowers are pale pink. Thanks to this, the variety got its name Pink Lady.
Sargentii
The Sargentii variety is characterized by long and abundant flowering
The culture gives fairly high and stable yields. The crown is spherical, the foliage is dark green, the flowers are orange. The variety is undemanding to care - it can be grown in the Moscow region.
Nicloline
The variety Nikloline is a medium-sized bush up to 120 cm high.His crown is spreading, reaching 1.5 m in width.
The flowers of the Nikolin variety are bright red
Leaving is uncomplicated. The culture requires minimal shelter for the winter. Nikolin has a high winter hardiness index.
Elly mossel
Elly Mossel - decorative variety
The bush grows to a height of 70 cm. Inflorescences are bright red. Suitable for planting in medium-sized flower beds. Looks good in compositions, especially in alpine slides.
Geisha Girl
Geisha Girl (Geisha girl) is a medium-sized bush up to 150 cm high. It blooms in early May, the flowers are pink-cream. They are used not only for growing fruits, but also for decorating the garden.
Geisha Girl variety is used in single plantings and compositions
Geisha Girl variety is used in single plantings and compositions
Conclusion
Planting and caring for Japanese quince in the Moscow region is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. The tree needs fertile, light soil with a slightly acidic reaction. The area must be dry and sunny. If you follow the simple rules of care, from each adult bush, you can remove 2-3 kg of fruit annually in the Moscow region and other regions with a temperate climate.
Reviews about the cultivation and care of Japanese quince in the Moscow region
Galina Timofeeva, 56 years old, Odintsovo
I decided to start planting Japanese quince. I didn’t know whether the culture would take root in the latitudes of the Moscow region. I thought leaving would be difficult. The experiment was a success - it grows normally, not far from the apple tree. But it is better to plant away from trees, because it loves light. And he can't stand a transplant. For the winter, I must mulch the trunk circle. In the summer (during a drought) I water it. Care is simple, and the harvest pleases the household.
Yulia Romantsova, 39 years old, Korolev
Our Japanese quince Zabutlinskaya has been growing for several years, and we are no longer surprised, although we doubted when planting. There is nothing to be afraid of - caring for her is the same as for an apple tree. It grows like an ornamental bush, and in the fall gives the quince itself. Only the fruits are small. But if the summer was warm and sunny, then the taste is pleasant, sweetish.
