There are different varieties of quince, yellow and aromatic that ripen to perfection if placed in a sunny position. They can be used for many things and it is highly recommended to add it to your fruit garden since its care is quite simple and it is not prone to many problems that the most common fruit trees tend to have. Many people do not know well when are quinces picked nor what are they for.
For this reason, we are going to dedicate this article to telling you when quinces are harvested and what their most common uses are.
Some requirements
These fruits are perfect for making jelly, jam or the typical quince that the Spanish make to eat with cheese. In early spring, feed with regular potassium-rich compost. Sprinkle a handful per square foot around trees growing on bare ground and a handful and a half around trees on lawns. Then, spread a 7,5 cm thick mulch around the base.
Quinces need a long growing season to mature well, so they are best distributed in more exposed gardens or to the north, against a wall facing south or west. They bloom early, so frost should be avoided. Gardeners in warm climates or protected areas, urban or coastal You can grow your quinces as stand-alone trees, as long as they are in full sun.
They are well adapted to most soils, especially those that are relatively wet in the summer but well drained for summer. prevent water stagnation in winter. Light or shallow calcareous soils should be given plenty of organic matter before planting and then covered with a good mulch.
When are quinces harvested?
The quince is the fruit of the quince tree, a small to medium-sized tree in the Rosaceae family, and the only member of the Gardenia genus. This tree grows in cold and temperate climates and It is native to the Caucasus region in Southwest Asia. It arrived in Spain from Greece and was later exported to the United States.
It is a fleshy fruit that is bright golden yellow when ripe and green when unripe. They are harvested between the end of September and December. As the fruit ripens, it emits a strong aromatic odor and sheds the hairs that protect the fruit as it forms. When you go to harvest the quince, be careful not to hit the fruit. The fruit should be picked when dry.
When buying it, you should choose a fruit with a yellow skin and no bruises. If the quince has blemishes on the skin, it means that it is ripe and should be eaten immediately. Once harvested, quinces remain ripe for two to three months. Therefore, it is recommended to buy it green and let it mature at room temperature. One way to keep quinces ripe is to individually wrap them in paper and store them in the refrigerator. This method will mature them for about three weeks. It is a fruit that can be frozen, however, it must be peeled, washed and cut, and sprinkled with lemon juice to prevent it from turning brown.
The best time to pick quinces
Fall may see the end of summer stone fruit, but we will soon be compensated with an abundance of late harvest fruit that packs a lot of character and flavor: the quince. It's an ancient fruit rarely seen in stores, but it's making a comeback again. The old orchards are a great place to find quinces, and fall is the time to pick them. quince (Cydonia) grows on trees up to 8 meters tall and looks like a cross between a pear and an apple (they are relatives of both). They have a wonderful fragrance; in fact, quince is popular as a room deodorizer and is also used to scent linen drawers.
Quince is a frost resistant tree that requires low temperatures below 7 degrees Celsius to flower properly. The tree is self-fertile, deciduous, and its fruit must be harvested before the first frost. The season begins in early fall and the fruit changes from green to pale gold. They fall to the ground when ripe, but can also be picked from the tree and continue to ripen after picking.
Conservation
The harvest season starts from September to October, depending on the variety and the location. The average annual yield per tree is more than one fanega. Fruit will keep for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. When you put them in the fridge, wrap them in kitchen paper. Do not keep with other fruits, since its strong aroma can alter the flavor of other fruits. If the fruit is stored in a plastic bag or container in a cool place, it will last up to 1-2 months.
Native to the United States, it is gaining popularity as a complement to edible landscapes and farms. Rich in antioxidants, it's like having a medicine cabinet in the garden. They're great for juices, syrups, and teas, and they make wonderful jams with them.
Uses in the kitchen
Quince has a rough texture and tart flavor, and cannot be eaten raw. There are various preparations of this fruit due to its aroma. It is used to make the popular quince sugar, which is the product of cooking quince pulp with the same amount of sugar. This preparation has its origin in Spanish cuisine and is usually eaten with fresh cheese or dried fruit.
Another culinary use is in jams, preserves or jellies. Natural fibrous pectin from the cell walls of the quince fruit helps to thicken these preparations. without adding any other ingredients to thicken them. It is also used to accompany meat dishes, fish, salads and sweets in cakes and sweets.
A typical product is the allioli de codony, a product made from quince, perfect for the cold temperatures of the mountains. Codony alioli is usually spread on slices of bread, coca or as a condiment for meat and white fish, rossejat rice and pasta.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about when quinces are harvested and what uses they have.