When to harvest quince?

Question

First time growing quince. The fruits are falling off the tree here in Zone 4 but they are still hard. Is this normal?

Answer 1

Well, there are a lot of answers to this, depending on the variety. Most Quince are actually hard. They are usually used when cooked, or sweetened, or used for canning and preserves. There was a variety made in the 90's called apple quince which can be eaten raw. The actual time for harvesting is quite long. Fall through spring depending on variety...
This is a good website (I'm a vegetarian and love this site) that tells the history ect...
http://www.vegparadise.com/highestperch51.html

There is also a goverment report that may be helpful to you as well http://usna.usda.gov/hb66/117quince.pdf#search=%22harvesting%20quince%22

Basically that site states harvesting is good when the fruit changes from a dark to a light green.

I think the first site has much more information, and is more interesting.

I hope this helps. I'm jealous, I wish I had a quince tree...

Answer 2

For years I've harvested quince in October. I live in the San Francisco bay area and this year I'm harvesting in September. Over the years I've made quince jelly (plain or cinnamon flavored), quince chutney and even quince candy. This year will be my first time trying quince paste which sounds yummy!!!!

Answer 3

There a couple kinds of quince. Sounds like yours are the smaller, tarter (harder) kind.

If they drop, harvest then. If the plant can manage to hang onto the fruits until a frost, harvest after frost.

They'll need sugar - but less sugar for those that manage to grow past frost.

Answer 4

I have a quince bush in front of my house. I never knew what it was until my friend who knows all about trees and plants told me what it was. She said pick the fruit in the fall...yes they are hard and depending on the variety (mine are bumpy) She took a bunch of them home and cooked them down until they were soft. She said to add sugar to taste(they are very tart) add strawberries and bake the mixture in a pie. Tastes like strawberry rhubarb pie. Yum!

Answer 5

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