Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
five-year-old wood back to a side shoot can be
done at harvest.
Maintenance
Pomegranates need very little attention apart
from clearing tangled wood, a bit of branch
renewal encouraging new growth, and by
removing old fruiting wood. The major task is
to control sucker growth as described on
page 46.
Figure 6.33
Quince blossoms are bourne singly making
them both large and graceful.
Harvest
Always harvest the fruit before it splits, as the
fruit will rot rapidly. Pick when they start to
redden in late autumn and before any heavy
rain as this promotes splitting. Handle
pomegranates gently as they bruise easily
despite their firm skin. The unbroken and
unbruised fruit will store for a month or
more - some say the flavour even improves.
Fruitingwood
Quinces fruit on the current season's growth
from a fat elongated bourse functioning a
little like a spur that carries both fruit and
wood buds (see Figure 6.34).
The new growth from this structure carries
the blossom (see Figure 6.35).
Pruningtimeandmaintenance
Winter is a good time to see any crowded or
crossing growth and pruning at this time will
Quince
Cydoniaoblonga
There is nothing quite as opulent as a quince
in flower or fruit. Unlike many fruit trees their
blossoms appear singly so they are of generous
proportions (see Figure 6.33). Quinces are
self-fertile and are one of the easiest and
most low-maintenance trees to grow. They
can be trained as a fan espalier, low-
branching open vase or a pyramid or spindle
(see page 126). They are charming as an
informal tree, however, with five to six main
branches originating about 20 to 30 cm from
the ground. Shortening back the main stems
by about two-thirds for the first two years of
growth and keeping the centre clear will
provide a stable framework from which
to fruit.
1
2
1
Figure 6.34
The growth that produced the just harvested
fruit and that will produce next season's bourse (1). The
bourse from which the growth was developed (2).
