Quince

Quince is a close cousin to apples and pears and the fruit looks like a cross between the two.
 
Also known as common quince (as opposed to flowering quince), it has a texture like Asian pears. It can be eaten raw and is commonly used to make jams and jellies. You will rarely see them in stores because they do not ship or store well. In ancient Rome, quince (Cydonia oblonga) was stored in jugs of honey and diluted wine.

Ripe yellow quince (Marco Verch) CC BY 2.0

Quince trees
 
Quince trees have a shrub-like growth that can get messy. They can grow up to 20 feet tall and 15 feet wide, but dwarf varieties are significantly smaller. You can prune them into a single trunk tree form or let them grow naturally. These are very low-maintenance trees that produce fruit for many years.
 
The large fruits are tart and firm, like an Asian pear, and can weigh more than two pounds. They ripen in late autumn and are best left on the tree until fully ripe.

Ripening quince in a tree (Shuhrataxmedov) CC BY-SA 3.0

Quince trees are deciduous, so they don’t have much to offer in winter, but they do need chilling hours to produce fruit in spring. If you grow quince in a container, you can easily move it to a secluded outdoor corner of the yard if the container has wheels. These trees produce downy gray twigs and lovely pink or white blossoms in spring.

Quince blossom (Spring's Flowers) Public Domain

How to grow quince
 
These plants prefer hot, sunny summers and slightly acidic soil. They can be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9. They are not frost tolerant but can withstand temperatures as low as -15°F. Your quince will benefit from a little wind protection, too. You can grow quince in your yard or in a container. But they generally do not grow true to seed, so you are better off investing in certified pest- and disease-free bare root stock. You may also use cuttings or layering, if you know someone who has a healthy quince tree.
 
While quince is self-pollinating, they are more productive when more than one tree is present to provide cross-pollination.
 
Quince varieties
 
There are several varieties of quince to choose from. The following are a few of the more favorites:

• ‘Champion’ has fruit that tastes a bit like lemon.
• 'Cooke’s Jumbo' grows springtime white-pink flowers and large fruit.
• 'Jumbo' bears white-fleshed fruit.
• 'Orange' grows fruit with more rounded, orange-yellow flesh.
• 'Pineapple' fruits have white flesh with a pineapple-like flavor and aroma.
• Rich’s Dwarf is a smaller tree that grows 8 to 12 feet with large fruit.
• 'Smyrna' has pink flowers and yellow fruit. 

 
Quince pests and diseases
 
Aphids, codling moths, mealybugs, leafrollers, and scale insects are common quince pests. Fungal diseases, particularly cedar-quince rust and quince leaf blight can also cause problems. You can reduce the likelihood of rust by keeping your quince away from juniper and other conifers.
 
People have been growing quince for nearly 7,000 years. If Neolithic farmers could do it, so can you.