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Expertly Grown in the UK
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Happy, Healthy Plants Guaranteed
Expertly Grown in the UK
Carefully Hand Delivered

autumn-sale

'Portugal' Quince Tree

A glorious heirloom quince

Grown by John

South Downs National Park

Choose your size

2 options

Choose your size

'Geant du Portugal' Quince Tree Fruit Trees
'Geant du Portugal' Quince Tree Fruit Trees

£30

£32

In stock

Perfectly happy plants, or your money back

Specialist overnight plant delivery

The highlights

  • Tart flesh mellows brilliantly when cooked
  • A reliable cropper
  • Make a Persian quince lamb stew
  • Harvest from mid-September
  • Heirloom variety from the 17th century

Description

  • Introduced to the UK in the 17th century, 'Portugal' is an early ripening variety with high quality greenish yellow fruits. The attractive, compact tree has clusters of light pink blossoms in the spring followed by greenish silver foliage
  • Prefers milder areas of the country and will perform best if sheltered, ideally against a south facing wall
  • Harvest from mid September onwards
  • Max size H4m x W4m - Quince A Rootstock
  • Self Fertile - Pollination Group 2
  • The fruits can be stored in a cool, dry and dark place on shallow trays for up to three months. Allow the fruits to mature for six weeks before using
  • A heavy and reliable cropper
  • Our trees are professionally pruned before dispatching. This formative pruning can involve cutting the main leader, if the expert tree growers decide this will produce a better shaped tree. This can stop the tree becoming "leggy", and promote stronger, bushier growth.MORE

What To Expect

Supplied as:

Bare root
Our bare root trees are lifted fresh from the field and packed straight away. You can be sure they will be fresh when they arrive. In winter, you can store for several weeks if kept in a cool, dark spot. Later in spring, when the temperature rises, you will want to plant within a few days of arrival.
9L poly-pot
This tree is supplied in a 9L Poly-Pot, which is approx D15 x H30cm. Poly-Pots use 70% less plastic than traditional pots and can be recycled. A 9L pot allows ample space for good root development and can support a good size tree.

Height on arrival:

120-150cm
Your tree will arrive at a height between 120-150cm
120-150cm inc. pot

Eventual height:

4m
4m

Eventual spread:

4m
Spreads approx 4m
4m
Spreads approx 4m

Tasting notes:

Soft texture and mild flavour
Soft texture and mild flavour

Time to first crop:

1 Year
You may see your first quince after the first year but you should not expect to see substantial crops for another 2-3 years after that
1 Year
You may see your first quince after the first year but you should not expect to see substantial crops for another 2-3 years after that

Habit:

Bushy
Bushy

Hardiness:

Fully Hardy
Doesn't require any protection from frost
Fully Hardy
Doesn't require any protection from frost

Self fertile:

Self fertile
Doesn't require a pollination partner to produce fruit but may produce better crops if one is nearby. In most built up areas, it is unlikely there will not be a suitable tree close enough to pollinate, but in rural areas you should consider making sure there is another tree in the same pollination group within a mile.
Self fertile
Doesn't require a pollination partner to produce fruit but may produce better crops if one is nearby. In most built up areas, it is unlikely there will not be a suitable tree close enough to pollinate, but in rural areas you should consider making sure there is another tree in the same pollination group within a mile.

Pollination group:

Group 2
Group 2

Uses:

Jams, jellies, liqueur
Jams, jellies, liqueur

Rootstock:

Quince A rootstock (grows up to 4m)
Quince varieties are usually grown by grafting them to rootstocks. This has benefits for pest resistance, genetics and the efficiency of propagation. Importantly, it also limits the height of a tree to a more manageable, specific height. Quince A trees tend to only reach 4m tall. They can also be trained to a smaller size by pruning or restricting the roots by keeping in a smaller pot
Quince A rootstock (grows up to 4m)
Quince varieties are usually grown by grafting them to rootstocks. This has benefits for pest resistance, genetics and the efficiency of propagation. Importantly, it also limits the height of a tree to a more manageable, specific height. Quince A trees tend to only reach 4m tall. They can also be trained to a smaller size by pruning or restricting the roots by keeping in a smaller pot

Spacing:

4m
Plant 4m apart to allow for spreading
4m
Plant 4m apart to allow for spreading

How To Grow

Excellent pest and disease resistance

Has excellent resistance to most problems, but good pruning will increase air flow and prevent any occurrence of bacterial disease. Keep an eye out for fire blight and pear scab - these are rare but require further action.

Water in well

Water in thoroughly when planting. For bare root trees, you won't need to water regularly, only in dry spells when needed. (You should be able tell because the leaves will start to wilt and droop). If a container grown tree, it will need more watering until its roots are established. It should be watered every other day or so for the first few months, then reduce to twice a week until autumn. In the second year it should have a established enough root system to support itself, just water when required as explained above for bare roots. When watering a tree it is important to give a good soaking. It is better to water heavily and less frequently than little and often, to encourage the roots to grow deeper into the ground.

Full sun to partial shade

Growing in a sunny sheltered position will produce the best crop, but apple trees can handle a little light shade, especially in the afternoon.

Any fertile, well-drained soil

Prefers fertile well draining soil. Can also tolerate clay soil but you will need to take some steps to improve drainage, such as mixing in fine horticultural grit or perlite to the surrounding soil when planting.

No feeding required

No need to feed - apple trees get all the nutrients they need from the soil. ?v=1613300929

Planting Calendar

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  • Best time to plant
  • Harvest
  • Flower

South Downs National Park

Meet John

110 years' expertise free with every tree

John’s family have been growing trees in the South Downs National Park for over a century, and it shows. Dug up and sent straight to your garden at between 18-36 months old, their quality rootstocks, expert pruning and natural pest control mean that these traditionally field-grown trees are the hardiest you can get.

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