Patio Quince Trees – Growing Fruit in Pots

For a little diversity in your garden, patio quince trees really make things interesting for gardeners. Hardy and easy to maintain, quince trees may be on the unusual side but they are also highly rewarding.

Quince trees in pots are popular as ornamental features in the garden too – they produce pink flowers in May. These look much like roses and have a lovely scent to them. The leaves turn golden during the autumn and really are a treat to have on your patio.

patio Quince tree

Quince trees in containers will suit gardens with minimal space to work with. Whether you place the pot on the grass, border, or patio area, you should enjoy years of fruit produce. Quince fruit is perfect for making jam, jellies, membrillo and is nice in cakes and bakes too.

Our guide on what to do with a quince glut has lots of ideas for using up this unusual fruit. You can also easily freeze quince fruit to use up later.

You can keep quince trees at a modest size of around 1.2m. Bring a touch of the Mediterranean into your garden with these yellow fruit trees which will produce fruit from its third year onwards.


Best Patio Quince Tree Varieties

Once you have decided to try your hand at growing a quince tree in a pot, the next step is to choose the variety. Below we share the most popular quince varieties with UK patio gardeners and their key features.


Serbian Gold aka Leskovac

A greenish-yellow fruit, Serbian Gold is much the same shape as apples. As their name suggests, this variety originates from Serbia and is used in liqueurs and other dishes.

Its botanical name is Serbian Gold but you may also see it called Leskovac, Leschovach, or Leskovacz. Serbian gold is a suitable choice for a patio space.

  • Best Feature: Hardiest quince
  • When To Plant Out: All year round
  • Harvest Fruit: November
  • Best Growing Position: Sheltered with sun and partial shade

Sibleys

Ideal for making jam and adding to desserts, Sibley’s quinces are a tasty treat with a delicious flavour.

Often golden yellow with a pear or sometimes apple-shaped, Sibley’s quince has a great deal of versatility in the culinary world. These suit a container in a small area of your garden or patio.

  • Best Feature:  Highly productive variety
  • When To Plant Out: All year round
  • Harvest Fruit: November
  • Best Growing Position: Sheltered with plenty of sunshine

Growing Quince Trees in Pots – Patio Care Guide

Patio quince trees are rapidly becoming more abundant in UK gardens due to their hardy nature and productive fruiting season. Keep reading as we share our top growing tips for growing quince trees in pots.

Got more space? Did you know you can also buy dwarf quince trees? They’re suitable for growing in compact garden orchards.

What Size Pot for a Quince Tree?

When choosing a pot, the bigger the better to allow for growth – no less than 24” in diameter should be used.

  • Compost: Loam based compost
  • Watering: Regularly but not water-logged
  • Feeding: Mulch can be used or a good-quality plant feeder
  • Rootstock: Semi-dwarfing

Common Patio Quince Tree Problems

  • Quince Leaf Blight: This disease causes leaf spot which can affect the overall health of the quince tree over time. Symptoms include spots on leaves, leaves falling off prematurely and fruit may also be affected. The best way to control leaf blight is by pruning your tree and disposing of any discoloured leaves.
  • Aphids: Insects often feed on the sap from quince trees and can damage the buds and fruit. You may also notice curled leaves or perhaps a reduction in flowers. You can encourage natural predators or manually remove them.
  • Caterpillars: Troublesome for quince, caterpillars can be attracted to this fruit and the flowers. Again, by encouraging different species of wildlife you have a natural way of controlling them. Birds, in particular, rely on caterpillars to feed their young chicks until they fly the nest.

Pruning Patio Quince Trees

Pruning your patio quince tree is essential for its health and will encourage each new fruiting season to be successful. This should begin on even young trees so that you can maintain their shape and get it to its best potential.

When to Prune Patio Quince Trees

Late summer is a good time to check the condition of the branches and do any trimming. It’s also useful to prune while it’s dormant during the winter months and the bulk of the pruning should take place then.

How to Prune Patio Quince Trees

There’s no need to be daunted by the pruning task of your patio quince tree as it is quite straightforward. Pruning involves cutting back the upright leaders by approximately a third which will improve their health. Any overcrowding should also be dealt with so that the light can get through to all sections of the tree. You can also remove branches from the lower trunk and finally, keep a good shape to your potted quince tree.


FAQ’s

Can you grow quince trees in containers?

Quince trees can be grown successfully in containers and as a result, are suited to even the smallest of gardens. As long as your pot has good drainage and is in a sunny location then there’s no reason you won’t get a successful fruit season.

How tall do patio quince trees grow?

Patio quince trees can be kept at a respectable height of 1.2 which is more than manageable for the green-fingered among us. They come on semi-dwarf rootstock which makes them great for a potted garden feature.

What is the best compost for patio quince trees?

When it comes to compost, patio quince trees are quite easy to please but loam-based soil is probably best. Good drainage is essential but you can be quite flexible beyond that.

How to encourage a patio quince tree to flower?

It is important to ensure your patio quince tree is in the optimal position in your garden – if there is too much shade it may not flower. It needs plenty of sun but also some shelter from elements such as the wind. Also, be sure to time your pruning tasks so as not to interfere with the buds forming. Pest damage could prevent flowers from forming too so it’s important to regularly check the condition of your tree.

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