Quince: The Golden Fruit

Quince trees in the winter

To the right of our peach trees lay our two rows of quince trees. All their leaves have fallen off and they look slight and bare in this chilly winter setting. In size, they are dwarfed by the full grown trees in the vicinity. However, they have been braving through the winter well.

The quince trees were planted in September of last year and have grown much taller since then. If they were considered toddlers back then, now they are wiry young adolescents full of dreams in bearing golden fruit. In the meantime, our deer friends and other wildlife took a liking in eating the leaves, so we added a wire mesh around the trees for protection.

Baby quince tree back in September

We hold high hopes for our quince trees. Once they survive the winter, we are expecting lots of growth and greenery in the spring and summer. At Orchard Hill Farm, we planted fifty quince trees of different varieties (Orange, Aromatnaya, Kuganskaya, and the Perfume Quince).

Quinces are not very well known nowadays. Throughout history, quinces were often served at banquets and luxury events for monarchs and aristocrats. In Greek mythology, quinces were referred to as the “Golden Apple” or “Golden Fruit.”  They were very popular throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. However, by the 20th century, their popularity waned.

In a few years, our quince trees will start bearing fruit. The quinces will look similar to apples and pears. However, their flesh will be extremely hard, sour, and almost impossible to eat raw. When cooked, they will be absolutely delectable. Quinces can be poached in vanilla, sugar, and wine; can be made into desserts like sorbet; and pair surprisingly well with meat dishes and cheeses.

We are also very excited about the health benefits that quinces can offer. They are a rich source of vitamin A, vitamin, C, potassium, and antioxidants. Thus, quinces are good for the immune system, cancer prevention, and help regulate cholesterol levels. Shakespeare referred to quinces as the “stomach’s comforter” because of their beneficial properties in digestive support.

Springtime will come before we know it and we hope our plants will flourish with the warmer weather. Until then, we will be caring for them the best we can.