Back in May I posted photos of the allotment quince tree in its final flowering and pondered on the fruit to come, the delicate scent of it when ripe and ready for the making of quince jelly and quince ‘cheese’ – the dulce de membrillo of Spain’s Iberian peninsula that is eaten with Manchego cheese. I have never made either, but this year may well be the year, that’s if I speak nicely to Phoebe, Ian and Siegfried who have taken over the care of the allotment’s small orchard where the quince tree (Cydonia oblonga) is growing.
The other day I noticed that the tree is now fruiting magnificently, doubtless a response to our heatwave, its native lands being a good deal warmer than the UK – i.e. Georgia, Armenia and Turkey. Although, according to what I have read, it is an amenable plant and will do well in cooler climates. It is drought tolerant too, so another candidate for nurturing here in the UK with our increasingly hot and rainless summers. I think I would grow it for the beauty of its blossom alone. The fruit is a bonus, even if one only wants to look at it. But no picking it yet, no matter how fat and golden it looks. That pleasure must wait till autumn’s end, after the first frosts.
Tish Farrell 
It is always the waiting that is the hardest.
Yes. And especially when you do the waiting and then forget to strike when the time is ripe.
I understand a storm is headed your way. Hope it doesn’t upset the apple cart.
Thanks for those kind thoughts. I’d better go check the weather forecast. All quiet and rather dull at the moment.
The quince fruits look like pears. I wonder whether the two fruits are related. Have a great weekend, Tish!
They do look like pears, Peter, but I don’t think they’re related. Or if so, only distantly. A great weekend to you too.
I must check ours. It is only in its second year and just had a handful of flowers so we may not be as lucky as you!
The blossom is glorious, and those fruits look pretty hefty, Tish. I shall be queuing at the jam stall at the bottom of your garden. 🙂 🙂 How’s the cold?
They are hefty fruits, much bigger than your average pear. And the cold – touch wood – seems to have retreated. I gave it so many ‘alternative’ medications in a short space of time, plus your good advice, it surrendered. Thanks for asking, dear Jo.
🙂 🙂
The quinces look most excellent.
From such dainty flowers do mighty quinces grow! 😀
That’s a good point. Such a contrast those big butch fruits.
The flower is a stunning shade of pink . . . . looking forward to the third instalment of what you do with the quinces. Hope they survive the storms.
They did – so far anyway 🙂