Quince 'Serbian Gold'

Where to Plant
Choose a warm, sheltered position in full sun where the fruits can enjoy plenty of warmth as they develop and ripen. Plant in fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil and avoid sites that become waterlogged.

Planting Your Bare-Root Tree
Plant while the tree is dormant, avoiding periods when the ground is frozen or waterlogged. Unpack promptly and soak the roots in a bucket of water for around 30 minutes before planting. Dig a hole wide enough for the roots to spread naturally without bending or crowding them.

Position the tree at the same depth it was previously growing, keeping the graft union above soil level. Spread the roots naturally, backfill with soil, gently firm and water thoroughly. Stake the tree if needed to keep it secure while the roots establish.

Watering & Feeding
Water regularly during the first growing season and during prolonged dry spells. Consistent moisture is particularly important while the fruits are developing. Feed in spring with a suitable fruit tree fertiliser and mulch around the base with well-rotted compost or organic matter, keeping the mulch clear of the trunk.

Pruning
Quinces need relatively little pruning once established. During the dormant season, remove dead, damaged, crossing or badly positioned branches and aim to maintain an open, well-balanced framework.

Quince Leaf Blight
Quince leaf blight can cause spotting on the leaves and fruit and may lead to early leaf fall. ‘Serbian Gold’ has good resistance to the disease, making this one less thing to worry about when choosing a quince for the garden.

Do I Need Another Quince Tree?
No. ‘Serbian Gold’ is self-fertile, so a single tree can produce a crop without another quince variety nearby.

Flowering Group 2
‘Serbian Gold’ belongs to Flowering Group 2. You don't need a pollination partner, but if you're growing other quince varieties, those with an overlapping flowering period can cross-pollinate with it.

Spring Blossom
Pink-flushed flowers appear in spring before the fruits begin to develop. Bees and other pollinating insects visiting the blossom help with fruit set.

When Will It Fruit?
Allow approximately 2–4 years from planting for your young tree to establish and begin producing worthwhile crops. Harvests should increase as the tree matures and settles into its growing position.

Top Tip:
Give your quince a warm, sunny and sheltered position. Plenty of warmth through summer will help the aromatic fruits develop and ripen well in autumn.

When to Harvest
‘Serbian Gold’ is an early-ripening quince, with fruits generally ready from late September into October. Exact timing will vary slightly depending on the season and your location.

How to Tell When Quinces Are Ready
Wait for the fruits to change from green to a rich golden yellow and become noticeably aromatic. Aim to harvest before severe autumn frosts, which can damage the fruit.

How to Pick
Handle ripe quinces carefully to avoid bruising. Cup each fruit in your hand and gently lift and twist it away from the branch rather than pulling.

Storing Your Harvest
Sound, undamaged quinces can be stored after picking. Keep them somewhere cool and dry and check them regularly, removing any fruit that begins to deteriorate.

Top Tip:
Quinces have a wonderfully powerful perfume, but that aroma can transfer to other stored fruit. Keep them separately from apples and pears if you don't want them picking up the scent.

Made for Cooking
Fresh quinces are firm and sharp, but cooking transforms them. The flesh softens, its aromatic flavour develops and the pale fruit gradually takes on a beautiful rosy colour.

Jellies & Preserves
‘Serbian Gold’ is excellent for traditional quince jelly, jams and preserves, with the aromatic fruit giving them a distinctive fragrance and flavour.

Quince Cheese
Cook the fruit down to make membrillo, or quince cheese – a thick, intensely flavoured quince paste that's traditionally served with cheese.

With Apples
Add quince to stewed apples, crumbles and pies. You don't need much to bring its distinctive fragrance and flavour to familiar autumn puddings.

Top Tip:
Don't be put off by how hard the fruit feels when freshly picked. Quince comes into its own with slow cooking, when the flesh softens and develops its characteristic deeper colour and flavour.

Bare-Root Trees
Your tree is supplied bare root while dormant, without a pot or compost around its roots. It will usually arrive with a woody stem and branches but little or no foliage. This is completely normal and fresh growth will begin as the tree comes out of dormancy in spring.

On Arrival
Unpack your tree promptly and don't allow the roots to dry out. If you can't plant immediately, keep the roots moist and the tree somewhere cool and sheltered until you're ready to plant.

Grafted Fruit Trees
Quince ‘Serbian Gold’ is grafted, combining the fruiting variety with a rootstock that helps determine how strongly the tree grows. You'll usually be able to see the graft union towards the base of the stem. Keep this above soil level when planting.

Quince A Rootstock
‘Serbian Gold’ is grafted onto Quince A rootstock, producing a manageable, medium-sized fruit tree. Its eventual size will vary according to growing conditions and how the tree is pruned.

What to Expect After Planting
Your young tree won't look like a mature fruit tree straight away. During its first few years it will establish its roots and develop its framework of branches, with cropping increasing as the tree matures.