Quince harvest: when are quinces ready to be harvested?

The quince (Cydonia oblonga), which comes from West Asia, is a fruit with a very long tradition. Our great-grandparents still appreciated the fruit that was once very much in demand. Today it is wrongly one of the forgotten types of fruit. The fruits are real all-rounders. They can be used to conjure up tasty jellies, compotes, quince bread and many other delicacies. However, quinces are not suitable for raw consumption.

Recognize the degree of ripeness of quinces

It usually takes between four and eight years for this wood to bear fruit for the first time. But the long wait is definitely worth it. Between May and June the quince opens its beautiful flowers, up to five centimeters in size, which alone are splendid. The fruits develop from them by late autumn. When unripe, quinces are dull green.
As soon as they change from a pale yellow to an even, rich and intense yellow, they are ripe. The fine fluff on the skin has disappeared when the fruit is ripe, the skin is smooth. The kernels of ripe quinces are

dark colored. A distinctive, aromatic scent indicates that the fruit is ready to be harvested.

The best harvest time

The harvest time does not necessarily describe when Cydonia oblonga has to be harvested, but rather the time span in which the harvest is possible. Quinces are one of the last fruits of the year because they do not ripen until late autumn. The right harvest time depends on the variety, the weather and whether they should be processed further shortly after harvest or stored longer.

• Harvest begins when the fruits are close to being fully ripe
• Depending on the region, variety and climate, from the end of September to the end of October
• Harvest partially well into November
• October is the typical harvest month for the quince
• In milder regions, harvest often possible as early as the beginning of October
• For example in the Palatinate, Baden-Württemberg or in western Bavaria
• Provided the weather cooperates
• In the rest of Germany it is usually harvest time in mid or late October
• The further north the location, the longer it takes the quince to ripen
• The cold tends to slow them down
• Storable quinces neither too early nor too late or too ripe to harvest
• The best time to harvest when the color of the fruit changes from green to yellow
• In this state of maturity, it can be stored for up to three months
• If the harvest is carried out earlier, the aroma and taste cannot develop
• There is no typical quince scent if the fruit is harvested too unripe, even when it is ripening

Fruits that are to be processed directly after harvest can be left on the tree or bush for a long time remain until they are ripe and golden yellow, developing their full aroma and the typical quince scent to have. The right time for harvesting should not be missed, because if the quince is too ripe, it builds up the pectin in the fruits, the pulp becomes brown spots, taste and aroma are clear after. The last fruits should be harvested before the first prolonged frosts threaten.
Tip: If there is enough space in the garden for a second tree, it makes sense to grow both early and late-ripening varieties. This way you can harvest quinces over a longer period of time.

Harvest properly

Quinces Cydonia oblonga should be harvested and transported as gently as possible. This is the only way to avoid pressure and rot, which would cause the fruit to spoil more quickly. Ripe fruits can usually be easily twisted off the tree. at

For quinces to be stored, it is important to harvest them with stems. Fruits with bruises and windfalls should be processed as quickly as possible.

Allow to ripen during storage

At the time of harvest, most of the fruits are not yet fully ripe. If stored correctly, however, they will ripen without any problems. However, you should only allow intact fruits to ripen.

• Store harvested, intact fruits in a cool place
• For example in a basement or a frost-free shed
• The longer they ripen, the more intense the aroma
• Pay attention to ideal storage conditions
• Optimal storage temperatures between zero and two degrees
• At these temperatures, quinces can be stored for up to three months
• The higher the temperatures, the faster the fruit will spoil
• Process the fruit as soon as possible if stored in a rather warm place
• Do not store quinces in the immediate vicinity of other types of fruit
• The intense aroma of the quince, easily transferable to neighboring storage goods
• It would take on the taste of the quince
• Do not store quinces on top of each other
• Lay out side by side in well-ventilated fruit trays or similar containers
• Fruits should not touch each other if possible
• Check quinces regularly for damage or rot during storage
• Always sort out and dispose of affected fruit immediately

Tip: The refrigerator or the vegetable compartment is only suitable for short-term storage of a maximum of two weeks.