Synonyms: mushmulja, beskole, bestula, masinjaca, nespa
English: medlar
Botanical name: Mespilus Germanica
Flowering period: Late spring
Habitus: 6×8 m
Light: full sun to slightly shaded place
Cultivation Difficulty: Easy
Medlar can be classified as a so-called organic fruit. Problems with diseases and pests will almost never occur in production. Everything looks beautiful in the flowering period, and the fruits are edible, although not to everyone’s taste.
Cultivation and planting of medlar
After planting medlar, growing medlar does not require much effort during the year. If you plant more than one plant, leave at least 6-8 meters of distance from one to another. It is also advisable to place a stake next to the plant for the first three years to ensure that you get a real tree. The selection of varieties is not large, but we recommend the varieties: Domestic medlar and Royal.
Irrigation and fertilization of medlar
Fertilize every year around the perimeter of the crown during the winter, i.e. in the spring. In long dry periods, provide enough water for the normal functioning of the plant.
Pruning Medlar
Medlar requires annual winter pruning:
– in the first three to four years, shorten the strongest, vertically growing branches (water pipes) by 1/3 of the growth from the previous year
– completely remove all the branches that go towards the center of the crown or that are growing
– do not cut branches shorter than 23 cm unless they are badly placed- after the fourth year, cut lightly and try to leave the center of the crown well lit.
Be sure to remove broken and damaged branches. Medlar does not respond well to heavy pruning.
The most common diseases and pests of medlar
As we have already said, with fly ash you will almost never have problems with diseases and pests.
Harvesting and storing medlar
Medlars ripen from the second half of October until December. Only when they rot in storage or are caught by frost while they are still on the tree do they become edible and lose their astringent taste. If you store them in the pantry, they should not touch each other and the cup of the fruit should be facing down.