Lemony Quince Seeds

Lemon Flavored Fruit-Super Tart-High in Pectin

Almost all quinces produce fruit of some sort. Many of them are hard and bland. Not lemony! Like a lemon is an understatement. The tartness is combined with a bit of an apple bouquet tied to the ascorbic tartness. I was fortunate to grow this strain which came originally from an Iowa nurseryman whose main interest was ornamental plants. I grew out the plants hoping to find fruitful versions of them with the flowers somewhat secondary. This worked as there was much variation. 

The quince seedlings we grew from this species have both red and salmon colored flowers. The yellow and green fruits ranged from round to pear shaped and are incredibly tart. The fruits of Lemony taste a lot like a lemon. In fact it is difficult to tell them apart. For a while I use to make lemony quince syrup and take it to farm shows. People were surprised at the similarity.  Although very tart, the fruit is completely delicious and usable stewed and mixed with sugar. It ripens completely here in southern Michigan. The plants themselves are loaded with blossoms in early May. Most seedlings produce the red flower. After 25 years they stand only 2-4 ft. tall with equal width. Highly productive. Other animals will eat the fruit but only after it has frozen several times in December and January. 

To Germinate the Seeds: Treat like apple using a cold moist stratification from 38F to 42F for 90 plus days. Some seeds may sprout within 60 days. These can then be potted up. Or plant outside in the fall covering the seeds with a half inch of soil or sand. Water in to pack the soil around the seeds. Seeds will normally sprout the first year although some portion may sprout the second year. 

"Lemony"  This particular selection has the more pronounced but balanced flavor with less ascorbic after taste. Plants are super productive. Grown from cutting Lemony can be also grafted onto a larger rootstock but ultimately you want it on its own roots as it spreads a little bit by short stolons and sprouts like crazy near the base of the plant. Lemony cuttings can be requested with the seeds when they go up  for sale in the fall after processing the seeds.

Lemony is a selection based entirely on fruit production but the beautiful red flowers are amazing to see in the early spring. This selection is one of the first on the market to replicate a lemon flavor and could potentially offer a means to create lemon drinks without a lemon. As I often say jokingly, "Mention this to someone in agriculture, and its like talking about time travel using a toaster."  Lemons only come from lemons I hear them say.