GrowSabzHow to grow quince in pots
Also called beh, safarjal, coing · Cydonia oblonga
بہی
- ☀️ Sunlight
- 6–8hours daily
- 💧 Water
- 11.3 Levery 5 days, 50 L pot
- 🌡️ Ideal temp
- 15–28°C
- 🪴 Min pot
- 50 L45 cm deep
- 🧺 Harvest
- 150–180days from sowing
Quince is a long game. From seed it takes 3-5 years (from grafted tree), 5-10 years (from seed) before you see a harvest, which is why most growers start from a nursery plant. Container growing is entirely possible, but the container has to be sized for a plant that will live in it for years.
Short answer
Grow quince in a 50 litre container at least 45 cm deep, watering about 1500 ml per 10 litres of soil every 5 days, and keep temperatures between 15 and 28 °C. First harvest comes 150–180 days after sowing.
Where to plant it
What size pot does quince need?
50 litres and 45 cm deep is the realistic minimum for a single plant. Pick a container below to see what changes.
| Container | Minimum size | Depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pot | 50 L | 45 cm | Use large pots with excellent drainage, especially for dwarf varieties. |
| Grow bag | 50 L | 45 cm | Fabric grow bags provide good aeration and drainage for container-grown quince. |
| Open ground | — | 60 cm | Ensure well-drained soil and adequate spacing for mature tree growth. |
| Raised bed | 100 L | 60 cm | Raised beds allow for better soil control and drainage, beneficial for quince. |
Watering
How often should you water quince?
Every 5 days through the growing season, at about 1500 ml per 10 litres of soil — every 2 days in hot weather, every 7 days when it turns cool. Water in the early morning. Drip irrigation or slow deep watering works best.
Too little water
- wilting leaves
- leaf scorch
- fruit drop
- stunted growth
Too much water
- yellowing leaves
- root rot
- stunted growth
Avoid: shallow frequent watering; waterlogging; overhead watering (can promote disease).
Climate
Can you grow quince where you live?
No hardiness zone needed — compare your actual temperatures against the plant's own limits.
| Ideal range | 15 – 28 °C |
|---|---|
| Survives | -20 – 38 °C |
| Germinates above | 12 °C — best at 20 °C, about 45 days |
| Flowers drop | above 32 °C, or below -2 °C |
| Sunlight | 6–12 hrs/day, best 8 |
| Frost | Medium sensitivity |
The flower-drop thresholds matter more than the survival ones. A plant can be perfectly alive at 38 °C and still give you nothing.
How cold is too cold for quince? Check your temperaturesEnter your night low and day high — see if it survives, and if it will cropTimeline
Quince growing stages, day by day
Click any stage to see what's happening. Durations shift with temperature — a warm season runs roughly a quarter faster than a cool one.
Feeding
Fertiliser schedule for quince
Feed on the interval below, changing what you give as the plant shifts from making leaves to making fruit.
| Stage | What to use | Per 10 L | Every |
|---|
How to prepare each feed
Common mistakes
Why quince fails, and how to avoid it
- A container that is too small
Below 50 litres the root run is too shallow. The plant grows, flowers late, and drops whatever it sets because it cannot support the crop.
- Watering too lightly
A daily splash wets the top few centimetres and nothing else. Quince wants about 1500 ml per 10 litres of soil — one deep soak beats three shallow ones.
- Ignoring the flower-drop threshold
Above 32 °C, or below -2 °C, flowers fall before setting. The plant can look perfectly healthy and still give you nothing — shade it through the hottest hours.
- Harvesting too late
Left too long the colour changes, seeds harden and the flavour sharpens. Pick on the signs listed below, not on the calendar.
- Planting it beside Walnut
Walnut trees release juglone, a chemical toxic to many plants, including quince, which can cause stunted growth or death.
Companions
What to plant with quince
Good neighbours
Acts as a dynamic accumulator, drawing up nutrients from deep in the soil and making them available to quince. Also provides excellent mulch.
Acts as a trap crop for aphids, drawing them away from quince trees. Also deters other pests and attracts beneficial insects.
Roots release chemicals that deter nematodes, which can damage quince roots. Attracts pollinators and beneficial insects.
Emits a strong scent that can deter common fruit tree pests like aphids and apple scab.
Fix nitrogen in the soil, improving soil fertility for quince trees. Examples include clover or vetch as ground cover.
Keep apart from
Walnut trees release juglone, a chemical toxic to many plants, including quince, which can cause stunted growth or death.
While related, planting apples too close to quince can increase the risk of shared diseases like fire blight and codling moth infestations.
Similar to apples, pears are susceptible to many of the same pests and diseases as quince, especially fire blight, making them poor companions.
Raspberries can harbor diseases like verticillium wilt, which can spread to quince trees and cause significant damage.
Problems
Quince pests and diseases
Each lists the weather that brings it on, so you know when to start checking rather than reacting once it's established.
Fire Blight humidity >70% · temp 18-29
Causes blossoms, shoots, and branches to blacken and shrivel as if scorched by fire. Can spread rapidly and be fatal to the tree.
Codling Moth humidity any · temp >15
Larvae bore into developing quince fruits, causing internal damage and making them inedible. Look for small entry holes and frass.
Quince Curculio humidity any · temp any
Small beetles that lay eggs in developing fruit, causing dimples and deformities on the fruit surface. Larvae feed inside the fruit.
Aphids humidity any · temp 15-25
Cluster on new growth and undersides of leaves, sucking sap and causing distorted leaves and stunted growth. May excrete sticky honeydew.
Powdery Mildew humidity 50-70% · temp 20-27
White, powdery patches on leaves, shoots, and sometimes fruit. Can stunt growth and reduce fruit quality.
Leaf Spot humidity >80% · temp 18-25
Various fungal diseases cause dark spots on leaves, often leading to premature defoliation and weakened trees.
Brown Rot humidity >85% · temp 20-28
Causes blossoms to blight and fruit to rot, often with fuzzy brown spores. Spreads quickly in wet, warm conditions.
Chlorosis humidity any · temp any
Leaves turn yellow, especially between the veins, while veins remain green. Often due to iron deficiency in alkaline soils or poor drainage.
Harvest
When to harvest quince
First picking falls between day 150 and day 180.
How to tell it's ready
- Golden yellow skin
- Strong aromatic fragrance
- Slightly soft to the touch
How much to expect
Storing it: Store in a cool, dark place for several weeks, or refrigerate for up to 2-3 months. Do not wash until ready to use.
Questions
Quince: common questions
How long does quince take to grow?
About 100 days from sowing to the first harvest, with picking usually starting between day 150 and day 180. Warm weather pulls that forward; cool weather pushes it back.
What size pot does quince need?
At least 50 litres and 45 cm deep for one plant. A raised bed wants 100 litres of soil and 60 cm of depth.
How often should I water quince?
About 1500 ml per 10 litres of soil, every 5 days in normal weather — every 2 days when it is hot and every 7 days when cool. Water in the early morning.
What temperature does quince need?
It does best between 15 °C and 28 °C and survives from -20 °C to 38 °C. Seed needs soil above 12 °C to germinate, ideally around 20 °C.
Can I grow quince in winter?
It tolerates cold better than most, down to about -20 °C, so a sheltered spot or a cold frame will often carry it through.
How do I know when quince is ready to harvest?
Golden yellow skin; Strong aromatic fragrance; Slightly soft to the touch. Once picked: store in a cool, dark place for several weeks, or refrigerate for up to 2-3 months. do not wash until ready to use.