Smyrna

Description

Quince 'Smyrna' (Cydonia oblonga) is a celebrated Turkish selection prized for the sheer size and quality of its fruit — very large, furrowed, pear-shaped quinces in glowing golden-yellow, among the biggest of any quince grown in New Zealand. The light-yellow flesh is mild, tender and of excellent quality, less astringent than many cultivars, and the fruit keeps very well in cool storage. Harvest runs from March into May, and the crop is wonderfully versatile: slow-cooked for desserts, made into jewel-like jams, jellies and preserves, or pressed for quince cider. The tree itself is moderately vigorous with strikingly large leaves, fruits at a young age, and is fully self-fertile, so a single tree crops well in a sunny, sheltered position. As with all quinces, prune only lightly since flowers form on new season's growth, keep up water while fruit is sizing, and expect a reliable autumn harvest year after year across most NZ regions.