Medlar, German Medlar

Where does Medlar grow?

Found in: Africa, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Brazil, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Caucasus, Central Asia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Europe, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mexico, Middle East, Netherlands, North Africa, North America, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, South America, Spain, Switzerland, Syria, Tasmania, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United States

Notes: There is only one Mespilus species. (Mespilus canescens occurs in Akansas in North America.)

Status: It is a cultivated food plant.

Growing Medlar, German Medlar

Cultivation: Plants can be grown from seed. The seed need to be stratified and are slow to germinate. They can take two years to germinate. Seedling trees also often revert to poorer smaller fruits. Plants are usually grown by grafting onto rootstock of hawthorn.

Edible Uses: The flesh of the fruit is eaten once it is very ripe. Normally it is eaten after frost. The newly ripened fruit can be made into jelly. They are used to make a juice drink. Ripe fruit can be baked or made into jams and jellies.

Production: Trees fruit after 3-5 years. Fruit are produced in winter. Fruit need to be very ripe before being edible. Sometimes this is achieved by waiting till frosts occur or putting them on hay in a well ventilated place to soften.

Nutrition Info

References

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