The medlar is a fruit tree that has long been forgotten but deserves to be rediscovered!
Not to be confused with the Japanese medlar
In summary, what you need to know:
Last name : Mespilus germanica
Family : Rosaceae
Type : Tree fruit tree
Height : 4 to 6 m
Exposure : Sunny
Ground : Rather rich, well drained
Foliage : Expired -Flowering : Spring - Harvest : Fall
Put a medlar tree in your garden, and you will see the curiosity it ignites around you.
Like most fruit trees, planting medlar is done in autumn. This is to promote rooting before winter and obtain better recovery in the spring.
But for subjects purchased in containers, it is also possible to plant in spring as long as you increase the watering at the start.
- Medlar likes rather sunny situations, at the risk of not producing medlar.
- It is a tree that adapts to most soils, provided it is well-drained and not too heavy.
- A mixture of planting soil and garden soil is ideal for planting a medlar.
- Regular watering during the 1st year after planting is recommended.
- Follow our planting tips
The medlar has no need to be trimmed to grow well and produce beautiful medlars.
But you can still prune the medlar throughout its life, to keep it at the size you choose and can therefore fit very evenly into your entire garden.
Good pruning every 5 to 8 years better than a regular size.
- The best pruning period is winter but outside the frost period.
- Remove dead or diseased branches as you go.
- Prune fragile branches if necessary.
- Remove any branches that are growing inwards and balance the branches.
To know about the medlar and the medlars
This original tree is found mainly in Belgium, Germany and in the north of France.
It is indeed a fruit tree that adapts well to harsh climates and knows only one species.
His deciduous foliage is very rich and its fruits appear from May. They collect at the first frosts, when the fruit begins to turn overripe.
Do not confuse the German medlar of Japanese medlar. The second fruit only in a region with a mild climate in winter and has evergreen foliage.
How to taste medlars?
It is best to collect them before the birds have pecked them and taste them in the garden.
The fruit is then picked up by pressing it between the thumb, index and middle fingers.
The fruit bursts and its apparently uninspiring flesh will surprise you with both its sweetness and its unexpected taste.
Our bird friends, on the other hand, are not mistaken and they will quickly spot it.
Medlars are used to make pies, clafoutis, jelly, liqueur or even medlar wine.
In addition to fire blight, which can ravage the medlar in a very short time and which leaves no room for treatment, there are more common diseases such as moniliosis, or medlar rot, and powdery mildew.
- Moniliosis:medlar rot on the medlar.
- Powdery mildew:white felting on the leaves or brown spots on the loquats.
- Regular treatment at Bordeaux mixture helps prevent these fungi.
In summer, we can have attacks of aphids and of mealybugs, as on most fruit trees.
When harvesting, wait until the fruit is fully ripe on the tree because once detached it will no longer develop.
- The fruits are fragile and deserve to be handled with care.