Is this an apple or something else?

[mrhoddy]

Hello

Have this in our garden and havent been here long, we used to have a nice apple tree in the old house and hope this is one also but im not sure.

The fruit at present is very hard and also a strange shape, and is red/green colour, the inside is white and has seeds in the centre much like an apple - any ideas and is it edible?

Thanks

[Two_Sheds]

Quince.
I have one too

[mrhoddy]

Quince - you know what we said that a while ago and then was unable to id fully, well thats good - anything we can do with them and when to harvest?

Thanks

[Jeanied]

Quince jam, quince jelly, dried quince tablets - membrillo paste, quince ratafia.
Have a delve around the internet for Spanish or even Elizabethan quince recipes!

[Two_Sheds]

I've never got more than 3 fruits off mine, so I've never bothered looking up a recipe

[Nicos]

All quinces I've ever seen are yellow.
Quince jelly is all I've ever heard of for their use- oh- and apple and quince tart/pie.
Pity really I'm sure there must be so much more to do with them

[mrhoddy]

All quinces I've ever seen are yellow.
Quince jelly is all I've ever heard of for their use- oh- and apple and quince tart/pie.
Pity really I'm sure there must be so much more to do with them

Yellow - do they turn yellow when ripe then as these are red / green - are the def quince? I dont want to go eating them if their something nasty!

[Jeanied]

It is really early for them to be ripe, Mrhoddy - wait until late August/early Sept before you start to worry.

[Nicos]

I don't think they are edible in the same way as a pear or apple- I think they have to be cooked.
Tis very early for apples and pears- give them a few more weeks to see what happens- or have a rummage around on Google!

[Nicos]

Ah ha!!!..look what I found!!!...a piccie of unripe quince ( not that I'd ever doubt 2sheds!!)

Google Image Result for http://dinnerwithdaniel.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/quince.jpg

[mrhoddy]

Ah ha!!!..look what I found!!!...a piccie of unripe quince ( not that I'd ever doubt 2sheds!!)

Google Image Result for http://dinnerwithdaniel.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/quince.jpg

Now why didnt I think of searching for unripe quince rather than quince

Thanks for the help I will take a look at some recipes and let you know how we get on as we have a fair few - also hoping that the two suspected apple trees also produce some good stuff!

We're also looking to add some raised beds in the garden soon so will keep about on here - very helpful and informative, now do I use tanalised wood or what...........he he he

[Two_Sheds]

Mine is a Japanese, ornamental or flowering, quince (although all quinces flower ...?)

from Wiki: "The fruit are very hard and ...unpleasant to eat raw, though they do soften ... after frost (when they are said to be "bletted"). They are, however, suitable for making liqueurs, as well as marmalade and preserves, as they contain more pectin than apples and true quinces. The fruit also contain more vitamin C than lemons"

[SueA]

Mine's an ornamental quince too, chaenomeles, like Two Sheds's, but you can eat the fruits as well as the true quince. The fruits usually do turn yellow later in the autumn & if you pick them they will ripen & soften a bit more in a bowl but they aren't nice to eat raw at all. I've used mine to make quince jelly in the past & it was quite nice but I think you get a better colour & flavour with the tree type quinces & lots of people put them in pies with another fruit such as apples.