Medlar Growing Guide

Mespilus germanica

Medlar

Crop Rotation Group

Miscellaneous ●

Soil

Deep, fertile, well-drained soil.

Position

Full sun or partial shade.

Frost tolerant

Yes.

Feeding

Mulch with well-rotted organic matter in spring.

Companions

-

Spacing

Single Plants: 4.50m (14' 9") each way (minimum)
Rows: 4.50m (14' 9") with 4.50m (14' 9") row gap (minimum)

Sow and Plant

Prepare a large hole by breaking up the soil and adding plenty of well-rotted organic matter.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalised calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Notes

Stake trees for the first 3-4 years. Healthy medlar trees will bear for decades.

Harvesting

Can harvest in autumn before the fruits are fully ripe or else leave until they ripen if there is no danger of frost. Fruit must first be ‘bletted’ before eating raw. To do this, leave them in a cool place until they turn dark red-brown and become soft.

Troubleshooting

Medlars are naturally astringent, like persimmons. In Australia fruit fly are a pest of medlars, make sure to take appropriate control measures in areas where they are present. It is important to dispose of any infected fruit and fruit has fallen to the ground by placing them in a sealed plastic bag in the sun for at least 7 days to kill the eggs and larvae. Do not compost fruit as this will lead to the fruit fly completing their life cycle and lead to the problem recurring.

Planting and Harvesting Calendar

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Pests which Affect Medlar