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Japanese quince blooms very luxuriantly and beautifully. Sometimes buds do not form - there are different reasons for this problem and options for solving it. The fruits of the perennial are edible, but the bush may not bear them. Often the reason is the same as for the absence of flowering.
How does the Japanese quince tree grow and bloom?
Japanese quince can grow up to 3 m. The crown diameter of some varieties exceeds the height. The shrub grows slowly. In a year, the height increases by 5 cm, the width by the same amount. Chaenomeles finally grows by 5-10 years. He lives for decades, with good care up to 60-80 years.
Chaenomeles blooms profusely. The color of the petals depends on the variety. The classic option is red-pink or orange shades. The flowers can also be pink, creamy pink, or white. They reach 3.5 cm in diameter. Depending on the variety of Japanese quince, the flowers can be simple or double.
An interesting feature of Chaenomeles flowering is that it begins even before the leaves fully bloom.
When and for what year does quince bloom?
Japanese quince bushes begin to bloom in spring. The buds usually bloom in late April or early May.
How long does Japanese quince bloom?
The flowering of Japanese quince lasts 3-4 weeks. The specific timing depends on the perennial variety. The duration of flowering is higher, the smaller the number of buds on one branch and pollen. The opposite pattern also applies. This rule applies to most plants.
Why doesn't Japanese quince bloom?
When planting Japanese quince, gardeners expect annual and lush flowering from it. His absence is a big disappointment. There are many possible reasons for this problem.
The lack of flowering in Chaenomeles may be due to an incorrectly chosen planting location. The shrub loves the sun; not only does it not require shading, but it can also cause harm. Poor lighting is fraught with slower growth and development, a reduction in the number of buds, and a complete lack of flowering.
Another important aspect is the soil. Japanese quince prefers soddy-podzolic, loamy or sandy soil. The shrub requires an abundance of humus, the optimal acidity is 6-6.5 pH. If the soil is peaty or alkaline, this will have a bad effect on the development of the plant and its flowering. The risk of certain diseases increases.
Chaenomeles is a cross-pollinated plant, so it needs neighbors of other varieties. Their absence has a bad effect not only on fruiting, but also on pollination. It is optimal to plant perennials in small groups of 3-4 bushes.
The reason for the absence or deterioration of flowering of Japanese quince may lie in improper care for it. One of the mistakes is over-watering the bush. Frequent or excessively abundant watering can cause rotting of the root system.This will have a bad effect on the entire plant, including its flowering.
The duration of flowering of Chaenomeles is due to the fact that the buds do not bloom at the same time
Another possible mistake when caring for quince is the abuse of nitrogen fertilizers. Fertilizing is carried out in the spring. If you choose the wrong dosage, all the plant’s energy will be spent on the formation of green mass, and flowering will suffer.
The flowering of Japanese quince is negatively affected by the lack of weeding and thickening of plantings. The abundance of weeds and other crops nearby can inhibit the growth and development of shrubs. If there are tall trees nearby, they can shade the quince, and sunlight is important for it.
Another maintenance mistake is failure to loosen. This measure is very important for proper gas exchange. Without it, the roots will not receive enough oxygen, which will have a bad effect on the entire plant. If the soil has a heavy mechanical composition, a hard crust forms on the surface. Because of this, moisture begins to evaporate quickly, and the plant experiences a deficiency.
Problems with Chaenomeles flowering can occur due to improper pruning. Maximum buds are formed on shoots 3-4 years old. You need to leave branches of different ages; from the age of five, cut off old specimens. Be sure to get rid of diseased, dried out, damaged branches. If you ignore pruning, flowering will decline. Gradually, the buds will stop forming completely.
The reason for the poor flowering of Japanese quince or its absence may lie in excessive deepening of the root collar during planting. Because of this, the bark gradually rots, signs of depletion of the bush appear, but fertilizing does not help.In addition to growth inhibition, the problem can be identified by small and pale foliage and its early shedding. Deepening of the root collar can occur not only during planting, but also for other reasons:
- raising the level of the site;
- soil subsidence;
- subsequent planting of the lawn;
- abundant mulching and hilling.
Chaenomeles and other bushes must form a trunk circle; it must be free from lawn, stones and other elements
What to do if quince does not bloom
In most cases, the problem of lack of flowering in Chaenomeles can be solved. You should start by finding out the cause of the trouble. To ensure that the quince tree blooms like in the photo, you can take the following measures:
- Thin out the plantings.
- Organize proper care - regular and moderate watering, systematic weeding, loosening.
- Properly prune the bush. Recovery may take 2-3 years.
- Plant 2-3 bushes of a different variety nearby for cross-pollination.
- Provide protection from the north wind.
- Remove shading.
- Normalize soil acidity. It can be reduced by liming and increased by adding peat, compost or manure.
- Reduce nitrogen content in the soil. One method is abundant watering. When there is excess moisture, the availability of nitrogen is limited and mineralization is slowed down. Another option is to use elements involved in the processing and transformation of nitrogen. These are molybdenum, magnesium, copper.
- Graft Chaenomeles onto a tree. You can use pear; according to reviews, flowering improves in both crops.
Chaenomeles should be mulched - this way moisture is retained and the soil remains loose longer
Why does quince bloom but not bear fruit?
Chaenomeles fruiting usually begins 1-2 years after flowering. The timing depends on the origin of the shrub. When planted with seeds, the perennial begins to bear fruit by the age of 4-5. In the case of grafting by cuttings, the process starts already at 2-3 years of age.
If Japanese quince blooms but does not bear fruit, the reason may lie in the absence of neighbors for cross-pollination. This rule applies to most varieties. The problem is solved by planting 2-3 bushes. The fruits will appear in 2-3 years.
An important point for chaenomeles is pruning. During this process, you need to take into account that the shoots that bear fruit are predominantly at the age of 3-4 years. They should make up the majority of the branches after pruning. Shoots of other ages are also important; only excess specimens and those older than 5-6 years should be removed.
Chaenomeles are usually planted due to their high decorative value due to flowering. Over the years of shrub cultivation, many varieties have appeared, including hybrid ones. Some of them are sterile, that is, they do not bear fruit. Be sure to clarify this point at the time of purchase so as not to be disappointed later.
Often the lack of fruiting in quince is due to improper care. This applies not only to pruning, but also to watering, fertilizing, loosening, and weeding.
The reason for the lack of fruiting may be the wrong place for planting. Little light, north wind, heavy or poor soil - all this has a detrimental effect on the bush.
Chaenomeles comes from warm countries, so it can suffer from frost.The buds are leaf and fruit, differentiation occurs in October-November and March-May. Outwardly they are the same. Bud development begins in the fall. They are very delicate and easily damaged; frost can destroy them.
Conclusion
Japanese quince usually blooms and bears fruit from the age of 3-4 years. Both processes may not begin or may stop over time for a number of reasons, most often due to an incorrectly chosen planting site or failure to comply with basic care rules. In most cases, the situation can be corrected. Recovery sometimes takes several years, but for a long-lived bush this is normal.
