German medlar: planting, care, benefits and harms, as is, varieties

German medlar is a heat-loving fruit tree adapted to the climatic conditions of Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Transcaucasia. Several varieties have been developed, including those with high winter hardiness (up to -30 degrees). These varieties can be cultivated even in the climatic conditions of the Moscow region and other regions of the middle zone.

Description of the German medlar with photo

German medlar (Mespilus germanica) is a fruit tree belonging to the Rosaceae family. Several common names for the plant are:

• winter pear (fruits ripen in the second half of autumn);
• abratse (in Abkhazia);
• cones (in the North Caucasus);
• zykyr (in Armenia);
• ezgil (in Azerbaijan).

It is a deciduous tree of medium height. In warm climates (frost-free winters), German medlar reaches 7–8 m, but in the temperate zone it grows to 3–4 m.The crown is spreading, the trunk is straight, reaches 20 cm in diameter. The bark is gray-brown in color, the shoots are curved, covered with numerous small spines. The plant does not differ in species diversity. There are only 2 varieties of German medlar: large-fruited and multi-seeded.

The leaves of the German medlar are oval-shaped and light green in color. They are quite large in size: up to 15 cm in length, up to 4 cm in width. The surface is smooth, but slight pubescence is noticeable on the underside. By autumn, the leaves turn bright red and then fall off.

The flowers of the German medlar are white and pale pink, up to 3 cm in diameter. In appearance they resemble quince inflorescences. Appear from May to June.

Fruits form from mid-October to late November

They are small in size (3 cm in diameter), red-brown in color, and have unfolded sepals.

Despite its name, German medlar grows naturally in Northern Iran, Iraq, and Turkey. The culture is also widespread in Transcaucasia, Bulgaria and Greece. In Russia it is found only in the southern regions - from Crimea and the Krasnodar Territory to the North Caucasus. Subject to careful care and shelter for the winter, cultivation is possible in the Moscow region and other regions of the middle zone. Cultivation in other areas is problematic due to the heat-loving nature of the German medlar.

Beneficial properties of German medlar

The chemical composition of the fruit contains many minerals and other useful compounds:

• organic acids;
• vitamins A, C, group B (B₁, IN₂, IN₃, IN₆, IN₉);
• iron, iodine, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, sodium, selenium;
• tannins;
• phytoncides.

The fruits of the German medlar are prescribed for the treatment and prevention of certain diseases.Regular consumption has a positive effect on the human body:

• improves the functioning of the digestive system;
• reduces pain due to kidney stones;
• strengthens the immune system;
• normalizes blood pressure;
• increases blood clotting;
• restores tissue;
• prevents the formation of blood clots;
• prevents premature aging;
• strengthens nails, hair and bones;
• reduces the risk of developing cancer, strokes and heart attacks.

How to use German medlar

The fruits of the German medlar have a hard texture and sour taste due to their high acid content. Therefore, they are not consumed immediately after collection. First you need to freeze the fruit in a convenient way:

• leave to overwinter on branches and pick in early spring;
• collect before frost and place in the freezer for several days;
• Place for long-term storage in a refrigerator or cellar.

Due to cold treatment, the fruits of the German medlar soften and become noticeably sweet. At the same time, they dry out a little - become covered with wrinkles and lose volume. The taste of ready-to-eat fruits is reminiscent of baked apples.

German medlar is prohibited for allergy sufferers, diabetics and people with digestive problems

The harvest can be used fresh, but is more often used for preparing dishes and drinks:

• jam;
• mousse cake;
• wine and liquor;
• sauce for meat dishes;
• sweet salad with other fruits;
• sherbet.

Contraindications and harm of German medlar

German medlar is safe to eat. But in some cases it gives allergic reactions, provokes diarrhea, heartburn and other unpleasant phenomena. Fruits should not be consumed:

• for allergy sufferers;
• persons with gastritis, ulcers, pancreatitis;
• patients with diabetes;
• children up to three years old inclusive.

How to grow German medlar

German medlar can be grown both in the southern regions and in central Russia. The plant is not very demanding, but it needs some care (watering, fertilizing, protection for the winter), especially in the first years of life.

Planting German medlar

The planting of German medlar seeds is planned for early March. The growing instructions are as follows:

1. Several seeds are selected and placed overnight in a solution of a growth stimulator (Kornevin, Epin).
2. Prepare a soil mixture in advance from turf soil, humus, black peat and sand in equal quantities.
3. Treat it with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Can be placed in the freezer for several days.
4. Planting containers are also washed with potassium permanganate. Soil is placed in them.
5. Seeds are planted to a depth of 1 cm with a distance of 5–7 cm from each other.
6. Moisten with settled water (you can use a spray bottle).
7. Place on a windowsill, cover with a film with holes and grow at room conditions, periodically ventilating and watering.
8. After 1.5 months (i.e. closer to May) shoots will appear.
9. After two pairs of leaves appear, German medlar seedlings dive.

They are transplanted into open ground in early autumn or late spring, leaving them to overwinter at home. The planting area must be completely open and dry (not in a lowland). Planting in partial shade is allowed: the plant does not like direct sunlight during hot periods. The optimal soil type is fertile, light loam. 1–2 months before planting, add compost or humus to the soil (one bucket per 1–2 m²), and if the soil is clayey, add 1 kg of sawdust or sand to the same area.

Holes for planting German medlar are dug at a distance of 4–5 m, their depth should be small (the root collar is flush with the surface)

The plants are immediately watered, and stakes are installed and the stems are tied up.

How to care

When growing German medlar, it is recommended to follow the following rules:

1. The plant needs regular watering, so water should be given weekly, and twice as often during drought. It is advisable to leave it for 10–12 hours. Water for irrigation should not be cold.
2. Fertilizers are applied starting from the second season. In April, give urea (20 g per tree) or ammonium nitrate (15 g per hole). In summer, organic matter is added 3-4 times. Use mullein, an infusion of green grass or citrus fruit food, diluted 2 times.
3. The soil is periodically loosened and weeds are regularly removed.
4. In winter, the tree trunk circle is mulched with fallen leaves, pine needles, sawdust, straw, and peat. It is advisable to cover young seedlings with agrofibre.

Every fall, the German medlar needs to be pruned and prepared for winter.

Features of growing German medlar in the Moscow region

Cultivated varieties are characterized by increased winter hardiness: they can withstand frosts down to -30 °C, which makes it possible to grow trees in the climatic conditions of the Moscow region. But it is worth considering several features:

1. When growing seedlings, they are kept at home for at least one year, i.e. until next spring.
2. Transplantation into the ground is carried out only at the end of May, when there is no threat of return frosts.
3. It is preferable to grow German medlar cuttings in greenhouses or under jars, and for the winter, transplant them into a pot and move them to a cool room.
4. Every spring and autumn, pruning is carried out: old, diseased branches are removed, skeletal shoots are shortened by half, and in the next two years - by a quarter. The crown is thinned out periodically.
5. For the winter, young seedlings are carefully mulched; you can also wrap them in thick agrofibre or other material.

Reproduction methods

German medlar can be propagated in several ways:

• seeds;
• cuttings;
• layering;
• vaccination.

The seeds have good germination, so this method is considered the most reliable. They are planted in March and grown in seedlings for at least six months (until autumn) or a year (before transplanting next spring).

The seeds of the plant are often used for propagation

Adult medlar trees can be propagated by cuttings. To do this, in May, healthy shoots are cut off and cuttings 15–20 cm long are obtained from them. The leaves are shortened by half. Planted in moist, fertile soil to a depth of 5 cm (strictly vertically). Cover with a bottle, transfer to a cool room for the winter, and return to open ground the next year.

It is even easier to propagate German medlar using layering. To do this, in September you need to bend down several lower branches, place them in pre-dug grooves and pin them with staples. First, several cuts are made on the branches. The grooves are filled with soil and watered with Kornevin. The cuttings are grown for two years, after which all rooted parts are cut off and transplanted to a permanent place. It is better to do this also in the fall.

German medlar is grafted onto hawthorn, quince, plum, apple or pear trees. To do this, two methods are used - in the split and behind the bark. German medlar itself is sometimes used as a rootstock. Pears are grafted onto it.

Protection from diseases and pests

German medlar has good immunity to common diseases and pests. But sometimes it is affected by certain types of rot, which is especially often observed against the background of excess moisture. Therefore, watering needs to be regulated, paying attention to the weather forecast and possible precipitation.

For prevention in spring and autumn, it is recommended to treat German medlar with any fungicide:

• Bordeaux mixture;
• "HOM";
• "Maksim";
• "Horus"
• "Fundazol".

You can fight insects with folk remedies: infusion of tobacco dust, wood ash with soap, onion peels, decoction of potato tops. In the event of a pest invasion, insecticides will be more effective:

• "Biotlin";
• "Aktara";
• "Fufanon";
• "Vertimek";
• "Match".

Varieties of German medlar for growing in the country

Several common varieties are suitable for cultivation in a summer cottage:

• Sweet Dracheva;
  
• Sochi;
  
• Goytkhovskaya;
  
• Khvamli;
  
• Sentesi Rozsa;
  
• Karadagskaya.
  

All these varieties are large-fruited: the fruit reaches a diameter of 5 cm. Among seedless varieties, Apirena and Gromadnaya Evreinova are popular. The latter is distinguished by very large fruits, the diameter of which reaches 7–8 cm.

There are other interesting varieties of German medlar, for example, Dutch, which is a large shrub with straight trunks. Summer residents grow Royal, as well as Nottingham.These varieties bear small fruits, but they have excellent taste and a pronounced fruity aroma.

Collection and storage

In autumn the fruits turn red, with a brownish tint. They can be left to overwinter on the branches or removed immediately and sent to the cellar or refrigerator for long-term storage (temperature 2–6 degrees Celsius, humidity no more than 70%). If you need to use it immediately, you should put it in the freezer for a few days. The fruits can be eaten only after freezing.

German medlar fruits ripen from mid-October to late November

Conclusion

German medlar is an ornamental plant with tasty fruits. The harvest is used in folk medicine. Caring for German medlar is simple. The main condition is the correct choice of variety, corresponding to the climatic characteristics of a particular region.

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