J
Fruit & berries
Common medlar
Mespilus germanica
An old, hardy fruit tree; the fruit is eaten after it softens (bletting) in storage. Not the Japanese loquat.
- Light
- Full sun (6 h or more)
- Height
- 3–5 m
- Watering
- Moderate: 2–3 times a week in summer
- Soil
- undemanding
- Edible?
- Yes: the fruit
- How to plant
- Dig a 60×60 cm hole with compost; 4 m from other trees. Water deeply after planting.
- Care
- Pick after the first frosts and keep the fruit 2–3 weeks somewhere cool until brown and soft.
Calendar by climate
Warm coast
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Mild Mediterranean
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Southern interior
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Continental interior
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Cold interior and uplands
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Atlantic
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Canary Islands (subtropical)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
SowPlantHarvestPruneFeedTreat
Dates are for growing outdoors, based on the local climate. In a greenhouse or tunnel everything comes earlier.
Feeding and doses
Mild Mediterranean
- Well-rotted manureFeb4–6 kg / m²
Pest prevention and doses
Mild Mediterranean
Not needed.
How easy to grow by climate
- Warm coastDifficultToo warm a climate
- Mild MediterraneanNeeds regular careHot, dry summers
- Southern interiorNeeds regular careExtreme summer heat
- Continental interiorEasy
- Cold interior and uplandsEasy
- AtlanticEasy
- Canary Islands (subtropical)Not recommended outdoorsNo winter chill
Plants in the same category
- Strawberry
- Lemon tree
- Olive tree
- Fig tree
- Raspberry
- Blueberry
- Grapevine
- Orange tree
- Almond tree
- Pomegranate
- Loquat
- Avocado
- Peach tree
- Persimmon
- Date palm
- Apple tree
- Pear tree
- Cherry tree
- Plum tree
- Apricot tree
- Quince tree
- Walnut tree
- Hazel
- Sweet chestnut
- Kiwi vine
- Mandarin tree
- Lime tree
- Grapefruit tree
- Kumquat
- Dragon fruit
- Prickly pear
- Pistachio
- Bitter orange
- Mulberry
- Carob tree
- Citron
- Jujube
- Cornelian cherry
- Nectarine
- Banana
- Blackberry
- Strawberry tree
- Sour cherry
- Stone pine
- Passion fruit
- Pineapple
- Cherimoya
- Tree tomato (tamarillo)
- Feijoa (pineapple guava)
- Guava
- Redcurrant
- Bergamot orange
- Chinotto (myrtle-leaved orange)
- Service tree
- Gooseberry
- Mango
- Blackcurrant
- Mirabelle plum
