Medlar Seeds - Mespilus Germanica - Delicious, Abundant, and Rare
Quantity: 6 Seeds
Medlar is a relatively unknown and forgotten fruit tree, but it's made a comeback due to its amazing flavour and ornamental value. It's a small fruiting tree in the Rose family, Roseaceae, and is native to South Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It's quite hardy, and can be survive down to zone 5. The trees reliably produce an abundance of fruits that taste sweet, sour, juicy, and a bit tropical too. The fruits are quite versatile; they taste excellent when baked, made into pies, sauce, Jam, wine, and more. Medlar trees are naturally resistant to insects and disease, so they don't require very much attention other than regular watering, mulch, and a yearly light prune.
The trees are self fertile, so don't require another for pollination; however, they'll produce heavier yields if another Medlar tree is nearby. The trees will eventually grow quite tall (some as high as 19 feet), but they respond very well to pruning, so can (and should) be cut to the desired shape and size. This variety typically starts to produce in its 3rd or 4th year.
All seeds are organic and open pollinated.
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Growing Instructions
For best results, It’s best to start Medlar seeds outdoors either directly in the ground or in pots about 1-2 weeks before the first frost; we start them here on the farm in mid October. The soil should be made moist, but not damp. Sow the seeds 1/8 inch below the soil surface. The seeds have a very thick shell, so they will usually need to experience two winters before sprouting; however, this time can be shortened significantly if they are scarified before planting. Once germinated, and the first true leaf has formed, it's time to pot up to a larger container that contains a good quality potting soil. Transplant to their final location when the nighttime temperatures are consistently 10°C or higher; for us at the farm, this is around May.