Portugal quince trees

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Portugal is a well-known quince variety, capable of producing large fruits with a very good flavor when grown in the right conditions.

The fruit is ready for picking at the end of September, which is slightly earlier than most other quinces. However the fruits should be stored indoors (at room temperature) for a few weeks to ripen properly.

Portugal quinces may turn a crimson pink when cooked (depending on how ripe they were). They have a soft texture and mild flavor which makes them particularly suitable for making quince marmalade. They are generally considered the best flavored of all quinces.

Growing and Training

Although like all quinces Portugal is a fairly hardy tree, it needs a sheltered location to produce good quality ripe fruit. It prefers a dry climate and is not suitable for the wetter north-west of the UK - it is probably the most challenging quince variety to grow.

Whereas many quince trees have an attractive growth habit, Portugal is not the best choice for a feature tree - it is grown just for the fruit. It works well as a fan-trained tree or just simply allowed to grow up a south-facing brick wall.

Portugal is only partially self-fertile and cropping will be improved if there is a compatible pollinator nearby such as Meech's Prolific or Serbian Gold.

History

Unknown origins but introduced to England in the early 17th century.

Portugal characteristics

British-grown trees

Unlike many garden centres and online retailers, the vast majority of our fruit trees are grown in the UK. Find out more.

In addition, all our trees are certified under the Plant Healthy scheme, supervised by the Plant Health Alliance. Other stakeholders include Defra and the RHS. The scheme aims to improve UK biosecurity by setting standards for all growers and retailers involved in selling plants in the UK. Find out more

Guaranteed fruit trees

When you buy your fruit tree from Orange Pippin Fruit Trees we guarantee it for the first season in your garden whilst it gets established. If it doesn't grow successfully, we'll either replace it the following season or offer a refund - subject to some conditions. Find out more.