Medlars are a somewhat old-fashioned fruit in today's supermarket world, but are a spectacular and rewarding specimen tree. A fabulous Spring blossoming tree, it produces gorgeous pink blossom, and in late Autumn unusual fruits, not exactly a thing of beauty, and which are tart if eaten from the tree, but sweeten beautifully if picked and ripened for a few weeks, and can keep for Months in cool and dry conditions. They then make excellent jellies, as well as cooking well in mixed fruit pies and puddings though, fresh from the trees. Something really different, yet easy for the productive orchard garden!
We have unearthed something really different for you here- a most unusual patio fruit tree that is perfectf or smaller gardens. It's breeder, renowned British fruit grower Will Sibley, has been working on new and n ovel fruit trees for the British home gardener for years, and this is one of his latest discoveries. Medlars have been somewhat overlooked in the rush to grow fruit in the home garden. Yet their most unusual-looking fruit make great jellies, jams and sauces, and they have the most beautiful pure white blossom and attractive leathery green leaves in summer, too. Hardy and self-fertile, this variety is an easy winner. 'Sibley's Patio Medlar'is destined to stay small, so works well in a big pot on the patio or terrace, but make sure you water well in summer. It will also grow well in fertile garden soil in a sunny spot. The variety itself is naturally compact, and has been grafted onto a very dwarfing pear rootstock, so it will stay a manageable size and crop well for many years to come. After 4 low years, you should get up to 30 fruit each autumn. Medlars are not great eaten fresh from the tree. Leave on the tree as long as possible in November, but pick before the first frosts. Store for 2-3 weeks so the flesh softens brown, which is when they will be at their best to eat. Alternatively, they can be cooked straight after picking from the tree.
This self-fertile variety produces a heavy crop of medium sized fruits which have an interesting caramel flavour. Medlar trees have large white spring flowers and attractive leathery leaves which turn to golden orange in autumn. The russet coloured fruits are excellent eaten with wine, port and cheese, but they are more usually used for preserves or the Victorian delicacy Medlar cheese.'Nottingham' is grafted onto a 'Quince A' rootstock, giving a productive and moderately vigourous tree. Medlars will begin to fruit 3 or 4 years after planting. Root wrap plant supplied. Height and spread: 4m (13'). Rootstock: 'Quince A'.Estimated time to cropping once planted: 2 years.Estimated time to best yields: 4 years.