Medlar
Medlar: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
Common medlar, Mespilus germanica, is a small deciduous tree in the rose family, grown for its medlar fruits. It differs from loquat, whose evergreen foliage and yellow-orange fruits belong to another species. Common medlar loses its leaves in autumn, leaving a visible framework of branches during winter dormancy. This succession of foliage, flowers and fruit gives the tree an appeal that extends beyond the harvest alone.Its outline is generally spreading, with branches forming a relatively broad crown. Simple, elongated leaves create green foliage that may change colour in autumn. Mature dimensions depend on cultivar, rootstock and tree development. Grafted trees combine a fruiting cultivar with a root system of another origin, an association that influences vigour. A young, still compact tree therefore does not show the full extent of its eventual canopy. The crown is part of its lasting presence in a garden.Flowering occurs in late spring, with large white…
