Growing medlars: a garden full of flavour
Medlars show that harvesting and eating can happen at different times. The firm brown fruit turns into a soft treat after picking. Set a few fruits aside to follow that process, comparing their scent, colour and softness each time.
This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.
- Position
- Sheltered position; choose tree size deliberately. Little pruning needed after good formative training.
- Pollination
- Self-fertile.
- Harvest
- Pick in autumn; allow to blet until the flesh is dark and soft.
Explore flavours and varieties
This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.
Nottingham
More compact tree, small flavoursome fruit.
Flavour: Soft, sweet and aromatic only after bletting; hard, freshly picked fruit is bitter.
Flavour of the species; a separate flavour profile for this variety has not yet been confirmed.View growing and harvesting →Place in my garden
This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.
Iranian
Relatively early, heavy cropping.
Flavour: Soft, sweet and aromatic only after bletting; hard, freshly picked fruit is bitter.
Flavour of the species; a separate flavour profile for this variety has not yet been confirmed.View growing and harvesting →Place in my gardenChoose your way to grow
This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.
This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.
Gradually training a medlar tree
- Choose a grafted tree on a rootstock suited to the available space.
- Retain a balanced crown; remove dead and rubbing wood.
- Do not cut every branch back hard annually: an established medlar needs little pruning.
- Harvest undamaged fruits and prepare a separate tray for bletting.
Choose a cultivar and space that suit this approach.
Monitoring bletting
- Place undamaged fruits in a single layer in a container.
- Record the picking date.
- Then check individual fruits for complete softness and dark pulp; compare scent before tasting.
- Remove fruits with unwanted mould and keep damaged fruit out of storage.
Choose a cultivar and space that suit this approach.
Why grow this species in your garden?
Medlars show that harvesting and eating can happen at different times. The firm brown fruit turns into a soft treat after picking. Set a few fruits aside to follow that process, comparing their scent, colour and softness each time.
Flavour and use
Soft, sweet and aromatic only after bletting; hard, freshly picked fruit is bitter.
A suitable spot
Sheltered position; choose tree size deliberately. Little pruning needed after good formative training.
Pollination and tree size
Self-fertile.
Often quince or hawthorn; size depends on rootstock.
Different ways to grow
Shaping a medlar gently: Choose a grafted tree on rootstock suited to space. Retain a balanced crown and remove dead or rubbing wood. Do not shorten all branches hard annually; established medlars need little pruning. Harvest intact fruit and prepare a separate bletting tray.
Following bletting: Arrange intact fruit in one layer and note picking date. Check individually for complete softness and dark pulp; compare smell before tasting. Remove fruit with unwanted mould and keep damaged fruit out of storage.
Care and pruning
Limit pruning to dead, damaged and obstructive wood.
Harvesting at the right time
Pick in autumn; allow to blet until the flesh is dark and soft.
Turn your space into a garden for experimenting
Allow space for the mature tree, not just the plant currently in the pot. The cultivar determines part of your fruit choice; the rootstock and tree form also help determine how much space the tree needs. Draw the crown, harvesting reach and support on your garden plan. Before buying, check whether a suitable pollinating partner is needed and whether one actually flowers nearby.
Where necessary, support a young tree with a suitable stake and a wide, soft tie. Do not let the tie rub or constrict the tree, and check it as the trunk and crown grow. Water must reach the root zone; a small wet patch on the surface does not tell you whether the rootball has enough moisture. Take care when planting and follow the species instructions for the correct planting depth.
Keep samples of the different cultivars separate. Record picking ripeness, eating ripeness, texture and the preparation you used. Fruit that tastes pleasant straight from the tree may behave differently in a pie or during storage. For perennial plants, your own flowering and harvest observations are more useful than a fixed countdown from the planting date.
Which flavour would you like to discover?
Nottingham: More compact tree, small flavoursome fruit.
Iranian: Relatively early, heavy cropping.
When and how should you prune?
Period for assessing pruning: Jan · Feb. This is a seasonal window for a temperate garden in the northern hemisphere; check actual dormancy, growth and weather conditions.
During winter dormancy, remove only necessary formative corrections and dead, damaged or rubbing wood. An established medlar needs little pruning.
A young plant needs shaping; an established one needs maintenance and gradual renewal. First consider which branches you want to keep. Use clean, sharp tools and avoid unnecessary large wounds. A pruning check does not mean cutting every time.
My vegetable garden shows a suitable check for confirmed pruning periods. A variety-specific period takes precedence over the general species period. Planned and finished crops receive no pruning task; no European calendar is applied without a confirmed location.
Read the evidence behind the pruning approach →What you need
Tick what you already have. The extras depend on how you grow.
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Make it your garden
Save your favourite variety or add it to My garden. Your own observations determine the growth stage; care tasks are based on the species.
Add Medlar to my gardenExplore more fruit treesSources and image information
SeedSteps editorial team · checked on 12 October 2026. Flavour descriptions come from the listed sources; ripeness and growing conditions affect flavour. AI images illustrate described characteristics and do not prove cultivar identity.
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