How to Grow Medlar
Mespilus germanica
Plant medlar in a sunny, sheltered position in any reasonable garden soil. It is fully hardy, self-fertile, and needs very little maintenance once established. Harvest the unusual fruit after the first frost in November, then blet (soften) indoors for two to three weeks until the flesh turns brown and soft — the fruit is inedible until bletted. Medlar also has excellent ornamental value with attractive autumn colour and large white spring blossom.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Mulch with compost in spring. Rarely needs additional feeding.
Watch For
- Generally pest-free
- Occasional leaf spot
- Caterpillars
Companions
Comfrey, Wildflowers, Clover
Track your Medlar care schedule — pruning, feeding, and seasonal tasks
Start planning freeCare Requirements
☀️ Light
Full sun to partial shade, sheltered position ideal
Full sun to partial shade. Medlar fruits best in full sun but tolerates light shade. A sheltered position protects the late blossom from wind damage.
💧 Watering
Water young trees, drought-tolerant once established
Water newly planted trees regularly during the first two years. Once established, medlar is drought-tolerant and rarely needs supplemental watering.
🌱 Fertilizing
Compost mulch in spring, rarely needs extra feeding
Mulch with garden compost in spring. Medlar is undemanding and rarely needs additional feeding. Avoid excessive nitrogen which promotes leafy growth over fruit.
✂️ Pruning
Minimal winter pruning, remove dead or crossing branches
Prune in winter while dormant. Remove dead, diseased, or crossing branches. Medlar needs minimal pruning and has an attractive natural shape.
🍎 Harvesting
Pick after frost, blet indoors for 2-3 weeks
Pick fruit after the first frost in November. Blet (soften) indoors for two to three weeks until the flesh turns brown and soft. The fruit is inedible until bletted.
Growing Tips
Blet before eating
Pick fruit after the first frost in November. Blet indoors for two to three weeks until the flesh turns brown and soft — the fruit is inedible until bletted.
Minimal winter pruning
Prune in winter while dormant. Remove dead, diseased, or crossing branches only — medlar needs minimal pruning and has an attractive natural shape.
Compost mulch in spring
Mulch with garden compost in spring. Medlar is undemanding and rarely needs additional feeding. Avoid excessive nitrogen which promotes leaf over fruit.
Remove mummified fruit
Watch for brown rot in wet autumns — remove and destroy any mummified fruit left on the tree over winter to break the disease cycle.
Shelter protects late blossom
Choose a sheltered position to protect the late spring blossom from wind damage. Medlar flowers in May-June, later than most fruit trees.
Pests & Diseases
Pest Caterpillars
Identification: Irregular holes in leaves, visible caterpillars or frass on foliage, rolled or webbed leaves
- Hand-pick caterpillars when seen
- Encourage birds and parasitic wasps
- Spray with pyrethrin-based insecticide for heavy infestations
Pest Aphids
Identification: Clusters of small green insects on young shoot tips, curled leaves, sticky honeydew
- Squash by hand or blast off with a jet of water
- Encourage ladybirds and hoverflies
- Spray with fatty acid or plant oil-based insecticide
Pest Wasps
Identification: Wasps feeding on overripe or damaged fruit on the tree or ground
- Harvest fruit promptly before it over-ripens on the tree
- Use wasp traps nearby during autumn
- Not applicable
Disease Leaf Spot
Symptoms: Brown or purple spots on leaves, sometimes with a yellow halo, leading to premature leaf drop
Treatment: Remove and destroy badly affected leaves. Improve air circulation
Prevention: Clear fallen leaves in autumn. Avoid overhead watering
Disease Brown Rot Monilinia fructigena
Symptoms: Fruit turns brown and rots on the tree, often with concentric rings of white or grey fungal spores
Treatment: Remove and destroy all affected fruit, both on the tree and fallen. Do not compost
Prevention: Prune to improve airflow. Remove mummified fruit left on the tree over winter
Disease Fireblight Erwinia amylovora
Symptoms: Shoots wilt and turn brown-black as if scorched, often with a characteristic shepherd's crook bend at the tip
Treatment: Cut out affected growth at least 30cm below visible symptoms. Disinfect tools between cuts
Prevention: Avoid excessive nitrogen feeding. Prune in winter when the disease is dormant
Spacing & Planting
| Plant spacing | 450 cm |
| Row spacing | 550 cm |
| Mature height | 400 cm |
| Mature spread | 400 cm |
Traditional fruit requiring bletting (frost softening) before eating. Self-fertile. Ornamental value.
Log Medlar in your garden — track growth, care, and harvests year after year
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