Mispel

Mespilus germanica

Engels: Medlar

fruitRosaceaeEetbaar

Mispel (Mespilus germanica) is a edible fruit plant from the Rosaceae family that grows up to 500cm tall. This plant thrives in full sun to partial shade and requires low maintenance. Blooms in spring with white flowers and attracts bees and birds.

Hoogte

300–500 cm

Breedte

300–500 cm

Zonligging

full sun, partial shade

Waterbehoefte

moderate

Grondsoort

loam, clay soil

Onderhoud

low maintenance

Bloeitijd

spring

Bloemkleuren

white

Ecologische waarde

Trekt bijen aan

Trekt vogels aan

Verzorgingskalender

Taak	Jan	Feb	Mrt	Apr	Mei	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Okt	Nov	Dec
🌱Planten
✂️Snoeien
💧Bemesten
🍎Oogsten

Care tips

Planting

Medlar thrives in full sun or partial shade, though fruit production is best in a sunny, sheltered spot. It tolerates a range of soils but performs particularly well in loam or clay soil with good moisture retention. Choose a site with space: mature trees reach 3–5 metres in height and spread, so allow at least 4 metres between trees or other large plants. Plant bare-root medlars in October, November or March, when the tree is dormant. Container-grown specimens can go in at any time outside hard frost, but autumn or early spring planting gives roots time to establish before the growing season. Dig a hole twice the width of the root ball and deep enough so the soil mark on the stem sits level with the surrounding ground. Break up compacted soil at the base and sides of the hole to encourage roots to spread. Position the tree in the hole, backfill with the excavated soil mixed with a little well-rotted compost or manure, and firm gently with your heel to eliminate air pockets. Avoid burying the graft union if your tree is grafted. Water thoroughly after planting, even if the soil is already damp, to settle the roots. Apply a 5–7 cm layer of organic mulch (compost, bark or well-rotted manure) around the base, keeping it a few centimetres clear of the trunk to prevent rot. Stake young trees with a short, angled stake and a tree tie to prevent wind rock while roots establish. Check and adjust the tie regularly in the first two years to avoid constriction as the trunk thickens.

Pruning

Medlar requires very little pruning once established, which is one reason it suits low-maintenance gardens. Prune only in December or January, during full dormancy, to minimise sap bleeding and reduce the risk of disease entering wounds. Use clean, sharp secateurs for small branches and a pruning saw for anything thicker than your thumb. In the first few years after planting, focus on building a balanced, open framework. Remove any crossing, rubbing or inward-growing branches to create a clear centre that allows light and air to reach the interior. Aim for a goblet or vase shape with four to six well-spaced main branches radiating outwards. Cut back to an outward-facing bud to encourage the tree to spread rather than grow upright and congested. Once the tree matures, pruning is minimal. Remove dead, damaged or diseased wood whenever you spot it. Take out any suckers arising from the rootstock below the graft union. Thin overcrowded branches if the canopy becomes too dense, but avoid heavy cutting: medlar fruits on short spurs on older wood, and over-pruning reduces cropping. If a branch has become unproductive or awkwardly placed, remove it entirely at the base rather than shortening it. Medlar naturally develops an attractive, spreading habit, so resist the urge to shape it heavily. Light, thoughtful pruning every few years is all that's needed to keep the tree healthy and productive without compromising its graceful form.

Maintenance

Medlar has moderate water needs. Water regularly during the first two growing seasons to help roots establish, especially during dry spells in spring and summer. Once established, the tree is reasonably drought-tolerant but benefits from deep watering during prolonged dry periods, particularly when fruit is developing in summer and autumn. Avoid waterlogging: medlar tolerates clay soil but dislikes sitting in saturated ground over winter. Feed once a year in March with a balanced general-purpose fertiliser or a handful of blood, fish and bone scattered around the root zone and lightly forked in. Alternatively, apply a 5 cm layer of well-rotted compost or manure as a mulch in early spring; this feeds the soil, conserves moisture and suppresses weeds in one go. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds, which promote soft growth at the expense of fruiting. Medlar is fully hardy in zones 5a–8b and needs no winter protection in temperate Europe. It flowers in spring, usually May, with attractive white blossoms. The unusual fruits ripen in October and November but are harvested hard and left to "blet" (soften and sweeten) indoors before eating. Pests and diseases are rarely serious. Watch for aphids on new growth in spring; a strong jet of water usually dislodges them. Leaf spot can occur in wet summers but seldom causes lasting harm. Canker and fireblight are possible but uncommon; prune out affected wood promptly if you see dieback or oozing lesions. Refresh the mulch layer each spring to maintain soil health and reduce weed competition around the base.