Tree following - June 2025 - faint hopes

After a good start to the quince season I am now feeling vaguely hopeful for a successful quincing.

Quince Minor has two plump quincelets developing.  They look pretty good so far.  I could not see any more than these two, but frankly one would be a major success.

Quince Major only seems to have one surviving quincelet.  This is very disappointing.  It feels like Quince Major peaked a few years ago and is now struggling to produce.  I am sad about this and also I don't know why this is happening.  Last year I excused the lack of quinces on my poor pruning, but I would have expected that to have no impact this year.  The trees do not seem to have struggled in the dry Spring and there was a good wet Winter and not a lot of frost.  I have pruned the trees that grow near the Quince Brothers so that they are not too overshadowed; so I am at a loss to think what else could be wrong.  

I looked up what type of soil they like, now some of you may think that I should have done this before planting, but hey, too late for that.  Apparently they don't like to be soggy so maybe the wet Winter was not a good thing.  They also do not like overly acidic soil.  I know that my soil is quite acidic so maybe that is any issue too.

Sigh.

No matter, I am very fond of these trees fruit or not.  But maybe I do need to stop stalking them expecting them to perform when they have not the conditions they need to do so.  So, my dear Quince Brothers, here is the plan:  I will complete this year of tree following with you and then we shall both move on.  You can retire from public gaze and just grow and be, and I will think of another tree to focus on.  It is time.

Take care and be kind.

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