The medlar is an obscure ancient fruit that dates back to Roman times but is rarely found today. With its unique flavor and texture, the medlar deserves to be rediscovered. Read on to learn all about medlars, where to source these unique fruits, and how to enjoy them.
What are Medlars?
Medlars (Mespilus germanica) are a small round fruit that resemble crabapples. They originated in southwest Asia and southeastern Europe and have been cultivated since Roman times.
Medlars have rock hard flesh when harvested in late autumn. The fruits need to be “bletted” – allowed to partially rot to soften the flesh and develop flavor. This process takes weeks to months Once soft and brown inside, medlars possess a tart taste and grainy texture similar to pears with hints of apple, rosehip, and cinnamon.
Medlars can be eaten raw when bletted, made into jams and jellies, or incorporated into pies, cakes, and puddings. The flavor is complex and unique.
Where to Buy Medlar Fruit
In the past, medlars were common garden fruits. But today they remain obscure and hard to find. Here are some of the limited options for sourcing medlar fruits:
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Specialty grocers – A few specialty grocers like Dean & Deluca sometimes carry dried or preserved medlars. Availability is very limited.
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Farmers markets – If you are lucky, you may occasionally find a vendor at a farmers market selling fresh medlars in season. But this is rare.
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Specialty fruit catalogs – A couple specialty fruit growers like Stark Bros and Raintree Nursery sell fresh medlars by mail order in fall. But they sell out quickly.
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Local harvest – Your best bet may be finding a local home grower with medlar trees in your area harvesting fruits to sell in fall. Check farmers markets and local ads.
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Grow your own – For a reliable medlar harvest, consider planting your own medlar tree. They are hardy to zone 5 and tolerate partial shade.
Online Options for Purchasing Medlars
When medlars do become available from commercial suppliers, the internet offers the best way to find and buy them. Here are some of the limited online shopping options that may carry medlar fruits:
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Amazon – Occasionally third party sellers on Amazon Marketplace offer fresh medlar fruit in season. Availability is very sporadic.
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Etsy – Some Etsy shops sell foraged medlars or medlar products like dried fruit, jam, and liquor when in season.
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Specialty grocers – Dean & Deluca offers dried medlars and medlar jam.
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Fruit growers – Keep an eye out for post-harvest medlar sales from fruit nurseries like Stark Bro’s or Raintree.
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eBay – Medlar fruits or trees sometimes appear for auction on eBay.
How to Eat Medlar Fruit
The unique medlar requires special handling and preparation:
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Bletting – Harvested fruits must be bletted until the flesh turns brown and soft. This can take several weeks. Keep fruits in a cool dark place. The fruits are ready when they feel soft and mushy inside.
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Raw – Once bletted, medlars can be eaten raw. Simply slice open the fruit, scoop out the flesh and enjoy! The texture is grainy and the flavor unique andapple-pear-like.
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Cooked – Bletted medlar flesh can be cooked into jams, jellies, pies, and puddings. Cooking brings out more flavor and sweetness.
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Preserved – Whole bletted fruits can be canned in syrup or alcohol to preserve them. You can also dry medlar halves to enjoy out of season.
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Juice/Wine – Medlars can be pressed into cider or fermented into wine with apple flavors.
Grow Your Own Medlar Tree
Rather than chasing down this rare fruit, growing your own medlar tree ensures you can enjoy this unique harvest every autumn.
Medlar trees thrive in zones 5-9. They have beautiful spring blossoms and attractive twisted branching with large leaves. Medlars are self-pollinating but do better with a second variety. Plant in full to part sun.
It takes 3-4 years after planting a grafted sapling to begin fruiting. But once established, a mature medlar tree can produce 50-100 pounds of fruit!
Stark Bro’s, Raintree Nursery, and Willis Orchards offer mail order medlar trees for planting in early spring.
The Medlar Deserves a Comeback
The medlar has been ignored as an antique oddity for too long. These unique fruits offer complex flavors that cannot be found in modern produce. Seek out and try medlars this fall to enjoy a forgotten taste of history. And consider planting a medlar tree to enrich your landscape with this conversation-starting fruit.
Fertilizer and Plant Nutrition
Fertilize your tree every 3-4 months. During the spring and summer, use a complete balance fertilizer with a 1-1-1 or 2-1-1 NPK ratio. Before the tree flowers, use a formula with more phosphorus and potassium to help the fruit grow and develop.
How To Water – Frequency and Duration to Irrigate
Irrigation: How much and how often you water depends on how old the trees are. In the early spring, fully soak the soil with water once a week. Increase to twice per week as the weather warms. Water 3 times per week or more during hot summers. Provide about 5 gallons of water for a 5 gallons size plant, 15 gallons of water for a #15 size container plant, and 25 gallons for a #25 depending on soil type. Soils that are sandy can’t hold as much water and need to be watered more often, while soils that are clay can hold more water and need to be watered less often. Young trees with shallow roots need to be watered more often, while older plants with deeper roots need to be watered less often.