Japanese Quince (Chaenomeles Japonica) 30 seeds (#21)

Admired for its beautiful spring blooms, Japanese flowering quince is a spiny, compact to medium-sized, deciduous shrub native to Japan. Profuse clusters of small, salmon or orange, bowl-shaped flowers cover the plant very early in spring, before and after its smooth green leaves emerge. These are followed by gnarled, yellowish, apple-shaped fruits that are fully ripe by fall and may be used to make preserves or jelly. Of all the flowering quince species, this is considered the hardiest.
The smooth green leaves of Japanese flowering quince are oval and lined with coarse, crenate teeth. The branches are armed with short thorns that are strong and can cause painful scratches. Pretty rosaceous blooms of salmon pink or orange are produced in spring, and fragrant, yellowish, apple-shaped fruits ripen in the fall but offer no visual appeal.
The tough and adaptable flowering quince accepts a wide range of growing conditions but grows best in full sun and well-drained loam. Periods of winter cold are needed for good flowering and fruit set. Spring buds are often damaged by cold in its northernmost zones. This informal landscape shrub combines well with other early-bloomers, such as forsythias and early bulbs, and its cut branches can be forced into bloom in late winter. Many species are available that vary in size, habit and flower color.
Information source: www.Learn2Grow.com

Genus - Chaenomeles
Species - Japonica
Common name - Japanese Quince
Pre-Treatment - Required
Hardiness zones - 5 - 8
Height - 2'-4' / 0,60 - 1,20 m
Spread - 2'-4' / 0,60 - 1,20 m
Plant type - Shrub
Vegetation type - Decidouos
Exposure - Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
Growth rate - Medium
Soil PH - Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil type - Clay, Loam, Sand, Well Drained
Water requirements - Average Water
Landscape uses - Hedges, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier, edible fruits
Bloom season - Spring
Leaf / Flower color - Green, Dark Green / Orange, Salmon, Orange Red

GERMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
1. Moisten 1/2 cup or about 1 handful of peat moss. Place the peat moss into a sealable container or a zipper top plastic bag.
2. Place the flowering quince seeds into the bag or container of peat moss, then set in a cold location. The back of your refrigerator with the temperature set between +1-+4C (35-40F) is ideal.
3. Remove the bag or container from the refrigerator 90 days later and plant the seeds.
4. Fill up plastic planting pots with a good quality potting mix. Poke two holes, each 10 mm (3/8") deep and spaced 5 cm (2") apart. Plant one flowering quince seed into each of the holes. Scatter approximately 10 mm (3/8") of potting soil over the seeds.
5. Set the pots in a sheltered location away from direct sunlight. Keep the flowering quince seeds moist so the soil is wet but not soggy. Germination can be lengthy, often taking four to six weeks.
6. Transplant the flowering quince into permanent locations the following spring. Be sure to provide the seedlings protection over winter; bring them indoors or set them in a temperate location.