Medlars, an unusual creature

[Mrs Ava]

To blett I leave them in a tray in the shed, or at the moment, in the conservatory, until they go dark brown and start to go soft.  I don't follow a published recipe but really made it up as I went along, and it worked and suited my lot, so it is how I do it. 

I put the medlars into a big pan along with about 6 or so large cooking apples - more depending on the quantity of medlars, and a  chopped up lemon, then I just about cover the fruits with water and slowely bring up to a boil.  I turn down to a simmer and cook gently for up to an hour, then I go in with my potato masher and give them all a really good beating to get max flavour and juices released.  The resulting mooosh is firstly seived to get rid of the bulk of the pulp, then through a jelly bag to give you a amber coloured liquid.  You could now do the technical setting test (check with JennyM as I can't remember how to do it), or use powder pectin, or like me, keep your fingers crossed.

I measure the liquid and for every pint of liquid, I use a pound of sugar.  Gently heat the liquid, then add the sugar and stir constanly until completely dissolved.  Bring up to a rolling boil, stirring periodically, and keep boiling until it reaches setting point on your thermometer, (or do the set test on a cold saucer, pushing the liquid with your finger, and if it wrinkles, you have a set).  I then bottle in sterile warm jars, seal and label when cold.

As I said, this isn't a published recipe that I am aware off - just made it up as I went along.  The apples and lemon seems to provide enough pectin to produce a good set.  The more rotten the medlars, apparently the better the flavour, but I need the jelly for Christmas pressies, and with time becoming short the closer Chrissy gets, I will be making mine at the start of December come what may.

Hope this helps. ;D

[Mrs Ava]

[supersprout]

The resulting mooosh is firstly seived to get rid of the bulk of the pulp

try a passata machine if you have one? - tried earlier this year, turns mooosh into apple sauce minus pips and skin :)

[flowerlady]

Brilliant, thank you for the instructions EJ ... I shall give it a whirl   ;)

... next job is to go clear away spuds that were drying in the garage, to make way for the medlars  ;D

[jennym]

... Picked over 70 from a 6 year old tree - not bad I think, ..

Not bad at all! was it a couple of years old when you got it? and where was it sourced from? quite fancy one and would like to know a reliable source.

[Mrs Ava]

It was a wee twig when I got it, probably 2 years old, and now I am desperately trying to think where we get it from..... it wouldn't have been from a specialist nursery, I have a feeling it was from somewhere like Marshalls.  I don't know much about their likes and dislikes, but what I know is Jen, you have similar soil to me, good old London clay, and the Medlar seems to love it!  I picked another 2 dozen fruits from it on Monday by standing dangerously on my step ladder and wielding a childs long handled fishing net around the tree to grab them or knock them off!  There are still more but they are out of my reach.  Hopefully they will fall on my side of the fence and I will be able to gather them up and add to the growing pile!

[Deb P]

... ..

Not bad at all! was it a couple of years old when you got it? and where was it sourced from? quite fancy one and would like to know a reliable source.

I purchased mine from Deacons, variety 'Nottingham', received a well shaped half standard that has grown into a superb small tree. I can't remember exactly, but I think it was a two year old tree when I bought it.

Interestingly, the fruit has almost doubled in size as well as yield in the past three years, some almost fill my palm; anyone else noticed bigger fruits? My tree is about 11 years old now.

[greyhound]

What height and spread do they reach?

[Deb P]

Mine is about 10' high, 15' wide. They have quite an attractve slightly weeping habit.

[Mrs Ava]

Mum says Ken Muirs or Bakkers.  Yup, my fruit seems to be getting bigger and bigger, the size of small apples now!  Mine is trained more of a fan, but yes, it does have a slightly weeping habit.  I love it!  And yes, mine is also a 'Nottingham'.

[Trixiebelle]

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm  :) I love medlars!

I make a fruit sauce out of medlars, quinces, cooking apples and red wine to have with roast lamb.

The manager of the 'rather posh' local garden centre delivered some more fruit trees to my allotment yesterday and he had to 'admit' (it was very hard for him ....) that he'd never tasted a medlar!

I gave him a carrier bag full to take back to the shop for a 'show and tell' session with his staff  ;D He's getting me a walnut tree for nowt to say thanks for the medlars and showing him round the allotment site!

[jeanaustin]

We've just purchased a Medlar for the community area on our allotment site; last week we went to a nursery to collect some ordered heritage apple trees and happened to see a Medlar tree, complete with fruit, as part of another customer's order.  We asked if they had more available and we were able to purchase a four year old tree, with several fruits on. 
Each fruit has four or five 'stones' and we're planning on sowing these and hopefully get them to germinate.