Medlar 'Seedling Mix'

Grown from seed, there is variation among the different plants; the yield from seedlings is good.

The medlar forms a small tree that can reach a height of about 4-5 m. It blooms in May and June with creamy-white flowers about 4 cm in size. The medlar was widespread in a wild state in German forests, leading people to believe it was indigenous there, which is reflected in the name M. germanica.
As early as 1000 BC, the medlar was cultivated in Northern Iran, arrived in Greece by 700 BC, and in Rome by 200 BC. The medlar was further spread by the Romans. It was a very important fruit during the Roman Empire and the Middle Ages, even before the introduction of other fruit species in Western Europe. During the Middle Ages, it was mainly cultivated in France and Germany, and in the Netherlands, it was found in monastery gardens. The fruit is now much less common than it used to be but is currently regaining some popularity, not least because it is full of vitamin C and is good for the stomach and digestion.
The tree produces dry, small, hard, golden-brown fruits that ripen in October but are then unpalatable, mealy, and astringent. In autumn (usually after the first night frosts, though this is not necessary for ripening), they become soft and brown, and then they can be eaten after a while. It is recommended to pick them in October or November as soon as the first fruits start to fall. You can then store them upside down in a cool place for a few weeks. The fruits become 'bletted', a process where their color changes from green-white to dark brown through fermentation (bletting), and they acquire a sweet, sickly taste. For some, the medlar is a delicacy. The saying: "As rotten as a medlar" actually refers to a delicacy. Once soft, the medlar only keeps for a few days because it can easily start to mold and truly rot. Ripe medlars can be frozen, but unripe fruits that are frozen will not ripen further. (text adapted from Wikipedia)

Names:
Latin: Mespilus germanica
Dutch: Mispel
Also: Mespel
English: Medlar