Can anyone identify this fruit?

[Whydothis]

I have half a dozen of these fruits in my hedge. I haven't noticed them before ( this is my third summer here, but the hedge has grown a bit wild and woolly)

They are Apple size and shape, with a green, slightly furry looking skin. They don't hand on stalks like an apple, but seem to grow directly on the wood. They don't seem to be ripe yet, as they don't twist off.

I am assuming they are edible, but don't want to try without knowing what they are. If they are, how would I use them?

I would love to know what they are, if anyone recognises them.

[Zest]

Hi Whydothis

I am intrigued by it now, and hope you get an idea of what it is. It does look apple-like... but the way it's growing (seemingly out of the wood) - it's quite strange.

Zest

[Activity2004 Administrator]

Is it a round pear?

[Whydothis in reply to Activity2004]

I have just looked up varieties of pear, and can't find one with no stalk, so I don' think so.

[Activity2004 Administrator in reply to Whydothis]

Thank you for letting me know!😀👍🌈

[Catmad10]

It may be a quince

[Whydothis in reply to Catmad10]

Ah - I didn't think of that - it looks as though you are right. The description of the unripe fruit on Wikipedia is spot on, and the RHS website says they ripen in October, so that fits. The leaves are smaller than the picture on wiki though. I will have a proper look tomorrow.

[Catmad10 in reply to Whydothis]

If it is quince then it makes a delicious preserve.

[MrRigatoni]

Hello looks like a quince part of the family Apples...

Make amazing jams chutneys and useful in so many ways..

Sour fruit but if use this with the following..

One Red Onion diced sliced..

Red cabbage diced sliced.. Use half cored..

Sultanas half a cup

Red wine vinegar half a teaspoon.

Diced quince cored added..

Mixed Spice half teaspoon

Method

Slow cooker best way to make chutney..

Just add everything Slow Cooker and leave low for two three hours longer left best becomes melts down moorish need no liquid stir now again..

Use fridge stores or freeze zip bags ... sterlised jars..

[Whydothis in reply to MrRigatoni]

Thank you! I am looking forward to trying them when they are ripe!

[Vacyone]

Think they are crab apples, very sour to eat.

[Whydothis in reply to Vacyone]

Crab apples I had in my previous garden were much smaller, and grew on stalks like ordinary apples. These are as big as most eating apples, but with no stalks. I have only met the one variety of crab apple though!

[springcross]

Hi Whydothis. Could it be Quince?

[jumbo432191]

GREEN APPLE BEST FRUIT FOR BOILING IN WATER

[Whydothis in reply to jumbo432191]

Thank you - but not an ordinary green apple as there is no stalk! Is there a variety that grows like this?

[Hidden in reply to Whydothis]

There a certain type of kiwi that looks but the kiwi I'm familiar with is a small furry fruit

[Whydothis in reply to Hidden]

yes, its the smaller furry one I am familiar with. I am going to look up all the ideas I have been given.

[Mabel1924]

Are they almond nuts they have a furry skin shell of nut inside like a chestnut

[Whydothis in reply to Mabel1924]

That's interesting - how big would the overall fruit be? These are between 2 and 3 inches diameter

[Midori]

I think the best thing you could do is send your picture to the RHS at Wisley. There are many things it could be, from almonds to apricots, or even a peach; but whether they are edible or not would require an expert opinion,

Cheers, Midori

[Whydothis in reply to Midori]

I have been on the RHS website, and I am moving towards it being a quince, but sending the picture to the RHS is a good idea

[Hidden]

I think after some investigating I think it's some type of kiwi

[Whydothis in reply to Hidden]

Do kiwis grow in the UK? (I am in Norfolk). Also, I think they are a bit too round and firm, but I have never seen unripe kiwis, so I might be wrong.

[Hidden in reply to Whydothis]

Yea some of these r probley closer to right answer kiwi are small furry fruit but there are differen kind and the specific one is was a larger than what I'm familiar with

[sunny369]

some sort of quince?

[Whydothis in reply to sunny369]

This is looking like the most likely at the moment!

[Whydothis]

Thank you to everyone for all these ideas. I have been out walking all day, so I will be glad of an excuse to sit down and look all these things up this evening!

[Hidden]

U can try a small bite to tast a shouldn't hurt but spit it out

[Whydothis in reply to Hidden]

I will wait until they are riper, and then be brave! I am assuming that all fruit is unripe until it is easy to pick, and these don't twist off yet.

[Hidden in reply to Whydothis]

That's pretty neat to watch stuff like that

[Called2Service]

I have a plant identification app. It says it’s a Chinese quince

[Whydothis in reply to Called2Service]

Thank you! Does that mean it is edible? I imagine so, once they are ripe.

[Nessie87]

It looks like quince to me. Can make a sticky ‘jam’ which pairs beautifully with cheeses!

[Lindypop]

I would say a quince. Though I am guessing! Quince gin is fabulous. 😁

[Balsamfir]

Search Results

Featured snippet from the web

Pseudocydonia sinensis, commonly called Chinese quince, is a small deciduous tree or large shrub with a dense oval crown. ... Flowers are followed by huge, oval fruits (quinces to 5-5" long) which ripen in fall (October) with a sweetly fragrant aroma. Fruits are edible off the tree or may be used in jams and syrups.

( this is from my plant identification App called “Picture This”)

[Whydothis in reply to Balsamfir]

Thank you! My fruits are not that big, but perhaps there is time! I have just tried to download "Picture This" but my ipad is too old and out of date!

[MissUnique]

They do look like Granny Smiths though. You should try the plant identifying app search in Google

[Whydothis in reply to MissUnique]

The colour, shape and size of the fruit make Granny Smith possible, but they are a bit too furry, and there is no apple stalk.

[Whydothis]

From all the above, this tree is looking more and more like a quince - possibly the Chinese one, possible the other.

Thank you all for your ideas - I will report back when they are ripe and/or when I get an answer.

[jpipw]

They are the fruit of Chaenomeles, the flowering quince not the same as a quince proper but still good for jelly etc

[Whydothis in reply to jpipw]

That would explain why the pictures of the other quinces show larger leaves! I have just looked up some pictures of this one and it looks even more likely than the Cydonia and Pseudocydonia. Thank you!