nispero tree

septimus

I have recently moved to a house that has two nispero trees in the garden. The fruit on both trees turns black and rock hard before it has chance to ripen. Can anyone tell me what the cause and solution to this problem is.

Steve Galehouse

'Nispero' can refer to several different tree species, one of which is medlar, Mespilus germanica. Medlar fruit is hard and inedible until it has gone through several freezes and thaws, after that it becomes soft and edible. It could be the fruit on your trees just hasn't gone through enough freezing weather yet.

septimus

Thanks for the reply. I don't know the variety but the trees are quite mature and they are an edible variety that grow in the mediterranean, in Italy.