Missing blossom

Why won’t leafy Japanese quince plants flower?

ANN SCOTT, LAUNCESTON, CORNWALL

AIt’s unusual for a Japanese quince (Chaenomeles japonica) not to flower at all. Even if planted in a sunny, dry spot by a sunny wall they should flower a little. It’s possible that you’re pruning them at the wrong time – if you prune hard after midsummer and remove all the new growth, you’ll also cut off any flower buds. Always prune immediately after flowering.