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Related
Species:
Black Sapote (Diospyros digyna), Mabolo, Velvet
Apple (D.discolor), Date Plum (D.lotus), Texas Persimmon (D.texana),
American Persimmon (D.virginiana).
Adaptation:
Persimmons do best in areas that have moderate
winters and relatively mild summers--suitable for growing in USDA
Hardiness Zones 7 to 10. It can tolerate temperatures of 0°F when
fully dormant. However, because of its low chilling requirement
(less than 100 hours), it may break dormancy during early warm spells
only to be damaged by spring frosts later. The leaves are killed
by 26°F when growing. Trees do not produce well in the high summer
heat of desert regions, which may also sunburn the bark.
DESCRIPTION
Growth Habit: The persimmon is
a multitrunked or single-stemmed deciduous tree to 25 ft. high and
at least as wide. It is a handsome ornamental with drooping leaves
and branches that give it a languid, rather tropical appearance.
The branches are somewhat brittle and can be damaged in high winds.
Foliage: Persimmon leaves are alternate,
simple, ovate and up to 7 inches long and 4 inches wide. They are
often pale, slightly yellowish green in youth, turning a dark, glossy
green as they age. Under mild autumn conditions the leaves often
turn dramatic shades of yellow, orange and red. Tea can also be
made from fresh or dried leaves.
Flowers: The inconspicuous flowers
surrounded by a green calyx tube are borne in the leaf axils of
new growth from one-year old wood. Female flowers are single and
cream-colored while the pink-tinged male flowers are typically borne
in threes. Commonly, 1 to 5 flowers per twig emerge as the new growth
extends (typically March). Persimmon trees are usually either male
or female, but some trees have both male and female flowers. On
male plants, especially, occasional perfect (bisexual) flowers occur,
producing an atypical fruit. A tree's sexual expression can vary
from one year to the other. Many cultivars are parthenocarpic (setting
seedless fruit without pollination), although some climates require
pollination for adequate production. When plants not needing pollination
are pollinated, they will produce fruits with seeds and may be larger
and have a different flavor and texture than do their seedless counterparts.
Fruit: Persimmons can be classified
into two general categories: those that bear astringent fruit until
they are soft ripe and those that bear nonastringent fruits. Within
each of these categories, there are cultivars whose fruits are influenced
by pollination (pollination variant) and cultivars whose fruits
are unaffected by pollination (pollination constant). Actually,
it is the seeds, not pollination per se, that influences the fruit.
An astringent cultivar must be jelly soft before it is fit to eat,
and such cultivars are best adapted to cooler regions where persimmons
can be grown. The flesh color of pollination-constant astringent
cultivars is not influenced by pollination. Pollination-variant
astringent cultivars have dark flesh around the seeds when pollinated.
A nonastringent persimmon can be eaten when it is crisp as an apple.
These cultivars need hot summers, and the fruit might retain some
astringency when grown in cooler regions. Pollination-constant nonastringent
(PCNA) persimmons are always edible when still firm; pollination-variant
nonastringent (PVNA) fruit are edible when firm only if they have
been pollinated. The shape of the fruit varies by cultivar from
spherical to acorn to flattened or squarish. The color of the fruit
varies from light yellow-orange to dark orange-red. The size can
be as little as a few ounces to more than a pound. The entire fruit
is edible except for the seed and calyx. Alternate bearing is common.
This can be partially overcome by thinning the fruit or moderately
pruning after a light-crop year. Astringency can also be removed
by treating with carbon dioxide or alcohol. Freezing the fruit overnight
and then thawing softens the fruit and also removes the astringency.
Unharvested fruit remaining on the tree after leaf fall creates
a very decorative effect. It is common for many immature fruit to
drop from May to September.
CULTURE
Location: Full sun with some air
movement is recommended for persimmon trees in inland areas, although
they will tolerate some partial shade. Persimmons grown in cooler
areas should have full sun with protection from cooling breezes.
As an attractive ornamental the tree fits well in the landscape.
It does not compete well with eucalyptus.
Soil: Persimmons can withstand
a wide rage of conditions as long as the soil is not overly salty,
but does best in deep, well drained loam. A pH range of 6.5 to 7.5
is preferred. The tree has a strong tap root which may mean digging
a deeper hole than usual when planting (when on D. kaki stock).
Irrigation: Persimmon trees will
withstand short periods of drought, but the fruit will be larger
and of higher quality with regular watering. Extreme drought will
cause the leaves and fruit to drop prematurely. Any fruit left on
the tree will probably sunburn. Some 36 to 48 inches of water are
needed annually, applied gradually in spring and tapering off in
the fall. Hot inland areas may require 2 or 3 applications weekly,
while coastal areas may need watering only once every 6 weeks, depending
on the soil. If a drip system is is used, the emitters should be
moved away from the trunk as the tree matures.
Fertilization: Most trees do well
with a minimum of fertilizing. Excess nitrogen can cause fruit drop.
If mature leaves are not deep green and shoot growth is less than
a foot per year, apply a balanced fertilizer such as a 10-10-10
at a rate of l pound per inch of trunk diameter at ground level.
Spread the fertilizer evenly under the canopy in late winter or
early spring.
Pruning: Prune persimmon trees
to develop a strong framework of main branches while the tree is
young. Otherwise the fruit, which is borne at the tips of the branches,
may be too heavy and cause breakage. A regular program of removal
of some new growth and heading others each year will improve structure
and reduce alternate bearing. An open vase system is probably best.
Even though the trees grow well on their own, persimmons can be
pruned heavily as a hedge, as a screen, or to control size. They
even make a nice espalier. Cut young trees back to 1/2 high (or
about 3 feet) at the time of planting.
Propagation: Stratification is
recommended for all persimmon seeds. The common rootstock in California
is D.lotus, although it is not compatible with some cultivars,
including fuyu. Other rootstock such as D.kaki seedlings are temperamental
and have long tap roots. D.virginiana is inconsistent and suckers
badly. Whip and cleft grafts are the ones commonly used. The trunks
of young trees should be protected from sunburn and rodent damage.
Pests and Diseases: Persimmons
are relatively problem-free, although mealybug and scale in association
with ants can sometimes cause problems. Ant control will usually
take care of these pests. Other occasional pests include white flies,
thrips which can cause skin blemishes and a mite that is blamed
for the "brown lace collar" near the calyx. Waterlogging can also
cause root rot. Vertebrate pests such as squirrels, deer, coyotes,
rats, opossums and birds are fond of the fruit and gophers will
attack the roots. Other problems include blossom and young fruit
shedding, especially on young trees. This is not usually a serious
problem, but if the drop is excessive, it may be useful to try girdling
a few branches. Over watering or over fertilization may also be
responsible. Large quantities of small fruit on an otherwise healthy
tree can be remedied by removing all but one or two fruit per twig
in May or June.
Harvest: Harvest astringent varieties
when they are hard but fully colored. They will soften on the tree
and improve in quality, but you will probably lose many fruit to
the birds. Astringent persimmons will ripen off the tree if stored
at room temperature. Nonastringent persimmons are ready to harvest
when they are fully colored, but for best flavor, allow them to
soften slightly after harvest. Both kinds of persimmons should be
cut from the tree with hand-held pruning shears, leaving the calyx
intact Unless the fruit is to be used for drying whole, the stems
should be cut as close to the fruit as possible. Even though the
fruit is relatively hard when harvested, it will bruise easily,
so handle with care. Mature, hard astringent persimmons can be stored
in the refrigerator for at least a month. They can also be frozen
for 6 to 8 months. Nonastringent persimmons can be stored for a
short period at room temperature. They will soften if kept with
other fruit in the refrigerator. Persimmons also make an excellent
dried fruit. They can either be peeled and dried whole or cut into
slices (peeled or unpeeled) and dried that way. When firm astringent
persimmons are peeled and dried whole they lose all their astringency
and develop a sweet, datelike consistency.
Commercial Potential: Persimmons
are found in most supermarkets during the season, but there is not
a large demand outside ethnic markets. It would appear that there
is a potential as a major crop if and when the market is developed.
CULTIVARS There has been a great
deal of confusion and misidentification among persimmon cultivars.
The following list is subject to revision as better analysis techniques
become available.
Astringent Varieties
Eureka Medium to large oblate fruit,
puckered at the calyx. Skin bright orange-red. Good quality. Ripens
late. Tree small, vigorous, drought and frost resistant, precocious
and heavy-bearing. One of the most satisfactory cultivars for Florida
and Texas.
Hachiya Large, oblong-conical fruit
Skin glossy, deep orange. Flesh dark yellow. Sweet and rich. Good
for drying. Ripens midseason to late. Tree vigorous, upright-spreading.
Prolific in California.
Honan Red Small, roundish oblate
fruit with thin skin. Skin and flesh ripen to a distinct orange-red.
Very sweet and rich. Excellent for fresh eating and drying. Ripens
midseason to late. Tall, upright, moderately vigorous tree. Bears
good crop.
Saijo Small, elongated fruit. Skin
dull-yellow when mature. Flavor sweet, excellent, ranked among the
best by gourmets. Mature fruits are attractive when dried. Tree
medium in height, bears consistently. Cold hardy to -10°F.
Tamopan Large, somewhat four-sided
fruit, broad-oblate and indented around the middle. Skin thick,
orange-red. Flesh light orange, sweet and rich when fully ripe.
Ripens midseason in California.
Tanenashi Medium-sized round-conical
fruits. Skin light yellow or orange, turning orange-red, thick.
Flesh yellow, sweet. Ripens early. Tree vigorous, rounded, prolific.
In California tends to bear in alternate years.
Triumph Sold as Sharon Fruit after
astringency
Nonastringent Varieties
Fuyu (Fuyugaki) Medium-large oblate
fruit, faintly four-sided. Skin deep orange. Flesh light orange,
sweet and mild. Ripens late. Keeps well and is an excellent packer
and shipper. Tree vigorous, spreading, productive. Most popular
nonastringent cultivar in Japan.
Gosho/Giant Fuyu/O'Gosho Large,
roundish-oblate fruit. Skin reddish orange, attractive. When fully
ripe has one of the deepest red colors of any persimmon. Flesh quality
good, sweeter than Fuyu. Ripens in late October. Tree somewhat dwarf.
Bears regularly but sets a light crop in some seasons and is prone
to premature shedding of fruit.
Imoto Similar to Jiro. Reddish
brown skin. Occasional male flowers and seeds. Probably a bud mutation
of Jiro. Ripens late October and early November
Izu Medium-sized fruit. Skin burnt
orange. Flesh soft, with a good amount of syrup, of fine texture.
Flavor very good. Not reliably nonastringent. Ripens early, from
the end of September to mid-October. Tree somewhat dwarf. Bears
only female flowers. Sets good crop.
Jiro Fruit large. Resembles Fuyu,
but more truncated and squarish in cross-section. Skin orange-red.
Flavor and quality excellent. Ripens late October and early November,
ships well. Often sold as Fuyu. Tree slightly upright. Most popular
nonastringent variety in California.
Maekawajiro Medium-sized, rounded
fruit, smoother and less indented than Jiro. Rich orange in color.
Sweet and of good quality. Ripens in mid-season. Tree slightly upright.
Must be planted with a suitable pollinator to ensure good fruit
yield. Bud mutation of Jiro.
Okugosho Medium-sized, round fruit.
Skin orange to deep red. Flesh sweet, of good texture, flavor good.
Not reliably nonastringent. Ripens in early November. Tree medium-sized,
vigorous, spreading. Differentiates male flowers, making it a suitable
pollinator.
Suruga Large fruit. Skin orange-red.
Flesh dense, very sweet, excellent quality. Difficult to soften
on tree (fruit becomes spongy rather than soft). Ripens in November,
keeps well Tree almost free from alternate bearing. Recommended
for warmer climates.
Pollination Variant Varieties (astringent
when seedless)
Chocolate Small to medium-sized,
oblong-conical fruit. Skin reddish orange. Flesh brown-streaked
when pollinated, must be soft-ripe before eating. Ripens late October
to early November. Tree large, vigorous, producing many male blossoms.
Recommended as a pollinator for pollination variant cultivars such
as Hyakuma and Zenji Maru.
Gailey Fruit small, roundish to
conical with a rounded apex. Skin dull red, pebbled. Flesh dark,
firm, juicy, of fair flavor. Tree small to medium. Bears many male
flowers regularly and is an excellent cultivar to plant for cross-pollination.
Has attractive autumn foliage and ornamental value.
Hyakume Fruit large, roundish oblong
to roundish oblate. Skin buff-yellow to light orange, marked with
rings and veins near the apex. Flesh dark cinnamon when seeded,
juicy, of firm texture, nonmelting. Flavor spicy, very good. Nonastringent
even while the fruit is still hard. Ripens in midseason, stores
and ships well.
Maru Small to medium-sized fruit,
rounded at the apex. Skin brilliant orange-red, attractive. Flesh
dark cinnamon, juicy, sweet and rich, quality excellent. Stores
and ships especially well. Tree vigorous and productive. Generally
considered a group name.
Nishimura Wase Fruit medium, round
conical to oblate. Orange color. Mediocre flavor. Ripens in September.
Bears male flowers. |
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AVAILABLE FROM:
This fruit is not carried by any of our member nurseries.
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