You may already befamiliar with persimmons.
Not only are they easy to grow, but also they’rebeautiful in the landscape.
Horses have been known to develop these blockages as well, sokeep persimmons away from petsand livestock.
‘Matsumoto Wase Fuyu’ offers a bounty of crisp, tasty fruit.Credit: Helen Norman
Oriental Persimmon Care
Compared to mostfruit trees, Oriental persimmons are easy.
They don’t require annual thinning or a regular spraying program.
They bloom late enough in spring that cold snaps are rarely a problem.
Plant your persimmon in full sun in well-drained soil, and your tree is likely to do well.
Light
This tree requires full sun to make it produce fruit.
Plant on a site that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight a day.
Eight hours is even better.
Soil
Oriental persimmon is fairly tolerant of all soil types, though it really thrives in loam.
The tree does not like alkaline or thin, rocky soils.
Most importantly, see to it you are planting in well-drained soil.
Dig a hole twice as wide as the tree’s root ball and a little deeper.
Place the tree at ground level and backfill with the native soil.
If your soil could use improvement, add a thin layer of compost on top.
Then mulch around the tree to conserve moisture and add nutrients.
Water
Your tree will appreciate regular watering during its first growing season.
Oriental persimmon can tolerate shortperiods of droughtafter it is established.
But watering the plant during dry spells can result in larger and better fruit.
Water deeply for 10 minutes once or twice a week.
Temperature and Humidity
Oriental persimmons will grow in both dry and humid climates.
They like warm temperatures and cannot survive winters where temperatures drop below 10 degrees.
If you live in the Upper South, you may want to try one of the hybrid crosses ofD.
kakiand our native persimmon,D.
These trees require 100-200 chill hours to fruit, depending on the cultivar.
You may not get fruit if you live on the southern tip of Florida.
Astringent cultivarsthose that must fully ripen before they turn sweetare better suited to southern Florida.
Fertilizer
Minimal fertilizer is best, as too much nitrogen can cause fruit to drop.
Have your soil tested by your extension office for advice.
Persimmons shouldn’t be fertilized in their first year in the garden.
Types Of Oriental Persimmon
Oriental persimmons can be either astringent or nonastringent.
Sweet and crunchy when firm, the nonastringent types are best eaten fresh.
Whatever your preference, fall is the ideal time to shop for and plant persimmons.
Look for them at your local nursery, or order online fromstarkbros.com,justfruitsandexotics.com,petalsfromthepast.com,andjohnsonnursery.com.
Pruning
Hands-off gardeners will be thrilled to hear this fruit tree requires very little pruning.
Most of the pruning involves cleanup to preserve the health of the tree.
Persimmon trees tend to sucker; remove suckers regularly so your tree won’t form a thicket.
Sometimes these trees will alternate between heavy crop years and small crop years.
If branches are overburdened, thin the fruit to prevent limbs from breaking.
Propagating Oriental Persimmon
Because Oriental persimmon trees can self-pollinate, the fruit often doesn’t contain seeds.
If you collect seeds from your fruit, they will not be true to pop in.
For that reason, Oriental persimmons are propagated from cuttings.
Choose a pot with drainage holes that is at least 2 inches wider in diameter than the nursery pot.
This may be a good thing if you better move the pot indoors for part of the year.
Water when the top inch of the potting mixture is dry.
Repot your tree every two to three years with fresh soil.
Any new growth that appears the following spring could be coming from the rootstock.
Even if your Oriental persimmon does revive, it may be a few years before it fruits again.
Another approach is to grow your tree in a container and move it to a protected environment in winter.
An unheated garage that stays above freezing will serve.
Reduce watering while your tree is dormant and in low light.
Move it back outdoors once all danger of frost has passed.
Crown gall causes wart-like growths on the trunk or branches.
It can stunt tree growth and reduce leaf size and fruiting.
Black, sunken areas can appear on stems, branches, and fruit as well.
Rake and burn or dispose of any leaves in the trash.
Oriental persimmons rarely face serious damage from insects.
Large insects can be picked off the tree and dropped into soapy water.
The adult moth is black and usually has an orange band across its abdomen.
In summer, the whitish larvae tunnel into the wood.
You may see loose bark and frass at the base of the tree.
The larvae can eventually girdle and kill the tree.
Borers can be cut out of the tree with a sharp knife.
They are difficult to spray for, so talk to your local extension office for recommendations.
Persimmons are a favorite of wildlife, which can grab the fruit before it ripens.
you’re free to harvest the fruit earlier and allow it to ripen indoors.
This may require nothing more than patience.
Water your tree during hot, dry weather to keep it healthy.
Avoid nitrogen fertilizers and heavy pruning.
With these steps, you are likely to see more blooms in the following year.
Oriental persimmon trees also tend to alternate between heavy flowering and light flowering years.
Expect fewer flowers in some years.
Common Problems With Persimmon
Fruit drop is probably the most common problem that occurs with these trees.
Fruit can fall because of too much fertilizer, hot weather, cold weather, and drought.
Give your tree a good drink if it’s stressed by heat and drought.
Mulching the tree can help regulate soil temperature and retain moisture.
Yamamoto M, Yamamoto K, Bian X, et al.Small bowel obstruction triggered by dried persimmon.Case Rep Gastroenterol.
2018;12(1):147-152.
2000;216(8):1279-1281. doi:10.2460/javma.2000.216.1279
