Round orange persimmon is inedible, until it becomes soft and ripe. Persimmon trees perfectly decorate country houses, where their bright spherical fruits hang on the branches after the leaves fall until winter. To have their own attractive tree, gardeners will give tips on how to grow persimmons at home from seed.
Material Content:
Where and how does persimmon grow?
All types of persimmons require very little specialized care and are quite immune to problems and pests that other fruit trees can infect. All you need is a warm summer and a lot of sun, that is, conditions as close as possible to those where persimmons grow in nature. In autumn, persimmon tolerates small frosts, but for the winter it is better to clean it in the greenhouse.
There are two common types of persimmons:
- astringent soft variety that will be incredibly tart until it ripens and becomes completely soft, like jelly. This variety is wonderfully sweet and perfect for baking;
- a non-binder variety or hard persimmon that remains solid after ripening and is great for eating fresh.
The climate where persimmons grow should be moist and warm, however, some varieties self-pollinate, some require pollen, and some bear fruit without a second tree.
Fruit tastes better in pollinated trees
Clarify this point if you will buy a seedling. In addition, although there are several varieties of dwarf varieties, you can easily prune standard trees to keep them within the desired boundaries.
Seed collection
The best time to harvest Asian persimmon seeds for planting is when the fruit is ripe, but still on the tree. The harvesting period varies depending on the particular variety and can take place from early August to late December.
Seed stratification and storage
Asian persimmon seeds need a two to three-month cooling period from 1 to 10 degrees Celsius before planting. This process, called stratification, softens the upper layer of the seed and allows it to germinate. Seeds must be moist during the delamination process. A good way to keep persimmon seeds moist is to place them between layers of wet peat moss in an airtight plastic bag. Remember to leave a few holes in the bag to allow air circulation. For stratification, you can also mix seeds with raw sand.
Planting persimmon seeds
In order for Asian persimmon seeds to begin to grow, you will need a peeled planting mixture and a pot of approx. 20 cm. A good way to determine the depth for planting a seed is to place it at a depth equal to the diameter of the seed.
Walkthrough:
- Choose a ripe persimmon in late autumn or early November, or buy it at the vegetable market. When ripe, the fruit becomes soft and acquires a bright shade of orange.
- Cut the fruit in half. Remove dark seeds the size of raisins and immediately peel them, as they have a jelly-like shell that ferments them. Dry them by placing them in a dry paper towel for 48 hours.
- Mix the seeds with a few handfuls of wet peat. Store in a refrigerator in a sealed plastic bag for two months. Keep the temperature between 2 and 5 degrees Celsius.
- Select a landing site with light, humus-rich soil and partial sun. Work at a depth of up to 20 cm. Make a small trench with a hoe or the edge of a shovel. Water the trench well.
- Remove the seeds from the refrigerator and soak in cool water for two or three days. Plant them at a distance of 30 cm from each other along the trench at a depth of 4 cm in spring or early autumn.
- Thin seedlings once in the first autumn leaving every 6th. A year after planting, healthy seedlings should be 20 cm tall. Thin them again in the second fall, leaving only the number of persimmon trees that you want to grow. Keep in mind that each mature tree can reach 1-1.5 m in height.
Tools you will need:
- paper towels;
- peat;
- plastic bag;
- shovel or hoe;
- a bowl of water.
It is important that the soil around the seeds is moist during germination and the initial stage of growth. Temperatures between 21 and 23 degrees Celsius are well suited for this period.
Shoots and leaves
It is expected that the shoot will appear one to six weeks after planting the seeds. It is important that the soil is moist during seedlings and seedlings. Keep Asian persimmon seeds in a warm, sunny place during the first growing season. In the spring after germination, you can plant a new seedling in the garden. The best place to land is an area in the sun with well-drained, slightly acidic, sandy, or loamy soil.
Recommendations for planting seedlings
To grow persimmons from seedlings, you need to use bare root seedlings, planting their cultivated land in the spring. Persimmon can also be planted in a pot almost all year round, although you should avoid the hottest summer months. Do not be surprised at black roots - this is their natural color.
Well-drained soil is always preferred, but persimmon, especially Japanese, is tolerant of different soils.
How to plant
For bare root plants, dig a planting hole that will be approximately the same depth as the roots, and twice as wide. Create a cone in the middle of the hole, which should be deep enough for the crown of the tree to sit directly above the line of soil.Fluff the roots along the sides of the hole to stimulate root expansion. Set the tree in place, spreading the roots around the cone, and backfill the soil.
For plants grown in containers, dig a planting hole so that it is at the same depth as the root ball and is twice as wide, and then slightly take the bottom of the hole. Then place the plant in the hole and fluff the roots. Fill the soil and create a small irrigation berm around the outside of the hole.
After planting, you can trim off the extra branches to form a crown. Then water well and add the mulch at least 7 cm from the trunk.
Persimmon Care Requirements
Persimmon is one of the strongest and most comfortable fruit trees.
It requires some attention from you, but it is not too whimsical or problematic, like some of the most popular fruits. Your most likely problem, especially in the first few years, is fruit dropping. This can be corrected by successive watering, you should spray the leaves and do not overfeed the soil.
Watering
Asian persimmons are quite resistant to drought, but you will get the best fruits if you water at least every few weeks. But do not overload the plant: the soil should be somewhat (although not completely) dry before the next watering. Hybrid persimmon varieties respond well to regular watering schedules.
Top dressing
Asian persimmons should be fertilized at the end of winter or early spring, as soon as the soil becomes suitable for work. Do this only if the tree does not grow well. Often you just need to add organic mulch to bring development back on track.
Thinning
If the young tree is overloaded with fruit, thin out the branches. There is no reason to do thinning if you see that the tree copes well with its load.
Pruning
Asian persimmons should have either an arbitrary shape without a central trunk, or a modified central trunk, from which all branches are directed. To form such a trunk, it is necessary to prune the branches for the first few years, successively developing their preferred shape and removing any branches that are too long or short. After this, it is only necessary to maintain the shape with cosmetic circumcision, as well as regularly remove diseased, dried or curved elements. You can also trim the lower branches to raise the crown. Remove any side shoots around the base of the tree.
Pests and diseases
Birds will be tempted by bright and juicy fruits, but it is difficult to call such a neighborhood a drawback. In humid climates, a tree can become a victim of anthracnose. Keep the foliage dry and provide good air circulation. Remove and destroy affected branches.
Harvesting
Persimmon begins to bear fruit in 4-5 autumn after planting, you will find fruits on the trees even after the leaves have fallen. First, collect the fruits from the top of the crown, as the most quickly ripened. The rest of the fruit can hang until the onset of frost.
Collect astringent varieties after they have fully matured in the fall, when they become completely soft. If you need to collect them earlier, wait until they are completely painted in their soft orange color, and then let them continue to ripen indoors in a cool place until they reach the desired level of softness.
Astringent persimmons ripen in early autumn, usually after the first good frost. The indicator of maturity is wrinkled skin and softness. You can harvest a little ahead of time if the birds look at them, but to avoid astringency, let them ripen completely before eating.
Collect a non-binder variety when it ripens. Perform a taste test and, for added reliability, let the fruit lay down for one or two days before eating.
