My favorite fruit tree is a Japanese 'Diospyrus Kaki Fuyu' persimmon growing in our front side yard. It was a thin, spindly 3-foot stick when we planted it around 18 years ago. Our soil is heavy rock and clay, but persimmons are hardy trees known to tolerate less than ideal conditions, although they do insist on good drainage.
For the first 7 years, there was no fruit, despite descriptions saying that fruiting should start within 3-5 years. I was disappointedly thinking we must not have done a good enough job planting it. It came dangerously close to being yanked out when the tree finally started fruiting in the 8th year. Just a handful of small , underwhelming fruit. By the 10th year, however, it was producing well. Unlike the American persimmon, which is unpalatably astringent if not fully soft, Japanese fuyu fruit are typically eaten fresh and crunchy, like an apple. I always remove the skin, but some people eat it skin and all.
For the first 7 years, there was no fruit, despite descriptions saying that fruiting should start within 3-5 years. I was disappointedly thinking we must not have done a good enough job planting it. It came dangerously close to being yanked out when the tree finally started fruiting in the 8th year. Just a handful of small , underwhelming fruit. By the 10th year, however, it was producing well. Unlike the American persimmon, which is unpalatably astringent if not fully soft, Japanese fuyu fruit are typically eaten fresh and crunchy, like an apple. I always remove the skin, but some people eat it skin and all.
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See how huge the tree is now. Most of the persimmons have been harvested as of this writing. My husband gives it a prune almost every early spring. Some years it takes a slight breather with fewer fruit, but still gives us more than we need. I make sure to water it really well all summer, and at least weekly during spring and fall. It gets Osmocote Plus, and also regular feedings of watered-down fish fertilizer.
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Maybe 3 months ago, I randomly decided to try rooting a cutting. After totally forgetting that it was stuck in the mulberry's wine barrel, I suddenly noticed orange leaves on a weed and thought Hmmm, could that be a persimmon? Plant Net confirmed it! Lo and behold, the tiny cutting had long, healthy roots. Good thing I discovered it before the leaves fell, otherwise it would have been weeded and trashed. It is now time to release the baby fuyu into a friend's tender loving care. Now my new project is obvious to me. Propagating fuyu persimmon cuttings for the next MG Plant Exchange :)
So glad that the fuyu was given a chance in spite of a very slow beginning. It is far and away my favorite tree!
So glad that the fuyu was given a chance in spite of a very slow beginning. It is far and away my favorite tree!
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Cheers and Happy Gardening!