Thursday, December 18, 2014

Persimmon Daydreaming. 12.18.14

American Persimmon.  Image source commons.wikimedia,org

American persimmon.  Image source commons.wikimedia.org
I've been thinking about adding an American persimmon tree.  I have a location in mind.

There are a few varieties described as not needing a male to pollinate them.  Yates, Prok, Meader.   Time to bear is listed as 3 to 5 years.

The varieties at Starks are 1 to 2 feet tall, in air pots.  Those are containers with open bottom, so the roots are "air pruned" resulting in bushier root mass and considered more likely to survive.  That size is small to my mind.  I have grown other trees from smaller, however.

Burnt Ridge also carries persimmon trees.  I sent them an email asking size, time to bear.

I only want to try one tree.  Yates or Prok are options.  Yates has more of a flavor description, Prok has more claim about how much they bear, and larger fruit.  Those are not side to side comparisons.

Starks gives ideal planting time as early march.  Will think about it some more.

We bought Asian persimmons at the grocery store the past couple of weeks.  Hichaya was much better than Fuyu.  Fuyu are more common.  They are better if allowed to ripen until soft.  They are like a tropical fruit flavor, a jelly in a fruit skin.

4 comments:

  1. I've never eaten an American persimmon so I don't know what to expect but I have a Fuyu persimmon tree that's doing Ok when the leaves change color its really spectacular. My tree is young and have never given me fruits but I've seen neighborhood trees having fruits so all I need is patience. Such beautiful mature tree, great form and fall leaves color.
    This yr I may try to graft a quince onto an apple because I like the way the fruit smells. Its just one of those fun fruits to have.
    The storm have downed 2 trees missed my neighbor's car by an inch. Thank god I don't want to own an well used mini cooper. It have open up a space for my Michiala. The dead tree have a Mirliton on it and was baring wonderful squash. I sure missed it....
    http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b499/lancegreen1/DSCF1378_zpsd3103361.jpg

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  2. Lance, I have not eaten an American persimmon either. I love the flavor of a fully ripe, astringent type Asian persimmon. You are right they are beautiful trees, spring, summer, and fall.

    I never had a fresh fig until I grew and ate my own - definitely worth growing! I hope the persimmons are equally good. I ordered a Yates American persimmon from Burnt Ridge. I know where it will be planted. Long time waiting but it's interesting to do.

    Wow, that storm damage was bad! Glad no one was hurt.

    Try again next year for the squash. 2015 will be my year of the squash - many varieties, see which are best. Among other things.

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  3. Please let me know how the American Persimmons taste like. I'll have to see if my Mirliton comes back they are short lived perennials. If not I've another one ready to plant but I sure don't want 2 giant vines in front of my house, my neighbors will complain. The storm caught everyone by surprised, we are in such a long drought that we don't remember how to behave in the rain. Small flooding cause lots of car ruined their engines. Tow guys were over worked. Another giant tree fell on the community garden fence luckily no one got hurt except it decapitated a 3 yrs old apple tree.
    hawk 's favorite perch now gone: http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b499/lancegreen1/P1060222_zps97aa2246.jpg
    http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b499/lancegreen1/DSCF1407_zps09f10eb1.jpg
    shallow roots
    missed my plot and the fig tree(yellow leaves)if the wind was blowing a different way it could be right on the fig and my plot which is second from the left with a brussel sprouts topless.
    http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b499/lancegreen1/DSCF1404_zps92db196b.jpg
    butterfly bush fell on dahlia plot mixing up all the name tags. Oh boy!

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  4. Your storm did a lot of damage!

    Here things were soaked, soaked some more, and soaked some more. But no damage I am aware of.

    I've never eaten merliton. I have seen them in stores.

    I think I should trim back my buddleias this winter - yours will probably grow back if you cut it back, or you can start new ones from cuttings.

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