Persimmon Tree Care

Persimmons are Japan's national fruit. Persimmons have been cultivated for over a millennium in Asian countries.
Persimmons make delicious bread, bagels, and muffins, along with stuffing, jams, jellies, curry, pies, and cookies. They can also be served in salads with watercress, tomatoes, basil, red pepper, onion and almonds along with homemade salsa and marinades.
The sky's the limit on recipes that can change the traditional boring meal, transforming it into a scrumptious feast.
Any home gardener can have oriental persimmon trees,  even with limited space, growing persimmons is possible in a container.

Persimmon Varieties
We offer 4 varieties of persimmons these varieties are Fuyu, Hachiya, Suruga, and Tanenashi.
We offer two types, astringent (not as sweet) and non-astringent (sweeter).

The Fuyu Persimmon is a non-astringent variety, the fruit is eaten fresh off the tree. The Fuyu is seedless and great for cooking and eating. The fruits tend to ripen in November and are as sweet and crisp as apples.

The Hachiya Persimmon is an astringent variety,  the fruit is picked when firm and bright orange and stored until soft. It is often used for baking also a favorite for eating as a fresh fruit. Hachiya Persimmons when ripe are wonderfully sweet.

The Suruga Persimmon is a non-astringent variety, the fruit is small round, deep orange with a sweet maple syrup flavor, vibrant, and delicious fruit.

The Tanenashi Persimmon is an astringent variety, a seedless prolific producer of a medium-sized round to cone-shaped orange-red fruits.

Planting Zones
Our Persimmons can be planted in USDA growing zones 9-11 only. 
Trees that are planted in the ground that experience freezing temperatures above zone 8 need protection in unusual inclement weather.
Planting in the wrong hardiness planting zone will void the warranty.
Planting zones- https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/

Planting In The Ground
1. Do not plant a new persimmon tree in a space where an old tree has died, the soil may be contaminated and create problems for your new tree. Mature persimmon trees can grow to a height of 25 feet tall, so choose your planting site carefully.
2. The location should be chosen that is sunny, in a well-draining area. Persimmons prefer deep loamy soils but will tolerate a range of conditions, provided soil salts are low. The preferred soil pH for persimmons is between 6.5 and 7.5.
3. Place the potted tree in a chosen location for 2 weeks and allow the tree to acclimate to the area before you plant in the ground. The tree needs full sun.
4. Dig a planting hole double the width of the root ball or double the size of the pot and fill with water and wait 24 hours.
5. Fill the hole with water again. If water has drained from the hole within an hour this area has good drainage and the tree can be planted.
6. If the area has terrible drainage choose another area.
7. Add a mixture of compost and well-draining soil into the hole and remove the tree from the pot.
8. Place tree in the hole. DO NOT allow the tree to drop down into the hole-The soil line of the tree should be above the existing soil grade approximate 1-2 inches above the existing grade.
9. Do not bury the root-crown with soil or mulch. A photo of the root crown can be found here - https://lemoncitrustree.com/store/pest-disease
10. Keep other plants away from the young tree by creating a 5-foot circumference around the trunk of the tree. Weeds allowed to grow around the tree's base compete for water and nutrients, so pull them up as they appear.
11. Deep-water newly planted fruit tree.

The Potted Persimmon
Persimmons are best grown in loamy soils in a well-draining pot.
Do not allow the tree to sit in standing water.
Do not re-pot until you have had the tree at least 2 weeks, the tree needs time to adjust
Never plant a tree in a container more substantial than a 10-gallon pot. Always water according to pot size, with a moisture meter. Drilling additional holes in the pot is an easy way to improve drainage.
When repotting DO NOT transplant using stones in the bottom of the pot or use stones on top as a decoration, this will cause a drainage issue and lock moisture into the pot which will cause root rot.
DO NOT USE SELF-WATERING POTS OR GLOBES.
DO NOT USE POTS WITH THE DRAINAGE TRAY ATTACHED.
Select the right sized pot with adequate drainage holes. If the pot has no holes on the side or bottom, it is not the correct pot for planting.
Self-watering is incorrect watering, self-watering is not infrequent deep watering.

Watering
Do not over-water Persimmon trees!
Overwatering trees in the ground in certain soils are often the number one factor in causing root rot.
Persimmon trees prefer deep root watering.
Regular watering helps the tree to establish a deep root system.
Persimmon trees produce more abundant and better fruit when watered regularly, ideally receiving 36-48" per year.
They will drop leaves and fruit in extreme drought conditions but can withstand shorter drought periods. In hot areas, it may be necessary to water a few times a week, unless they are growing in heavy clay soil.

Deep Watering Method For Potted Trees
Trees will die if they don't have basic requirements and the biggest mistake made is incorrect watering.
1. Check the tree with a moisture meter before watering.
2. The prong should be deep into the pot.
3. Only water when the meter reads 4 (for a meter that reads from 1-10)
4. All trees require deep watering. Deep watering is drenching the soil until water pours from the holes at the bottom of the pot.
5. Watering with a few cups is not acceptable, this will cause deep roots to die. Never be stingy with the water when the tree needs to be watered.
6. Once the tree has been watered properly, recheck the soil with the moisture meter again. It should read high (9 or 10) if it doesn't, water until the meter level is high. Remove the meter and then do not water again until the meter reads 4.
7. In the winter you will water far less, like twice a month (but always check the tree with a meter weekly, because this can vary).
8. The meter should never be left in the pot when not in use.
9. Never water with cold water in the winter.
10. Never water the tree with water from a water softener.

Pruning
Persimmons can be grown as large specimen trees or pruned heavily to create a hedge. Persimmons can even be trained as espaliers if cut back to about one half the original height at planting.
Because fruit is borne on branch tips, it is best to prune selectively and thoroughly in the first few years so the tree will develop balanced structure and strong branches for fruit.
Regular maintenance pruning involves heading some branches and removing others, usually resulting in a general "Open Vase" shape.

Fertilizing
Persimmon trees benefit from spring fertilization with a slow-release, balanced fertilizer. In early spring, before new leaves appear, apply a granular, general-purpose 5-5-5 fertilizer
DO NOT over fertilize, this can prevent persimmon fruit from developing.

Mulch
Use mulch for ground planted trees only.
Maintain a 3-4 inch layer of mulch around the persimmon tree to retain soil moisture and improve soil quality
Apply the mulch in the spring and fall under the canopy of the tree.
Avoid piling mulch against the trunk of the tree.
The tree trunk needs air circulation, without circulation, the truck could rot away from the root ball so avoid piling soil and mulch close to the root crown and tree truck.

Note on Dormancy
Dormant trees still need to be protected (winterized) to remain healthy and free from diseases and insects. Prune dead branches in the later part of fall. Foliage and branches that are in contact with soil invite undesirable pests. Therefore it is best to keep the winterized potted dormant tree clean of debris. Set it in an unheated garage or basement and allow it to go dormant for the winter months. Water the tree as you would typically through dormancy. It helps to have a moisture meter because in colder climates (even indoors) the tree will not need to be watered as often (about twice a month).
Water the dormant tree when the meter reads 40%. Fertilize dormant trees in February with a 5-5-5 fertilizer.

Please contact us at support@lemoncitrustree.com or call if you need assistance with your Persimmon tree.

Lemon Citrus Tree
866-216-TREE (8733)