Persimmon tree, Sharon fruit – cultivation and care of persimmons

If you don’t want to buy a fully grown persimmon tree, you can grow it yourself from seeds. The classic persimmon, also called Chinese plum, has the coveted seeds inside, but is rarely available in stores. The Sharon fruit, on the other hand, can be found on many fruit shelves, especially in autumn, and again no longer contains any seeds. It is therefore necessary to purchase the persimmon seeds from specialist shops, where they are offered at a reasonable price. The following materials are required for a successful cultivation of persimmons:

• Kakisamen
• a bowl of lukewarm water
• Growing substrate
• Cultivation vessel
• Transparency foil
• Elastic band
• Pebbles or perlite

There are two known methods of germinating persimmon seeds. The first approach is to stratify the seeds, which means they are kept in the refrigerator for about 4 weeks. So that they do not dry out during this time, they are wrapped in a damp kitchen towel, which is repeatedly moistened over this period of time. The second germination technique significantly shortens the time required. The persimmon seeds are only soaked for one day in a bowl of lukewarm water. Whether stratified or soaked; the prepared seeds are placed individually in the growing medium. Coke substrate or a permeable peat-sand mixture is very suitable for germination. Before the selected substrate is filled into the cultivation vessel, a layer of pebbles or perlite should be placed over the water drainage hole as drainage to prevent waterlogging. The seeds must not be inserted too deeply into the substrate, because the entire core is lifted out of the earth during germination.

After slightly moistening the growing substrate, a transparent film is spread over it, which is attached with the rubber band. One or two small air holes will prevent mold from building up. The nursery pot is placed in a bright and warm place with at least 20 ° to 22 ° Celsius. While the hobby gardener eagerly awaits the first signs of germination, the soil with the seeds is kept slightly moist at all times. Experience has shown that persimmon seeds take a long time to germinate. Therefore, nobody should throw the gun in the towel too quickly, but rather show patience for two to four weeks. If the framework conditions described prevail, sooner or later the small seedlings will show up. If the first real leaves appear on the seedlings, they are pricked out, if they are not already individually. Over the next 1 to 2 years, a small persimmon tree will gradually develop, which will always be repotted in a somewhat larger planter when the previous pot is rooted through. The substrate in the bucket for the growing persimmon tree should be humus and permeable, such as good potting soil with some compost and sand mixed in.

Plant out in the garden

In regions with a mild climate, such as the German wine-growing areas, a 2 to 3 year old persimmon tree can also be planted in the garden. The chosen location should be bright, sunny and sheltered from the wind, which is especially the case near the house on the south wall. The garden soil does not have to be extremely rich in nutrients, but it must not prove to be too heavy and too moist. In the first step, a planting hole is dug that is two to three times as large as the root ball of the persimmon tree. After the bottom of the hole has been loosened with the rake, a drainage layer is first poured in, which consists of gravel, perlite or crushed pottery shards. If you have an air and water permeable weed fleece at hand, spread it over the drainage before a first layer of potting soil comes over it. Good garden soil mixed with compost, a few handfuls of horn shavings and, if necessary, with a little sand is ideal. The persimmon tree is then positioned in the center of the planting hole, together with a support post and the potting soil. The young tree is tied to the support post with a bast band for greater stability. Finally, everything is well slurried with water and covered with a layer of bark or leaf mulch.

Care of the persimmon tree

A location that takes the needs of the persimmon tree into account is a crucial part of the correct care for this exotic tree beauty. In addition, the following guidelines must be observed, which apply to potted plants as well as persimmons in the bed:

• Keep potting soil permanently moist
• water more abundantly in summer
• Fertilize monthly in spring and summer
• fertilize every 14 days in autumn
• Do not fertilize any more from September
• regularly check for pests
• Cutting not required

Organic fertilizer, like guano, works very well. Pure persimmon trees and cultivated forms bear spherical fruits from the age of 2 or 3 in late autumn, which weigh around 500 g. Anyone who has grown or planted a real persimmon tree will receive new seeds with the harvest, which are in the juicy flesh. Hobby gardeners who have planted a tree with Sharon fruits will not find these seeds.

Overwinter

The young persimmon tree is not particularly hardy in the first two to three years of life and should be cultivated in the tub during this time. The tree spends the summer on the terrace, balcony or in the garden in a sunny place. As soon as it has shed its leaves in autumn, it is time to move to its winter quarters. It should be dark there and not warmer than 5 ° Celsius. In winter the kaki also needs some water, but not nearly as abundant as in the warm season. Older trees that have been planted in the bed are well equipped for frosty temperatures if their roots are covered with a thick layer of leaves, straw or bark mulch and a jute sack or garden fleece has been put over them. In later years, when the persimmon trees are several meters high,

Harvest Sharon fruit after grafting

The classic persimmon tree with the botanical name Diospyros kaki also develops juicy and sweet fruits. These fruits, also known as Chinese plums or persimmons, have a hard shell that cannot be eaten and usually contain a lot of black seeds. Hobby gardeners who prefer to harvest the popular Sharon fruits from their persimmon tree, such as those offered in the fruit shop, can refine their Diospyros kaki accordingly, because this variety has the highest refinement compatibility. Two methods are available for this measure:

Edelreiser
Ideally, they come from the upper part of the crown, are as thick as a pencil or as thick as a finger and have multiple eyes. Edelreiser with flower buds are not suitable. The best time to prune the vines is January, but only if there was no longer period of frost beforehand. Until it is used, the edible veins are wrapped in a thick, moist layer of sand and stored in a cool, humid cellar or in the garden to prevent them from sprouting prematurely. On a cloudy spring day, a 3 cm to 4 cm long bevel cut is made on the bark of the rootstock and on the vines. The base and the vines must have opposite eyes. Then both are connected to each other with a bast ribbon. It is important to note that the interfaces must not be touched under any circumstances.

Chipping
This method of refinement works in a similar way to the ooculation and is useful when documents and vines are of different thicknesses. Here, the sleeping eye of the freshly cut leaf vines is connected to the base, which was previously shortened to the desired height. A T-shaped cut is made in the bark and folded apart slightly. Then the eye of the noble leaf is put in there, everything is coated with wax and tightly wrapped with bast, whereby the noble eye must not be covered. With a little luck, the refined area on the persimmon tree will sprout after about 2 to 3 weeks and a tree will grow that will soon bear the delicious Sharon fruits.

Regardless of how the processing is carried out, wounds develop on the base and on the Edelreiser that have to be treated if they are not to become infected with fungi or viruses. Cold liquid tree wax is ideally suited for professional wound care on woody vegetation. In addition, the cutting tool, which is preferably razor-sharp, is disinfected beforehand with alcohol.

Popular persimmon varieties

In the following some of the most popular persimmon varieties are presented, which are not called “god fruit” for nothing:

Tipo’s Feet

• orange fruits
• particularly juicy and sweet
• Growth height up to 400 cm

Kaki Mela

• crisp fruit
• small yellow flowers in spring
• red foliage in autumn
• hardy to -18 ° Celsius

Kaki Rojo

• abundant harvest of juicy fruits
• hardy to -16 ° Celsius
• Growth height up to 400 cm

Kaki Chocolate

• particularly large orange-colored fruits
• Fruits contain seeds
• also makes male flowers
• Growth height up to 300 cm

Fragrance Feet

• velvety soft fruits
• Growth height up to 300 cm
• hardy from the 3rd year

Sharon’s feet

• the most popular variety
• is mostly cultivated in Israel
• yellowish to orange colored fruits
• in the bucket up to 400 cm high
• in the bed up to a height of 800 cm

Numerous other varieties of persimmon have meanwhile been bred around the world. The Sharon fruit is the most common in Germany and has taken the hearts of hobby gardeners by storm.

Conclusion
The persimmon tree is a gift from Mother Nature that has been cultivated for more than 2,000 years. In spring it presents itself with a wonderful splendor of flowers, in autumn it pampers the eye with reddish shimmering leaves and donates juicy, sweet fruits just before winter. It is not for nothing that the fruits of persimmon are also called the fruit of the gods. In the local regions it can usually be found as a container plant, because it is not really hardy due to its origin. One of the most popular cultivated forms is cultivated in Israel and provides the popular Sharon fruit.