Persimmon

Pick the Perfect Persimmon

The persimmon is one of the great Mediterranean fruits. It grows exceptional quality fruit over most of the bottom half of Australia. Fuyu bears a large seedless fruit that can be eaten crisp straight from the tree. But if you keep it in the fruit bowl it eventually goes soft and jelly fleshed, just like the old fashioned style of persimmon. This variety grows to about 4m high and across. Keep your tree pruned to a compact shape. It has a neat umbrella canopy that is compact enough to net against birds. The fruit appears in a couple of years from planting and production is regular and productive. It is a beautiful tree that will enhance any front garden.

Fuyu has extra vigour that makes it easier to establish where conditions are less than ideal. 

Old fashioned Persimmon varieties are available such as Nightingale. These varieties must be picked when ripe and allowed to soften before they can be eaten. Then they have the most delicious, sweet, jelly-like flesh.

We like to plant Persimmon trees with the break of the season in autumn through the winter into the middle of spring when soils are generally moist. Soil preparation is critical with persimmon. They do become quite hardy in time but can be difficult to establish in poorly prepared soil. Use the GreenSheet as a guide to correct soil preparation.

New-season Fuyu are now available for $100.

How to Plant Your New Persimmon Tree

Persimmon trees need to be managed carefully in the first year. They do not transplant easily because the young roots are slow to get growing into the new soil. They are also sensitive to root rots caused by waterlogged soil. Follow these directions carefully to ensure the successful establishment of your valuable tree.

Winter dormant trees

• Plant your new tree in autumn, winter or spring.

• If your soil is not friable prepare the planting  position as described in the GreenSheet called “Planting Subtropical Fruit Trees in the Garden” (available on perrysfruitnursery.com.au)

• Do not put fertiliser in the hole

• The soil at the top of the pot should be level with the surrounding soil after planting

• Water in thoroughly

• Prune the top off your tree at about 60-70cm above ground level. This will force strong bud growth to follow and is an important step. Be sure to cut above the graft!

• The cut should be 10mm above a strong bud. Use clean, sharp secateurs

• After a normal winter does not begin regular watering until you see new leaf growth. This will probably be sometime in October

• Water once a week in October, November, December, March and April

• Water twice a week in January and February. Mulch well in these months.

• Fertilise on the first of every month between October and November with 1 handful of  Rustica Plus OR 2 handfuls of organic fertiliser

Leafy trees

• Trees bought in leaf from September to November and from March to May should be planted as soon as possible after purchase.

• Water carefully as described above.

• Fertilize lightly.