With fruits that resemble orange tomatoes, the persimmon is a beautiful fruit tree that can also be grown in pots. Make sure the soil is fresh and well-drained, continue pruning when necessary and repot regularly.
The persimmon tree is native to Asia, more specifically China and Japan, and produces fruits that at first glance look like large orange tomatoes, but are attached to the branches as if they were apples. They are fruits with juicy and sweet pulp, especially awaited in the autumn season.
The persimmon tree grows well in any type of soil and if you want you can also grow it in pots, but in this case expect a lower development and a lower fruit production compared to plants grown in full soil. For a good development of the plant you must remember to repot the plant in increasingly larger pots to ensure a sufficient amount of soil at the roots. Sprinkle and water regularly and protect your tree from widespread and frequent attacks by insects and pests.
Description and varieties
The persimmon tree (Diospyros kaki), native to China, belongs to the Ebenaceae family and is considered a subtropical species that today adapts to a wide variety of climates. In our country, too, the persimmon is now grown throughout the peninsula, although in the north the younger plants probably do not tolerate much humidity during the winter season.
The most popular varieties in Italy are the Lotus from Romagna, which produces intense yellow-orange fruits with a soft, sweet and almost gelatinous pulp, and the Vanilla from Campania , whose pulp is firmer than that of the Lotus and darker in colour. Among the kaki apples, the Fuyu, Suruga, O’Gosho and Jiro varieties are particularly appreciated.
When and how to plant them
The best time to transplant the persimmon tree is the autumn and winter months until early spring. To plant a plant, you must first dig a hole with the guide dimensions of 70x70x70 cm. After placing the plant with the collar just above the surface of the soil, cover it with fertilized soil and gently press it with your feet. Then water the plant for better rooting.
soil and fertilizer
The ideal soil for growing the persimmon tree must be fertile and permeable to avoid the risk of water stagnation . As for fertilizer, it is ideal to add manure or a slow release product.
irrigation
The persimmon is a fairly rustic species, so it tolerates dry periods well. If the summer is particularly hot, it is better to water it a little more.
multiplication
The propagation of persimmons is usually done by grafting . What does this mean? It is a method of multiplication that consists in joining two parts of different plants, but which are nevertheless similar, to form a single individual. In practice, the living part of a plant, called nesto , is welded to another part with roots, called the rootstock . To give life to rootstock plants , sowing is also usually done with seeds extracted from the fruit.
pruning
The first rule for a good pruning is to prune sparingly, leaving a generous amount of flower buds on the branches . At the same time, it is necessary to thin out the branches that are too dense to reduce the early fall of small fruits due to the lack of light in the foliage, a condition that can also favor the presence of cochineal.It is therefore recommended to thin out the branches towards the end of winter , taking care to adequately remove the remaining branches.
diseases and pests
Persimmons are subject to various diseases and pest attacks. Sodium bicarbonate dissolved in water is usually used to combat a fungus known as powdery mildew or white mildew . To prevent the spread of gray mold , copper green is used instead. The persimmon can also be attacked by an insect called sesia , a moth whose larvae dig tunnels in the bark of the plant: a clear sign of its presence is yellowing, if not wilting. Another danger comes from the fruit fly ( Ceratitis capitata ), which can be prevented by never leaving the fruit on the plant after ripening. The persimmon can also be attacked by mealybugs, which are eliminated by spraying fern macerates on the plant or treating it with mineral oils.
