Persimmon is a beautiful and fruitful tree that adds both visual appeal and delectable treats to any garden. With its glossy green leaves and graceful branches, it provides refreshing shade during sunny days. When the seasons change, it rewards us with luscious orange fruits, bursting with a sweet and succulent flavour.
Planting Calendar
Persimmons grow best when planted in Spring and Autumn, giving it time to establish its roots before the heat of summer.
Harvest In
3-5 years
Persimmons are harvested from mid May-June. Fruit reach full maturity when they turn orange. It can take from 3-5 years for your tree to bear fruit.
Prepare
Form a splendid neat and compact tree ideal for specimen planting, shrub borders or for lining driveways. Persimmons and can be fan-trained or espaliered.
Position
Persimmons require a long growing season (7 months) to mature fruit. This limits the fruit to warm northern regions in New Zealand. Shelter from cold spring winds is required to ensure adequate leaf and shoot growth to support fruit. Trees should be planted in full sun.
Soil
Persimmons will grow in a wide range of soil types, but always do best in deep loam type soils.
Pollination
All varieties are partially or fully self fertile.
Plant
When planting into the ground, gently tap the plant out of its pot. Dig a hole twice the depth and width of the plant’s root ball. Mix Kings Compost into your existing soil at a 50/50 ratio, add Kings Sheep Pellets and Kings Citrus and Fruit Tree fertiliser, then mix together. Backfill the hole with this soil, so that when planted the top of the plant’s roots sit level with the surrounding ground. Firm the soil down gently and water in well with Aquaticus Organic Garden Booster. In heavier clay soils, where drainage is likely to be an issue, plant onto a raised mound and sprinkle Gypsum Clay Breaker into the bottom of the hole, this helps slowly condition the soil and help to break down the clay.
Care
Watering
Water well during the early stages, during long dry periods and when the fruit is developing. Persimmons require regular and adequate water from fruit set until the start of colouring. This will keep fruit drop to a minimum.
Feeding
When planted in the ground liquid feed every month with Aquaticus Organic Garden Booster and Kings Citrus and Fruit tree food, from Spring through to the end of Autumn, this encourages root growth and increases the microbial activity in the soil. Monthly applications of Kings Sheep Pellets will help with soil conditioning and plant health.
Protecting
Birds love persimmons so trees may need to be netted.
Mulching
Mulch around the base of the plants (making sure it is not in direct contact with the trunk) with Living Earth More than Mulch. Mulching helps to reduce weeds as well as aiding the soil to lock moisture in the ground.
Spraying
If pests become a problem spray with BioNeem.
Pruning
Fruit are borne on new wood which is only formed on the terminal buds of last year’s growth. To ensure fruiting wood remains, prune half of the tree back hard in winter leaving some of last season’s growth. Good fruiting shoots are approximately 2 to 40 cm long with large buds near the tip.
Beginner Tip
The fruit can be eaten freshly picked from the tree like an apple, or sliced into crisp, sweet, melon-like wedges, skin and all. The crisp fruit can be popped in a paper bag for a couple of days with an apple to release ethylene which will ripen them. The stem end can then be sliced off to scoop out the jelly-like flesh.
Expert Tip
The branches can be rather brittle, so a sheltered site must be selected to ensure the tree is protected from strong wind. Branches can break under the strain of a heavy crop. Thin the fruit in mid to late summer if the limbs are straining.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to plant persimmons?
Persimmons require a long growing season (7 months) to mature fruit. This limits the fruit to warm northern regions in New Zealand. Shelter from cold spring winds is required to ensure adequate leaf and shoot growth to support fruit. Trees should be planted in full sun.
What type of soil do persimmons prefer?
Persimmons will grow in a wide range of soil types, but always do best in deep loam type soils.
How often should I water my persimmon tree?
Water well during the early stages, during long dry periods and when the fruit is developing. Persimmons require regular and adequate water from fruit set until the start of colouring. This will keep fruit drop to a minimum.
How do I prune a persimmon tree?
Fruit are borne on new wood which is only formed on the terminal buds of last year’s growth. To ensure fruiting wood remains, prune half of the tree back hard in winter leaving some of last season’s growth. Good fruiting shoots are approximately 2 to 40 cm long with large buds near the tip.
How do I know when persimmons are ready to harvest?
Persimmons are harvested from mid May-June. Fruit reach full maturity when they turn orange. It can take from 3-5 years for your tree to bear fruit.