grow | persimmon
By MEREDITH KIRTON
What do the black keys of a piano and persimmons have in common? Well the genus of tree is the same, Diospyros. Persimmons make the most marvelous ornamental as well as edible addition to the autumn garden. Their foliage in summer is a beautiful dark green, but as the weather cools it starts to turn their leaves the most wonderful shades of red and orange. At the same time the green, apple like fruit start turning the colour of mandarins, so you get the double hit of orange on orange, heralding winter.
There are many types of Persimmon, some with astringent fruit and some non-astringent. The latter can be eaten when ripe, the former need to be eaten when almost too ripe in order to loose their astringency. All taste great if eaten at their peak, and are rich in Vitamin C, carotene and twice the dietary fibre of an apple, and in fact the botanical name Diospyros actually translates to “divine fruit”. They are incredibly popular in Japan, where they are native but are only now, with and increase in the Asian population in Australia, getting the culinary attention that they deserve.
If planting a specimen in your garden, be sure to leave it enough space, as they are a tree and grow about 8m tall x 4m wide, with some having a beautiful weeping shape. They like an enriched soil and cool root run, so dig in plenty of compost and organic matter and mulch each year with it’s own fallen leaves to keep a moist layer of humus protecting the roots from heat. Like most fruit trees, birds like picking at the ripening crop and fruit fly can be a problem in some areas. Netting in February onwards the developing fruit just as it starts to show colour can protect you from both pests.
Photography by SUE STUBBS | Blog designed by RED PEPPER GRAPHICS
Tags: fruit, fruit trees, persimmon, planting
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01May
Hi Meredith
I recently planted a persimmon tree in our orchard (thanks to the recommendation in your book Dig!). Since planting it all its leaves have dropped off. I note that you mention its root system is sensitive so I have kept water up to it. The tree is still alive (I scratched a small section of bark and it is bright green underneath) and there are little buds all over the tree but none of them have opened yet. Should I expect any signs of the leaves coming back before winter? Is there anything else I can do to help the tree establish itself?
Thank you,
Rebecca
01May
I wouldn’t fret at this stage as they are starting to turn and drop their leaves for winter in any case. Look forward to new foliage in early spring.
01May
Apple training course heres. Here is useful thing to prunning apple trees.
This information is
very helpful to cultivate apple.