The Best Techniques for Persimmons

Germination

• Persimmon seeds germinate readily after a four-week period of cold, moist stratification. Stick them into a handful of moist sand and refrigerate them to fulfill this requirement. After four weeks in the cold, plant the persimmon seeds 3 inches deep in a combination of equal parts of sand and perlite. Keep the planting mixture moist while they germinate. When the persimmon seedlings reach 3 inches in height, remove them from the germinating container and cut one-fourth of the taproot off before transplanting each into their own 18-inch deep container full of sand and potting soil.

Planting

• Plant the newly-purchased persimmon tree in an area that is sunny all day but is protected from high winds. Plant the tree at the same depth it is currently growing in the pot. Persimmon tree roots are fragile, so use care when removing it from the nursery pot. Water the persimmon slowly until the soil is saturated and do the same every week while it becomes established. Once established, ensure the tree receives an inch of water a week. To conserve water, topdress the soil around the persimmon tree with 3 to 4 inches of mulch.

Fertilizing

• Wait until the persimmon has been in the ground for one year to fertilize it. Apply the fertilizer as soon as you see new growth in the spring. Use 1 pound of 10-10-10 for each inch of the trunk’s diameter and water slowly after fertilizing. Too much nitrogen produces lots of foliage at the expense of flowers and fruit, so don’t over-fertilize the persimmon tree.

Pruning

• Pruning the young persimmon tree correctly pays off in later years by making it easier to harvest the fruit. Young persimmons need to develop a framework and you can help this along by cutting all but three to five lateral branches during its first dormancy. Aim for a pyramid shape, spacing the branches at 1 foot apart on the trunk. Keep the lowest branch 3 feet above the soil. Prune the mature persimmon to remove dead branches. Take out any shoots or branches that are thinner than a pencil’s diameter, growing straight up or crossing over others. If the tree is overgrown, remove up to 20 percent of the growth, but concentrate on the middle of the tree to allow for better sunlight penetration.