Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
turn light green, pick one and if the seeds
are dark they are ready to harvest. They store
well in cool temperatures and improve in
flavour. Nashi pears should be allowed to
ripen on the tree.
2
1
Persimmon
Diospyroskaki
Some may be reserved about the fruit but no-
one would dispute the beauty of the tree. The
rich autumn foliage and deep orange fruits
that dangle from bare branches make this the
most ornamental of fruit trees. There are
both astringent and non-astringent cultivars,
but their fruiting habits and pruning
requirements are the same.
Figure 6.29
Persimmons produce fruit from the current
season's growth (1) arising from the previous season's
growth (2).
This means that if you shorten the new growths
produced last season, you will be removing all
the fruiting wood. The solution is to leave some
new growth unpruned and prune others back
to within a few buds of the scaffold branch to
produce fruiting wood in two season's time.
This will not only moderate the crop but will
prevent the persimmon's tendency to biennial
bearing. There is the option of not pruning at
all; however, the resulting long willowy growth
will be easily snapped off by the wind, and the
fruit will get smaller and further away from the
scaffold branches.
Persimmons have very fragile wood that is
vulnerable to wind and heavy fruit loads, so
the establishment of a strong framework of
branches at an early stage is essential.
They are well suited to the pyramid or
spindle fruit tree shapes with wide branch
angles to support the brittle branches. The
open vase method should be reserved for
cooler areas; persimmons are prone to
sunburn. In commercial orchards they are
grown on a trellis.
Persimmons can be hard to establish so
minimise root disturbance at planting. Feed
the tree well in spring as this is often the only
season of growth for the persimmon. Strong
healthy growth from the beginning will
establish the tree quickly.
Pruningtime
Pruning for a stable framework can be done
in winter to take advantage of the major
spring flush of growth. Pruning out growth
that has already fruited can be done at
harvest when the fruit is picked.
Fruitingwood
Persimmons fruit from new growth that arises
from the last few buds of the previous season's
growth (see Figure 6.29).
Maintenance
In winter, prune back to a few buds some of
the newest growth and leave the rest. Any
