TEXAS & NUT PRODUCTION Larry Stein, Monte Nesbitt & Jim Kamas Extension Fruit Specialists, AgriLife Extension

Introduction fallen from the . Even at this late date Persimmons are small, easy to grow some fruit can still be very astringent. Wild which are adapted to most of Texas. The tree, animals, such as the opossum and raccoon, , and fruit are free from serious insect feed heavily upon the common American per- and disease problems which make it an excel- simmon. is very hard and is lent dooryard speci- used for manufacturing golf clubs and is prized men and choice for by woodworkers. The common American per- Earth-Kind® or- chards. It requires no sprays and is a favorite health fruit for those who know the crop as a deli- cacy of the Orient. However, in Texas they remain virtually unknown as a rec- reational fruit. Mature trees can reach a height of 40 feet while some remain less than 10 feet. They produce prolific crops of very at- tractive fruit during the fall season when fewer fruit crops are ripe. The fruit is very delicious when properly ripened and is high in A. Common American persimmon

The common American persimmon, simmon is an excellent rootstock for the culti- virginiana, grows wild across the vated oriental persimmons in the southern south and as far west as the Colorado River in U.S. and Texas. They are respectively graft Texas. Small groves of American persimmon compatible. are very common in abandoned pastures and along fence rows. This fruit is quite different The Texas persimmon, , from the cultivated oriental persimmon, being is found in northern and central and small and very astringent until completely west Texas and especially abundant in the ripe. These wild persimmons cannot be eaten Texas Edwards Plateau area. The tree has a until after the first frost and all the leaves have small purple fruit and is best known for its peeling which reveals shades of white, ennial weeds should be killed with glyphosate, gray and even pink on the trunk underneath, followed by deep ripping to break up any hard rivaling the beauty of the Texas madrone. pans. Trees should be spaced 15 to 18 feet Many have attempted to graft this tree to the apart in the row with rows 20 feet apart. other persimmons described here without suc- cess, as they are not graft compatible. are usually purchased as bare root plants in early winter, though they should be The Oriental persimmon, Diospyrus kaki, ordered well ahead of the planting date to in- was introduced into the United States in the sure that desired varieties are available. Con- late 1800’s from and . It is native tainer plants may also be found in retail nurs- to and has been an important fruit crop in each eries, and these have more flexibility in - of these countries for hundreds of years. The ing date. Plant the tree at the same depth it fruit is eaten both fresh and dried. In northern grew in the nursery followed by a thorough wa- China, certain valleys are cultivated exclusively tering. Even if the is wet at planting the with oriental persimmons. On the main island tree needs to be watered in to settle the soil of Japan, groups of trees are found in every around the root system. At least half of the top village, along the roadsides, or around farmers’ should be removed at planting when bareroot cottages. stock is used. Young plants are trained to a modified central-leader structure by pruning shoots during the first few seasons, forcing growth into framework branches. The aim is to develop a pyramidal shape with from three to five main limbs at about 1-ft intervals on the trunk, beginning at about 3 ft above ground level.

Cultivation Pruning mature plants is done during the dor- mant winter months to remove crossover, dis- eased, or broken branches. Pruning is also done to remove weak, shaded branches, open Oriental persimmon the canopy to prevent self-shading, reduce ex- cessively vigorous shoot growth, and regulate Soil Adaption crop load. Narrow crotches can cause a limb When the common American persimmon is necrosis problem, and limbs should be selected used as the rootstock for oriental persimmon that have wide angles. trees, it is widely adapted in Texas. They thrive in most from sands to bottomland as long Persimmon fruit is borne on the current sea- as the soils do not stand in water for any son's branch growth. Pruning secondary length of time. Even though the Texas persim- branches so that bearing shoots are kept close mon is thought to be resistant to cotton root to the main branches may help to avoid a rot, the common American persimmon is mod- drooping habit. Irrigation to supplement rain- erately susceptible and the Oriental persim- fall is desirable during the spring growth flush mon is highly susceptible. Thus, it is critical and during summer, especially if the soils are that all Oriental trees be grafted or budded shallow. If fertilizer is needed, it should be ap- onto the common persimmon as root rot will plied in early spring as the new shoots emerge. be prevalent in the adaptable sites. Base the amount on plant vigor as excessive nitrogen fertilization will force vegetative Site preparation and Planting growth, so moderate fertilizer applications are The orchard site should be prepared for plant- desirable. A general recommendation is 40 ing well in advance of the planting date. Per- pounds of actual nitrogen per acre per year. If

2 shoot growth is in excess of three feet, the fer- A more predictable problem is the number of tilizer amount should be reduced. animals that are attracted to the ripe fruit in- cluding opossums, raccoons, birds, deer, and Persimmons typically produce seedless or rats. Fruit nearing maturity should be parthenocarpic fruit. The major problem asso- watched closely, because these predators may ciated with seedless fruit is that they tend to feed on the fruit before it is fully ripe. abort/drop prior to full maturity leading to a reduction in crop potential in some years. Al- Varieties though fruit drop may reduce the overall yield, Most Oriental persimmons, with the exception this fruit thinning can result in an increase in of ‘Eureka’, produce seedless fruit. Seedless fruit size. Seedless fruit are very finicky and fruit tends to have better eye appeal since will easily drop from the tree if the tree en- seeded fruit that result from cross pollination, counters growth problems or undue stress, are often associated with darker flesh. Since such as excessive heat, drought, cold, excessive ‘Eureka’ and ‘Fuyu ‘will pollinate other varie- fertilizer or water. Hence, heavy mulch and ties, it would be best not to plant these two good water management practices are essen- with other varieties that you wish to be - tial to reduce fruit drop. While these practices less. may reduce the loss of fruit, this problem can- not be completely prevented. ‘Eureka’ is heavy producing, medium- Bacterial and Fungal Pathogens sized, flat-shaped, Persimmons are largely free of serious dis- persimmon of ex- eases; however there are instances where tremely high fruit crown gall and anthracnose have caused prob- quality. The tree is relatively small and self- lems. Trees infected with crown gall fruitful. Fruit typically contain . ‘Eureka’ (Agrobacterium tumefaciens) develop tumors, has proven to be the best commercial variety or galls, on their branches and roots, which in Texas. eventually become hard and rough. The infec- tion spreads to open wounds on trees, so treat- ‘Hachiya’ is a produc- ing existing cuts and bruises on mature trees tive, very large, cone- and being careful to avoid additional damage shaped, seedless persim- is the best treatment. Tree losses in Texas mon with bright orange from crown gall have been minimal. skin. The tree is vigorous and upright. ‘Hachiya’ Although not deadly to adult trees, spot, has been an outstanding caused by a number of different fungal patho- Texas variety and makes gens, does cause black spots to appear on the an excellent dual purpose fruit and ornamental surface of leaves, and may sometimes affect specimen. fruit as well. It can also lead to early defolia- tion. Only in severe cases is a treatment war- ‘Tane-nashi’ is a ranted. moderately productive, cone-shaped, orange- Insects and Vertebrate Pest colored persimmon. Persimmons likewise do not suffer from many The tree is vigorous problems with insect pests. In some summers, and upright. The fruit persimmon trees may suffer defoliation due to store extremely well on . Additionally, cases of mealybugs, the tree and is seedless. thrips, mites, ants and fruitflies have been re- ‘Tane-nashi’ makes an excellent landscape or- ported. namental.

3 ‘Tamopan’ is a moder- timing of the first fall frost. However, frost is ately productive, very not necessary as an aid, neither in reducing the large, orange, flat- nor in softening or the persim- shaped persimmon with mon. With time, the tannin will disappear and a distinctive ring con- the fruit will ripen and sweeten naturally. This striction near the middle of the fruit. The tree usually happens when fruit of astringent varie- is the most vigorous and upright of the varie- ties become soft, but non-astringent fruit can ties grown in Texas. be eaten as soon as they develop a deep rich orange color. ‘Fuyu’ is a medium- sized, non-astringent, self Persimmon fruit will ripen just as well off the -fruitful persimmon. The tree as on the tree. Persimmons will store on fruit is rather flattened, the tree for a considerable period of time into orange-colored, and of the winter, making the tree and its decorative high quality. It is best fruit very attractive in the landscape. The planted in the southern, milder areas of the sweet, jelly-like flesh is usually eaten fresh, al- state as it is susceptible to freeze damage. though, it can be dried. Persimmons actually contain more than citrus, as well as ‘Izu’ bears medium-size an abundance of other nutrients. dfruit, which is also non- astringent. It seems to be For More Information more cold hardy than ‘Fuyu http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/fruit-nut ‘and ripens in September.

‘Fankio’ produces large, conical-shaped fruit, with vivid gold coloration. It is one of the prettiest per- simmons of all as the leaves turn bright red as the gold fruit ripens in the fall.

Rootstocks The best rootstock for Texas is the common American persimmon. The rootstock is easy to and produces a vigorous, productive tree. Diospyros lotus (“Lotus”) is used as a root- stock in California. Trees have been planted in Texas on Lotus rootstock, but their long term performance is presently unknown.

Harvest Knowing when to eat persimmons is the key to an enjoyable persimmon-eating experience. Most persimmons, excluding ‘Fuyu’ and ‘Izu’, are astringent types and must be fully ripe and soft before eaten; otherwise the astringency will really pucker your mouth. The astringency is due to in the peel. Ripening of the fruit in Texas is usually associated with the

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