We are so excited about American Persimmons (Diospyros virginiana), a relatively unknown and supremely delicious native fruit. American Persimmons are native, resilient, delicious and an important member of the food web. As Charles Deam said, they "are a veritable granary for wildlife." We need to get the word out and these trees in the ground, everywhere in range.
We occasionally offer seeds and/or bareroot trees for sale, but mostly we want to help spread the word about this incredible fruit and beautiful tree. Planting Information: Stratified Seeds: Plant as soon as you receive them or keep them cool in the refrigerator for a couple of days. Plant directly in the Earth or in deep pots. For best fruiting, American Persimmon prefers sunshine, but they do fine in shade otherwise. If not stratified, check out this video. First year bareroots: They are often small, but they have hardy roots. Don't be fooled by big plants that have had their roots challenged in pots. Plant these young trees well, tamp the soil around them, cage or tube them and monitor for frost heaving during the winter. If you find that happening, mulch lightly around the base, but be mindful this often attracts rodents. Once the trees start growing again, water them if the rain faucet turns off and then let them work their growing magic. Remember that American Persimmons are in the Ebenaceae family and therefore their roots and part of their stems are BLACK. This is a very healthy color for them. Where to Plant? American Persimmons are hardy to at least Zone 5 and do well in a wide range of conditions. For best fruiting, A. Persimmons prefer sunshine. Think edges of fence rows or the middle of your yard. They can handle a fair bit of dryness and a fair bit of wetness after they are established. Make sure you give them regular drinks their first year in the ground. How Many Should You Plant? A. Persimmons are mostly dioecious, which means males and females are on separate trees. Planting at least 4 gives you good odds of getting at least 1 female. We recommend planting no less than 4. There are many different thoughts on spacing so do what works for you. 10' is often recommended. |
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