Persimmon trees

More useful information about Persimmon trees

The persimmon tree drops its leaves in the winter and thus does well during the cold season. The fruit of the persimmon is especially interesting due to the taste. The fruits grow as small, berry-like fruits with a diameter up to 5 cm. The kaki or Sharon fruit is eaten when it is soft and juicy.

Persimmon trees Available in the Lubera Garden Online Shop

Here at Lubera you will find two species of persimmon trees that provide the right variety for each region – the larger American kaki (Diospyros virginiana) and the smaller Japanese persimmon (Diospyros kaki). Although the latter is the smaller tree, it produces larger fruits because its origin is more southern than the American kakis. Accordingly, the Japanese persimmon fruit can also be eaten when crisp. American kakis on the other hand should be harvested when fully ripe. American kaki trees are hardy to -24°C; Japanese kakis are hardy down to -15°C and are therefore suitable for milder regions. Particularly versatile and suitable for every region are the kaki hybrids such as the 'Nikitas Gift' variety, which Lubera sells.

Planting and Caring for Kaki Trees

Since Lubera's kaki trees are delivered in containers, they can be planted throughout the entire year. Planting is ideal in early spring or late autumn, when the kakis do not have any foliage.

The Suitable Location for a Persimmon Tree

For large kaki trees, full sun is needed to make the kaki fruit big and sweet. This is the case for both the American kaki that can grow 3 to 4 metres and also the Japanese kaki that grows up to 2 to 3 metres. The planting distance is 5 metres for the American kakis and 3 metres for the Japanese kaki trees. The soil should be permeable, slightly acidic to neutral and accordingly have a pH of 6 to 7.5.

Winter Protection for Persimmon Trees

Those who prefer the sweeter Japanese persimmons should provide winter protection for up to three years after planting. The kaki trees should be wrapped with an insulating material such as a fleece or bubble wrap after they have dropped their foliage. The older, then later the wood is, the more robust the kaki and then the protection is no longer needed. Overall, the two kaki tree varieties differ by a few degrees in their frost hardiness. Hybrids and the American persimmon trees are frost hardy to -24°C, whilst the smaller Japanese kakis are hardy only down to -15°C.

By the way: a kaki tree can also be planted as a container plant in a pot. Overwintering is easy because this can also take place in the container in a frost-free garage.

Kaki Trees & Fertilisation

Kaki trees are sensitive to too much fertiliser. They grow faster with fertiliser, but the yield deceases. If a kaki tree from a tree nursery such as Lubera is planted in the garden, the tree does not need additional fertiliser if the garden soil is good and nutritious.

Pruning Kaki Trees

Kaki trees planted in the garden do not require pruning. Their growth is natural and beautiful. There are also no susceptibilities to diseases that would require an incision. At most, drooping side shoots can be cut off. Such cutting measures should take place in older trees before the start of growth in late winter or early spring. By cutting hanging branches down to 15 to 20 cm, new main branches can grow from them.

Harvesting Persimmon Trees

If the kakis are juicy and soft, they can be harvested. To do this, take clippers and cut off the persimmons above the peduncle, the so-called calyx. This is the only way to ensure that the kaki fruits cannot rot. The ripening or harvesting time is reached when the fruits are yellow or golden orange. You should not leave the kaki fruits on the tree too long because birds like these sugary treats! If kakis are harvested too early, that is not a problem. They can ripen in a fruit bowl with other fruits.

By the way: for even faster ripening place the fruits in a plastic bag. There, the ethylene content increases rapidly and accelerates the ripening. With the maturity, the sweetness increases and the vanilla aroma becomes more intense.

In the Lubera Garden Shop

American Kaki Trees

Kaki Meader (3-4 metres high)

- Matures from October to November

- Yellow-green kaki flowers in May (no late frost)

-  Also produces fruits that remain seedless in self-fertilisation

Blend of Japanese and American Persimmons

Kaki Hybrid 'Nikitas Gift' (3 metres high)

- Matures from October to November

- The fruit is similar to the Japanese kaki: it is about 80% the size and has a sweet caramel flavour

- Fertilisation is done by pollination or self-fertilisation. In the latter case, the fruits have no seeds

- Winter hardy

Japanese Kaki Trees

Kaki Early Fuyu (2 to 3 metres high)

- Matures in October

- The fruit is as crisp as an apple, very sweet and orange (medium-sized)

- Produces many fruits without fertilisation

Kaki Aroma (1.5 to 3 metres high)

- Matures from October to November. The fruits may only be harvested when they are fully ripe

- The fruits are juicy, sweet, big and yellow

- Does not need a pollinator

- In the first two years Kaki Aroma must be protected against frost

Kaki Cioccolatino (1.5 to 3 metres high)

- Matures in October and November

- The fruit can be harvested crisp and then eaten. It also gets big and has a yellow-orange colour

- Kaki Cioccolatino is 'monoecious'. This means that on a plant there are both male and female flowers