- Free range only possible in wine-growing areas
- Overwinter persimmon trees frost-free
- tips and tricks
The persimmon tree is grown in tropical and subtropical areas. It is also becoming increasingly popular in Germany as an ornamental, potted or useful plant. The selection of robust varieties allows cultivation in almost every region of Germany.
The exotic persimmon tree is an ebony plant native to Asia. It is a large tree with oblong leaves and yellow-white flowers. Its apple-sized fruits are usually orange in color and taste very sweet and juicy when ripe. The unripe persimmons leave a furry feeling on the tongue.
Various breeds are available in German supermarkets all year round:
- Persimmon (large, round, sweet, very soft flesh),
- Persimmon (smaller and more intensely colored than persimmon, firm flesh),
- Sharon (flat, tomato-like shape).
The fruits are harvested unripe and can be stored well. Sharon fruits and persimmons can also be eaten unripe as they contain virtually no tannins.
Free range only possible in wine-growing areas
Diospyros kaki is not hardy. However, cultivation is possible in Germany's mild winter wine-growing regions. There, too, keeping buckets is recommended in the first few years. Older plants can be transplanted to a sunny spot in the garden. Due to the low winter hardiness of the Diospyros kaki, only pot culture is suitable for most areas of Germany. The more frost-resistant genus Diospyros virginiana is particularly well suited to the local climate. Its fruits are somewhat smaller, but the tree also produces good yields outside of the wine-growing areas.
Overwinter persimmon trees frost-free
Depending on the variety, the kaki trees have different frost resistance. Plants suitable for outdoor cultivation can withstand the occasional night frost, but need winter protection in particularly cold winters. The persimmon plants growing in tubs are wintered frost-free and in the dark after they have lost their leaves and the fruits have been harvested. During the hibernation is not fertilized and poured only very sparingly.
tips and tricks
The easy-care persimmon plant thrives best on neutral and loamy soil. It can be trained as a half-stem and as a standard as well as on a trellis. The fruits are ripe between October and November.