Description
Description
American persimmon (also known as sugar plum) is a deciduous, small to medium persimmon native to the East Coast of the United States. It’s hardy to -30º C and is one of the most cold tolerant Diospyros (persimmon).
American persimmon is dioecious (two-sexed) – so separate male and female plants must both be planted to ensure fruit with seeds (some plants may set fruit without pollination however, but I wouldn’t count on this from seedlings).
American persimmon fruits are plum-sized – up to 5cm diameter, ranging from yellow to dark red – and usually taste very similar to Asian persimmons, although good varieties are sweeter and with a much richer flavour. The fruits can be ripened inside if they don’t finish ripening on the tree. These seeds come from the breeding orchard of the late Jerry Lehman, one of the most renowned breeders of American persimmons ever.
In terms of soil requirements, they prefer free-draining soils that are fairly rich. They have been grown in many areas of NZ, and are also commonly used as hardy rootstocks for Asian persimmons due to their tough fibrous root systems and tolerance of poorer soil conditions (both drought and wet soils) vs Asian persimmons
Seeds per packet: 8
Germination Instructions
The seeds have already been cold-stratified for 3 months, so you can plant them as soon as you’d like and plant them outside where they’ll continue to cold stratify until germinating naturally in Spring, or you can germinate them inside, or you can keep them in the fridge until Spring.
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