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nafex - Re: [NAFEX] Seeds of American persimmon

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  • From: "Lucky.Pittman@murraystate.edu" <Lucky.Pittman@murraystate.edu>
  • To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Seeds of American persimmon
  • Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2008 14:08:04 -0500

Diane,
American persimmons are dioecious - separate male and
female trees, so a batch of seedlings will, at least
theoretically, be 50% male, 50% fruiting female; but,
if you plant small numbers, the odds are more
variable, and you could possibly end up will all
non-fruiting males.

They're easy to grow from seed, and as easy to graft
as apples/pears - but do require a bit more immediate
aftercare, as the rootstock tries very hard to throw
shoots from latent buds, that will rapidly overtake
the graft unless you check almost daily and keep them
rubbed off until the grafted scion makes good growth.
Grafted specimens should bear in half the time you'd
wait for a seedling to fruit, and fruit quality would
be a known entity, rather than a genetic crapshoot.

By all means, I'd recommend starting some from seed,
getting them established, then grafting on superior
fruiting cultivars. Ordinarily, I'd have gallons of
seed to offer you, but last spring's Easter Big
Freeze Disaster destroyed any possibility of
fruit/seed production for 2007. Other members might
have some available, though.

Lucky Pittman






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