North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Lon J. Rombough" <lonrom@hevanet.com>]

Kenny Maxfield, in Moyie Springs, Idaho who was the American persimmon Interest Group Chairman for several years, grew out seedling persimmons to select in his zone 3-4 climate (-35 hit fairly often) and got a number of seedlings that were very hardy there.  He also spearheaded a program of distributing seed from Jim Claypool's best material to other growers in cold climates.  I don't know where he is now, or if he still has the seedlings, but if you can find him, he would be worth contacting for material.
One Caveat.  In the dry climate of Idaho, persimmons would probably harden off better than they might in areas with regular summer rainfall.
-Lon Rombough
Grapes, writing, consulting, my book, The Grape Grower, at http://www.bunchgrapes.com  Winner of the Garden Writers Association "Best Talent in Writing" award for 2003. 
For even more grape lessons, go to  http://www.grapeschool.com
For all other things grape,   http://www.vitisearch.com

On Dec 9, 2007, at 7:38 AM, Jim Fruth wrote:

    Hartmann Plant Company offers a wild persimmon recommended for zone 4.  I bought some and they didn't get through my first Winter (-28 F).  Has anyone had better luck with them?
 
Jim Fruth
Brambleberry Farm
Pequot Lakes, MN  56472
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