North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Jwlehman@aol.com]

In a message dated 12/13/2010 11:29:33 AM Eastern Standard Time, sherlocksmith@gmail.com writes:

I've been looking to plant an American persimmon and I live in challenging location. Zone 4 <2000 growing degree days. From what I've read, I think that the hardiness might be ok, but it's hard to tell which varieties ripen first and how long and hot of a growing season they need because the sources vary.

Here's the info I've found so far on ripening order. Does anyone have experience with any of these varieties (especially in a northern location)? Also, does anyone know of an east coast source for Mohler or a US source for NC 10 or know if its true that Yates will ripen off the tree?

Hello Sherlock,

I have (Martin) Mohler. It is early, large, nice color, soft, few seeds, black specs, delicious. Based on it's performance here I recommend it.

Lucky wrote his Geneva Long is round. This is Geneva Long.

Claypool's I-115 is listed as his earliest. It starts dropping fruit Sept 1.

H-118 is also very early, soft very good Starts dropping last week of August. It is very susceptible to Fusicaladium fungus and first fruits are often cracked. 

Juhl (Yates) is among the earliest. It is large & sweet. I highly recommend it. Only problem is the flesh is loaded with precipitated tannins (black material) and isn't pleasant to look at. Looks dirty!!! Otherwise a great early persimmon. It is the seed parent of H-118 which has much less black material.

I don't believe there is much damage of winter damage to any D. virginiana in zone 4. You might check with MidFex, the NAFEX group in Chicago. Some of those members are successfully growing the American persimmon. 

I do not have NC-10 or Pieper. 

Jerry