North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Elizabeth Hilborn <ehilborn@mebtel.net>]

Thanks Matt,
Important consideration.

I had planned to overwinter my presumed hybrid or kaki with my pawpaws 
and presumed American persimmon seedlings. I have them all in 1 gallon 
approx 12" deep tree pots. I cluster them together in a block with any 
gaps between pots filled with wet straw and or newspaper. The perimeter 
of the block consists of large buckets filled with water. They are in an 
outdoor shelter on a concrete pad. I water weekly.

Last year, I had 99% survival of pawpaws, but there were no 
kakis/hybrids to consider. Our lows were not too bad- just down to 6 
degrees F or so for a couple of nights.

I will certainly reassess my plans.

Betsy

On 11/30/2016 5:02 PM, Matt Demmon wrote:
> I'm not sure what your overwintering plan is, but in my experience
> wintering seedlings in pots, persimmons are some of the most difficult. I
> generally experience 100% death if they are kept outside above ground over
> winter, even in a sheltered location or with leaves or chips mounded around
> the pots. Same with paw paws, BTW.
>
> I generally only had success overwintering them in pots by bringing them
> into my ancient stone basement, where they probably averaged 45-50 degrees
> all winter. I checked for moisture and watered them once or twice, and they
> leafed out fine when brought up in May after most frosts. I tried the same
> with my figs in pots, and the problem was they wanted to leaf out in Feb or
> March, which is way too early in m location. The persimmons wouldn't leaf
> out until it got warm, so they were fine.
>
> I'm guessing Kaki are even more freezing sensitive. These were all straight
> American.
>
> Matt
> zone 5, SE MI
>
> On Sun, Sep 25, 2016 at 11:44 AM, Elizabeth Hilborn <ehilborn@mebtel.net>
> wrote:
>
> > Thank you. I am wondering if the seedlings are hybrids with D. virginiana
> > as the leaves are not as thick and leathery as D. kaki, but wider than D.
> > viginiana.
> >
> > I am hoping that if they are hybrids, it will confer additional winter
> > hardiness.
> >
> > If they are hybrids, are there any special culture methods to follow?
> >
> > Betsy
> >
> >
> > On 9/24/2016 10:40 PM, Jerry Lehman wrote:
> >
> > > On 9/24/2016 3:54 PM, Elizabeth Hilborn wrote:
> > >
> > > > I have some seedlings started from seeds saved from D. kaki fruits. I
> > > > have learned on this list that growing these trees up to maturity is
> > > > sometimes problematic.
> > > > Does anyone have suggestions or advice to improve my chances of success?
> > > >
> > > > I was planning to overwinter in pots this year and to set out in
> > > > permanent sites next spring with the intention of providing vigilant care.
> > > >
> > > > Thanks,
> > > > Betsy Hilborn
> > > > Zone 7a, NC
> > > Hello Betsy,
> > >
> > > You're in zone 7a which improves your chances but still not guaranteed.
> > > My zone 7 chart says 0 Fahrenheit average minimum low temperature. That's
> > > average which means occasionally it can get lower than that and based on my
> > > experience kaki winter damage begins at 0 and -10 normally spells death.
> > > Can you put it on the south side of your home, like only a few feet from
> > > your home. I have kept kaki several years 2 feet from the south side of my
> > > house and they fruited but when it got the -15 there wasn't enough
> > > protection.
> > >
> > > Jerry
> > > __________________