Persimmons!!!

[tomc]

Inasmuch as there's supposed to be a shortage of hops world wide, that might be one to grow.

[bluelacedredhead]

I just took an older book on canning and preserving out of the library. It has several recipes using persimmons. Guess I better write them down in case Michel has success with this experiment. I remember reading in Harrowsmith magazine a few years ago about someone in the Ottawa Valley raising kiwis...maybe there really is some truth to this Global Warming

[canadamike]

I have grown kiwis Blue, but the hardy ones, and planted some at my dad's in zone 3a with success. The chinese ones can be grown in a greenhouse with only minimal eating in winter.

The hardy ones are soooo easy. They only need 80% cutback or so, and grow in shade. And there is cross-pollination between the 3 species ( actinidia arguta,ananasnaya and purpurea). Arguta is the toughest, but ananasnaya is bigger. Never tried purpurea

And I promise you you will get some if I can put my hands on productive persimmons, provided you cook me something with it !!

[Alan]

Persimmon Pudding, I will definetly be at the festival to meet you (care for a road trip Karen). I am slowly but surely moving into the realm of perinials, particularly in developing my own strains from seed (I know, lots of time, lots of trees, lots of room) considering I am at my max almost on anuals and have learned a great deal about those. I feel it's time to move into fruit bearing perinnials and persimmons are high on my list.

Karen, I would also like to get with you and talk to the persimmon guy you were telling me about.

Please keep us updated on your work persimmon pudding, you knowledge is very valued and I'd love to know more.

Like Karen, I was wondering if you work with other fruiting trees?

[utopiate]

"Please note that Ontario goes from the Antartic to the southernest part of Canada, that's quite a range..."

Mike that is indeed quite a range for Ontaria, spanning two continents. Can you pick me up some seeds in Patagonia...Magellan barberry in particular. Thanks.

;)Just teasing. I did get some seeds to that one from B and T... Im hoping its there real thing not the Nana dwarf that doesnt bear well. Too cold for it here though, may try some pots.

Ok to stick to persimmons. Any types that can handle drier air. They seem to do well in PNW nurseries but most of them are located on the maritime west side or the Willamet valley.

[grungy]

Michel, if you get those persimmons to start, save a couple plants for me, please. Got seeds for it once but didn't have any success germinating them.
Cheers,
grungy

[ottawagardener]

I missed this thread. Persimmons, this along with Pawpaws is part of my dream orchard in my dream farm in the far distant future. I look forward to reports of your success.

[utopiate]

Always wanted to try a pawpaw and may apples. Someone send be a box of em.

The only persimmons I ever ate are Asian ones. I really choke up when I see them lying all over people's lawns in California.

Lots of varieties of both Pawpaws and Persimmons in US garden catalogs: One Green World, Burnt Ridge, Raintree, Oikos, Edible Landscaping.

Persimmon seeds from Horizon Herbs. They sprouted for me after cold stratification a few years back but I didn't take care of them. Maybe try the Russian-made Asian x American cross persimmons up north for better size. Otherwise the native American is hardiest, and Meader is supposed to be somewhat self-fertile.

[grungy]

Unfortunately we are one line north of the Mason-Dixon line and it is difficult to bring in live plants. Seeds, fine. Plants are a hassle.

[canadamike]

I meant the Artic

lil bugger ;D ;D ;D

[utopiate]

Mike how do those hardy kiwis really taste? And are they bigger than grapes. I got some growing here.. barely, but I havn't got any fruit. Yah I got males but the females aren't blooming yet. And what about those kolomikas... the Russian hardy ones. Anyone grow them. Mine are barely getting going.

Oh someone should do a thread on blue honeysuckle. The Canadian breeders sound like they may have the best forms so far.

[fulenn]

I know almost nothing about persimmons, but I do have a tree in my yard and it makes the most wonderful fruit. It also has little tiny seedlings that come up in the grass underneath it each year. We have one right now that we are mowing around. Is this something that I could dig up and give to someone?

Here is a picture of my kitchen freezer. We pick the fruit in November or so and put it whole into the freezers. In the summer, we run it under cold water, wash the skin off, and let it begin to thaw in a bowl. It is just like eating fruit sorbet, but better.

I know there is probably a better way to save them, but I haven't had any problems with freezing them whole like this.

[grunt]

Fulenn: Try the same thing with some of your sweeter tomatoes (or any tomato for that matter). Hard to beat on a hot afternoon.

[fulenn]

Really? I never thought of trying tomatoes. I'll do that! The persimmons get ready right in the middle of work for me and it is just not possible to pulp the fruit first. I'm too busy. So I decided to try freezing it whole after my neighbor suggested it. I guess I will get busy with tomatoes this summer, as many as I have planted.

Here's an interesting sideline: he and his wife built the first house in our neighborhood right after WWII. He and the person who built this house planted the pecan trees that we both have and he helped plant the persimmon tree in our yard. Needless to say, we have told him to help himself to our fruit from both the tree and the garden. He loves persimmons.

[fulenn]

Despite the drought and high temperatures this summer, our persimmon tree has a lot of green fruit on it, maybe a bit smaller than tennis balls.

Fulenn