Content
Growing persimmons from seeds at home is quite difficult, although it is possible. To do this, the seeds are prepared in the refrigerator, germinated in a damp cloth and planted in the ground at the end of March. When growing, it is important to create good lighting, and the temperature can be at room temperature. If all the rules are followed, fruiting will begin no earlier than six years later.
What do persimmon seeds look like?
Persimmon seeds have an oblong shape and brown color of varying intensity (from light to dark)
The seeds are medium in size: 6–8 mm long, 2–3 mm wide. The shell is hard and is not damaged during storage and transportation.
Is it possible to grow persimmons from seeds?
Persimmons can be grown from seeds even at home. But there are several important nuances that should be taken into account:
- You need to choose the right variety. If it is self-fertile, then the fruits will appear without pollination.Otherwise, it will be possible to grow persimmon from seed only through grafting.
- Seeds are stratified in the refrigerator for 2–3 months.
- Plants need good lighting (lighting is required) and moisture.
- It will be necessary to constantly regulate the temperature during the period of active growth, fruiting and wintering.
- During the first five years, the seedling is transplanted every year into a new, larger pot.
Persimmon fruits that have been grown from seeds at home are usually smaller in size. However, in taste and aroma they are in no way inferior to specimens grown using traditional methods. If there is enough sunlight, watering and fertilizing, then homemade persimmons turn out even tastier.
Choosing a persimmon variety to grow at home
You can grow different varieties of persimmons in your apartment. The following varieties are suitable for this purpose: Geili, Fuyu, Zenji Maru, Hiakume, Jiro, Hachiya.
How to plant a persimmon seed at home
You can also grow persimmons from seeds at home. To do this, the bones are carefully prepared and the soil is selected. The pots are placed in the brightest window and monitored for temperature, humidity and other conditions.
Selection and germination of persimmon seeds
The seeds can be ordered from trusted suppliers or extracted from the fruit yourself. Moreover, the fruit must be ripe, without external damage. If they are green, you can keep them at room temperature or near a battery for 3-5 days to ripen. In this case, the fruits should not be frozen - they can only be taken during the harvest period (September and October). If the persimmon is covered with mold and dark spots, such seed should also be discarded.
The seeds are first checked for germination and treated.To do this, prepare a pinkish (no more than 1%) solution of potassium permanganate and dip all the grains into it. Keep for 2 days. If any grains float, they are removed.
Next, the seeds need to be immersed in a growth stimulator solution. To do this, you can take “Epin”, “Kornevin”, “Zircon”.
Instead, it is permissible to use freshly squeezed aloe juice, diluted 2 times with water.
After keeping in a solution that stimulates growth, the seed material is wrapped in a damp cloth and sent to the refrigerator (on the shelf with vegetables) for 3 months
The fabric is periodically moistened with water. The napkin must be kept moist at all times. It is recommended to place the cloth with seeds in a plastic container with a lid, then you can hardly add water.
Planting is planned for the spring. The best time is from late March to early April. It’s not worth it earlier, since it will not be possible to germinate persimmon seeds if there is a lack of sunlight. 5 days before planting, keep a damp cloth for a week next to the heating radiator (but not on the radiator itself). In this case, you need to see if there is mold on the seeds. If a problem is detected, then the damaged grains should be discarded, since it will not be possible to grow persimmons from such seed material.
By the time of planting, the sprouts from the persimmon seeds should already hatch. If this does not happen, it is recommended to file the side hard edges with sandpaper. This will help speed up the germination process.
To do this, file the sides of the grains with sandpaper and immerse them for a day in warm water with a solution of a growth stimulator. Then they are planted in fertile soil and grown under film.
Soil and drainage preparation
At home, you can germinate a persimmon seed only in fertile and light soil. It is necessary to purchase a universal soil for seedlings or compose it yourself based on a surface layer of soil, humus or compost, sand and peat in a ratio of 2:1:1:1. Pebbles, expanded clay and other small stones are used as drainage. They are placed at the bottom of the container.
Landing rules
To get a tree with fruits, you need to plant persimmon seeds according to the following instructions:
- Thoroughly loosen and moisten the substrate from a spray bottle (the water should be settled and at room temperature).
- Bury the seeds 2–2.5 cm, edge down (lay on their side) at a distance of 5 cm from each other.
- Sprinkle with loose soil without compacting it.
- Cover with film or a plastic bag, making several holes in it.
- Place in a warm place (on a lighted window).
If all requirements are met, persimmon sprouts from the seed (pictured) will appear in 6–8 weeks.
It takes quite a long time for the seedlings to break through to the surface; this period can last up to two months after planting.
How to care for persimmon seedlings
When growing persimmons from seeds at home, you need to ensure proper care of the tree. The crop needs additional lighting, regular watering and fertilization. Plants will require periodic replanting, as well as pruning and crown shaping.
Lighting
Persimmon requires good lighting. To grow trees with tasty fruits, the pots are placed on the windowsill of the brightest window. Choose a south or southeast direction.However, in early spring even this measure will not be enough. Therefore, it is necessary to organize illumination with a phytolamp for 2 hours in the morning and evening. The device is placed at a height of 30–50 cm from the top of the seedling.
But the summer sun can burn the leaves, so during hot periods they need to be shaded with thick paper.
Temperature
Persimmon growing from a seed in a pot requires keeping the house warm. You need to create a temperature in the range of 22–23 degrees Celsius. This can be done in any room, so there is no need to create special conditions. A strong seedling that has been successfully grown can withstand lower temperatures – plus 15–17 °C.
To grow a hardened tree, in the spring the pots are periodically taken out onto the loggia for ventilation, and in the summer they are left there for the entire season. At the end of autumn, the containers are transferred to a cool room with a temperature of no more than 10 degrees Celsius. Some varieties have good winter hardiness and can withstand temperatures down to -10 °C.
There is no need to be afraid of this, because under natural conditions, persimmons produce fruit in September and October, when it becomes cooler outside.
In summer, pots with seedlings can be kept outside
Watering and humidity
The soil is watered with warm, settled water from a sprayer. This must be done regularly, avoiding drying out. Stagnation of moisture is also undesirable. It is enough to spray 2-3 times a week. For the first 1.5 months the film is kept closed. But it needs to be cleaned 3 times a week for ventilation.
As soon as the sprouts appear, the film is still kept in place, but opened for a long time.Then they are closed again, after which they are gradually removed. When two leaves appear, it can be removed completely.
Grown seedlings are watered regularly, at least twice a week. Then watering is reduced to 2-3 procedures per month. It is necessary to ensure that the soil does not dry out. But stagnation of moisture is also unacceptable. Due to the accumulation of water, the roots may die.
Therefore, in hot weather, seedlings are sprayed several times a day. Place an open container of water nearby.
Fertilizers
It is possible to grow trees with edible fruits with the obligatory application of fertilizing. Fertilizers are added at least 3 times per season:
- In April, urea or ammonium nitrate is given. Use a minimal amount of the substance so as not to cause excessive growth of green mass.
- During fruit set (from 6 years of age), superphosphate is added.
- After harvesting the fruits - potassium sulfate or potassium salt.
Transfer
During the first five years of life, seedlings are recommended to be replanted annually, as they grow very quickly. To carry out the procedure, choose a wider and higher pot (4–5 cm) than the previous one. Expanded clay is poured onto the bottom.
The seedling is placed so that the roots occupy 2/3 of the volume. After 5 years, persimmons are replanted once every 2–3 years. To grow a healthy tree, it is transferred to a new pot using the transfer method while preserving the earthen clod. The procedure is planned for the end of March.
Young plants are replanted annually, choosing a container of appropriate volume
Pruning and crown formation
If you managed to grow a persimmon from a seed, and the seedling has reached a height of 30–50 cm, then you can begin to form a crown. To do this, pinch the top and allow the side shoots to grow.When they reach a length of 30–40 cm, they are also pinched.
Subsequently, the crown is formed in the form of a ball. It is necessary to ensure that all branches grow relatively evenly. Then the crown is only periodically thinned, removing shoots growing inward. This is quite enough to grow a healthy and attractive tree.
Do persimmons bear fruit from the seed?
Persimmon seed propagation can be done at home. To do this, optimal indoor conditions must be consistently maintained. If all the rules are followed, fruiting will begin from the seventh year of life. However, the tree can be grafted - then the first harvest will appear in the third or fourth year.
It is necessary to take into account that fruits are not formed in all cases:
- If the variety is self-fertile, then the flowers do not need pollinators. This means that the persimmon will form on its own.
- If the variety needs pollinators, it will be necessary to vaccinate: otherwise there will be no fruiting. And although persimmon can be grown from a seed, it will remain only an ornamental tree.
Conclusion
It is possible to grow persimmons from seeds at home, but the process is quite labor-intensive. The temperature in the room needs to be changed periodically, simulating a warm season, autumn or winter. You will need to maintain a high level of humidity in the air and moderate watering. If the variety is not self-fertile, it is necessary to vaccinate.
