HELP!

I want to donate a Persimmon tree to be planted into a local, elementary-school garden.  I already donated a bearing size fig tree, but sadly realized the figs will ripen, in the summer months, when the kids are not in school.  : ((((

I need a source for bearing-size, or near bearing size, non astringent Persimmon trees.  I would like the tree to start bearing next season, if possible.  NOT 'Willis Orchards' or 'Ty Ty'.  Tree will be planted in full sun, and cultivated/watered by the young students.

1.  Can the trees be shipped bare-root, or, better, in a container?
2.  How long a wait, approximately, until trees bear? *
3.  Which variety will bear while young? *
4.  Are these trees always grafted, or can a named variety be grown on its own roots?
5.  Plant now, or, wait for spring?
6.  Does "self-fertile" really mean self-fertile, or, do need two to tango?


So.....I need the best variety for this school garden Zone 7b NYC, the quickest variety to bear fruit, and a source, retail, for bearing-age trees.  Short attention span, mainly my own, warrants  early-bearing variety suggestions.

I've read that "Ichi Kei Jiro" is both hardy and early-bearing.  Any others?


Frank



*  very important information.

The Fuyu persimmons can be eaten crisp like an apple (NON astrinernt) or allowed to ripen to soft texture . They bear fruit young.

Here Frank. 
http://www.amazon.com/Year-Persimmon-Tree-Growers-Warranty/dp/B00653363Y

Frank, I have a Saijo (astringent), Maekawa Jiro (non-astringent) and Wase Fuyu (non-astringent).  They were planted 2 years ago and haven't fruited yet but I suspect they will next year.  They are from Edible Landscaping which delivers the trees in containers (not-bare root).  The trees from E.L. are on native Amarican persimmon rootstock (D. virginiana) which is supposed to be good for the mid-atlantic (other nurseries use a different persimmon species as rootstock).  Anyway, I've been very pleased with my trees and am hoping to be even more pleased when I start getting fruit.

Frank,

I have several Cultivars of persimmon. With Kids you are probably smart to go non-astringent. They are decent before  they are actually ripe, even if not as fully flavored.  I am sure kids would be trying Astringent before ripe and that tree would probably become the double-dog dare of the schoolyard. Assuming this is a NYC school Hardiness factors in and most the ones reported most hardy are astringent.  The most common non-astringent is Fuyu, but it is not known for hardiness. I would try one of the Korean cultivars Tam-Kam or Gwang Yang or maybe Jiro or Ichikikeijiro a sport from Jiro. Edible landscape and Just Fruits and exotics have good selections, but I am not sure about bearing size trees in a year. One or two fruit would bend it like a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree. Often take a few years to establish, and sometimes drop fruit premature when young. Another thing to note about Persimmon and kids is that that are generally pretty firmly attached to the tree and I usually snip them off as it’s easy to break branches when removing them.

Nice information, thanks for sharing.

Best,
Tam

I don't grow persimmons but England's nursery in KY has a good reputation with them:
http://www.nuttrees.net/

American persimmons have some varieties such they are reliably astringent free when dropped on the ground.  Perhaps it's not hard to tell kids to only eat stuff that fell?

And double dog dare is a fun game, and unripe persimmons are a safely unpleasant way to play it.  Even more fun for kids when they know eating it unripe is "doing it wrong".

Absolutely perfect answers!  I knew when I woke up this morning my figgy friends would  chime in and help me with my latest quest.  Thanks for all the great information. 

So, it's gonna take a few years for the tree(s) to start bearing fruit.  That's OK.  The kids will cultivate, and learn good things come to those who wait.  For starters, the tree will more likely be an non-astringent variety.  These will also be easier for a teacher to slice up and give out for tasting-samples, instead of a mushy fruit.  I love both.


ED:  I was amazed to see "black" Persimmons being sold!  They must be beautiful.

Plenty of Persimmon trees are being grown all over The Bronx, but only over the last 10-15 years.  When I was a kid, they were never to be seen except when stores sold them around the Thanksgiving holiday.  Now, they are becoming almost as common a sight as fig trees.  Most of the nurseries sell small trees, usually "Fuyu" and a few astringent varieties.

Thanks again, one and all.


Frank

Zaino nursery on long island sells a few varieties that have flowers on them.  Got fruit the first year.  A fuyu type Imoto or something similar was what I bought.  Unfortunately the hurricane killed it but I plan on picking one up in May.

Thanks Ed.

Frank