Multi-graft persimmon project - first 3 months

Three months ago I decided to top work a 3 trunk wild persimmon that had sprung up in my inlaw's yard in WV (zone 6a). It was a male tree, so would never have any fruit, so I top worked it completely. I grafted hybrid persimmons and one American persimmon, Ruby, to the tops of the three trunks and some of the larger side branches. Persimmons require a lot of attention to make sure the rootstocks suckers and shoots don't overtake the grafts, so I wasn't sure how this would work out since I live 200 miles away and only get to their house once a month or so. The hybrids included Rosseyanka, JT-02, Nikita 4, Bozhy Dar, Sovietski and Sosnovskaya. All have made it except Sovietski which was on a lower branch.

[@DeanFamilyAcres]

Found this update. 🙃 looking forward to more this summer. Thanks!

[@GardeningwithZiggy]

I'll try to do an update late spring or early summer when we can see how the varieties are doing and if there is any fruit set this year.

[@DeanFamilyAcres]

@@GardeningwithZiggy that would be awesome, I’ll try to follow your channel please try to tag me if you can. I’m planning to graft my American rootstocks with 4 different Asian scions once they are leaved out. Last year I tried early and none took. (The scion was off eBay though, this year I got scions from local sources and a few from cooler regions.) Thanks again for the help!

[@rajeshtintu4966]

Ziggy, what an amazing job!!. I have been trying to graft persimmon for years, unsuccessful so far. I had a few questions for you. What state are you located in. What time if the year do you graft. Do you keep the scions in the refrigerator prior to grafting. Thank you so much.

[@rajeshtintu4966]

I see that you are in Virginia as you stated in the description.

[@GardeningwithZiggy]

@@rajeshtintu4966 Yes, I'm in Virginia, right outside Washington DC (zone 7B), but the tree in the video is in West Virginia, zone 6B at my in-laws place. For time of year, I'm still grafting some now, but basically as soon as I'm seeing first leaves and the days are hitting 80 degrees with some frequency I start grafting persimmons and pawpaws. Yes, definitely keep the scions refrigerated prior to grafting. I've found persimmon scions a bit more prone to drying out that some other fruit trees, so I sometimes wrap at least the ends with parafilm before putting them into a ziplock in the fridge. A very important thing particularly with persimmons is to keep any growth from the rootstock from budding out or the rootstock will take the energy and let the graft die. I got a bit lucky with this tree because it was a larger vigorous seedling, so it was able to keep going even when I wasn't there and some rootstock shoots came out. But everytime I got all the rootstock shoots off I'd see the grafts growing faster. Good luck.

[@user-ju3jq9tm3v]

Which rootstock did you use?

[@GardeningwithZiggy]

It is just a random native persimmon seedling. There are no specific rootstocks for persimmons. We mostly use native American seedlings on the east coast and on the west coast they use a lot of Lotus perismmon, but just seedlings there as well.

[@GG-sy2rg]

Great job! When did you graft it? What’s the best time in a year for grafting ?

[@GardeningwithZiggy]

I'm in zone 7B (although this tree was at my inlaws in 6B), so time of year will depend on where you are. Persimmons need some heat to properly callous and heal, so I don't graft persimmons until we are getting high 70s most days. So in 7B that means early May, possibly late May. I'll keep grafting through June. I believe this tree was grafted in early June of 2023.