Growing Hybrid Persimmons with Darren Bender-Beauregard (#93)

[@Дмитрий_Рущенко]

Hello! I'm from Ukraine and I would like to correct Darren a little what he said. According to the experience of many Ukrainian gardeners, the hybrid persimmon variety "Rossiyanka" can withstand frost of no more than -24 degrees Celsius and is not the most frost-resistant of the hybrid varieties. The most frost-resistant Ukrainian hybrids are the hybrids of the Sosnivska and Dar Sofiivky varieties. They can withstand up to -26 degrees Celsius.

[@Orchardpeople]

Thanks so much for sharing that update! It’s very helpful for those of us in colder climates ☃️

[@richarddetriquet9642]

A superb presentation packed with valuable info. Thanks for sharing!

[@Orchardpeople]

So glad it was helpful!

[@donniechilo3966]

A good source of cold hardy hybrid persimmons in the US would be England's Orchard and Nursery. He grows American, and many hybrids from Ukraine and Russia. While he no longer does mail order, he propagates and sells many. His many acre persimmon orchard with dozens of varieties is certainly worth the trip to eastern Kentucky.

[@Orchardpeople]

Absolutely! He is a legend!

[@Crina-LudmilaCristeaAuthor]

Beautiful!

[@Orchardpeople]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@Pay-It_Forward]

thanks!

[@Orchardpeople]

No problem!

[@_DRWC_Official]

Interesting about the rosseyanka grafted tree suddenly dying. I have had three out of five trees that were healthy suddenly die. Out of the 40 grafted persimmons I’ve planted…rosseyanka has given me the most fits.

[@Orchardpeople]

That’s so sad! Will you try different cultivars?

[@_DRWC_Official]

@@Orchardpeople Yes I have roughly 42 trees as of now that are either hybrid or American cultivars

[@Orchardpeople]

@@_DRWC_Official Fantastic! I guess it will take a while to figure out which ones are the most resilient in your location.

[@_DRWC_Official]

@@Orchardpeople The ones I have should be suitable for my zone and have been grown by several popular persimmon growers/breeders. If they die it’s either likely a graft issue, disease, drought, or somehow my fault in planting them.

[@Orchardpeople]

@@_DRWC_Official or soil. Have you had your soil tested?

[@janj5786]

Does anyone know where to find Dar Sofiyivky or other newly released Ukrainian cultivars shipped with phytosanitary certificate?

[@Orchardpeople]

Let me ask Darren and get back to you!

[@Orchardpeople]

Here is a response from Darren. I hope it helps: I'm not aware of anyone importing these Ukrainian hybrids via proper phytosanitary protocol, but I have heard through the grapevine that they are here and being propagated, and from multiple sources. I think it's safe to say they will begin to be available from nurseries in a year or two, possibly earlier for scionwood sales. If you are specifically seeking phytosanitary approved material, I suggest contacting USDA GRIN or university breeding programs that focus on persimmon, to see if they have procured these cultivars.

[@janj5786]

@@Orchardpeople Thanks so much!

[@JonathanFitzgerald-z7b]

I think I watched a video about this cultivar by a man in the USA..so it has been imported. But it's a new cultivar (from 2016). A nursery here offered it for the first time this fall and from what I know the scionwood came from the Czech Republic. I've imported scionwood from Ukraine, but it is difficult and uncertain, especially after the war broke out. The cultivar Sophie's gift has great characteristics, especially if you are looking for a more dependable, cold hardy and self-fertile tree. The fruit are larger than Rosseyanka's and need no pollinator I believe. Is the certificate necessary for the home orchard or only if you import them into the country?

[@janj5786]

@@JonathanFitzgerald-z7b phytosanitary certificate is required for importing into Canada, I have however recently found a source. Thanks!

[@richardlynch1094]

Shake that little tree and the ripe fruits fall on your nice clean tarp. Ripe in December in NYC.

[@Orchardpeople]

Sounds like a good system and lovely to have fruit at that time of year :-)

[@jeanniecollins4249]

You lost me when you said " Let them fall onto the ground " Are there no animals where you live?" We have to get them before the possums, raccoons and birds do.

[@Orchardpeople]

Good point! Maybe he means to wait until the first ones fall to signify ripeness. Then it’s a race to get the rest of the bounty from the tree before the critters move in!

[@DeesNutzandBerries]

Loved it!

[@Orchardpeople]

Glad it was helpful!