Wild Persimmons and Food Plots for Deer

#99: We discovered native persimmon trees on our farm! Our food plots for whitetail deer are coming along beautifully, and we planted some Celeste fig trees. +AMDG
#whitetaildeer
#foodplots
#persimmons
#hunting

[@samadams9557]

I’ve only had luck propagating persimmon by cleaning the fruit off the seeds, soak for ten or fifteen minutes, then put in damp (not wet enough to drip when squeezed) and put in the fridge for two months. They’ll begin to sprout. Then take them out and keep at room temp for about a week and they’ll grow pretty fast (3” maybe). Then plant in pots. Keep upgrading the pots until they’re ready to plant. I’d also recommend closing it off with welded wire to keep them from being chewed on.

[@ChipsOutdoorChannel]

Great video! One thing I wanted to add was that you need a male and female persimmon tree to produce fruit. Only the female trees will produce fruit. You won't know which is male or female until they are old enough to flower. I planted 100 of them on my property last year. I'm looking forward to seeing them grow and produce! They are native here but none were on my farm.

[@samadams9557]

If you have multiple male trees you can cut them off and graft female branches on too. Then you’ll really speed up the process of bearing fruit.

[@euphoriaq7026]

I just found a deed in my permission, I'm hoping to get something out of it, I hope your trees are keeping you happy!

[@jackturner4917]

How many deer do you aim to harvest this year? What was your average in past seasons?

[@StIsidoresFarm]

Good question. In NC we're allowed to harvest two antlered/antlerless, and then four more antlerless on the first tags. We can request bonus antlerless tags. We've already harvested one doe and would like to get at least three more if possible (God willing). The real challenge becomes time - not for hunting, but honestly making time for processing since we're not full time homesteaders.

[@jamesmiller9299]

Have you considered chestnut trees?

[@davidhoerl1681]

You lost me when when you said the single 5 ft fence keeps deer out....Maybe your deer can't jump....I've seen deer jump double 6 ft fences 3 feet apart to get in a food plot.