Hi Nelly; I have three "Fuyu," and one astringent Asian Persimmon trees (and will have wood at the Scion Exchange from each). They did take a while to bear, but have grown relatively well. I think they have a tap root that eventually secures most of their water. The productivity of mine vary with the soil they're in - the richer - the better. I've never had it annualized, but have played with it nutrient wise over the years. They're not fast growing, my largest is about 20 years old now, and I've easily kept it pruned (lightly) to about 10 feet high.

Anyway, I found the following on Albany, Australia:

Albany has a Mediterranean-type climate with generally warm summers and cool, wet winters. The city is situated on what is promoted as the “Rainbow Coast” which is an appropriate title given the significant frequency of cool cloudy days with drizzle or showers.

July is the wettest month, with a long-term average of over 140 mm, whilst rain occurs on two days out of every three during an average winter. The driest month is February with a mean of about 23 mm and in summer it rains on average about one day in every four.

It was also described as having some massive power generating windmills! I don't have wind... But my persimmons do get sunburned, though they've never lost leaves (and the deer don't like them). I also found the following:

Watering: Persimmon trees withstand short periods of drought. With regular, thorough watering, the fruit is larger and of higher quality. Extreme drought causes fruit and leaves to shed. Any remaining fruit may sunburn due to the loss of leaves.

Fertilizing: Most Oriental persimmon trees do well with a minimum fertilization program. Excess nitrogen fertilizer causes fruit to drop. If leaves are not dark green and growth is less than 10-12 inches a year, fertilizer is needed. Soil testing is the best way to determine the amount and kind of fertilizer needed. In the absence of a soil analysis and in the presence of yellow leaves and reduced growth, apply about 3/4 pounds (1 1/2 cups) of 13-13-13 per inch of trunk diameter when measured at the soil line. This amount of fertilizer should be applied evenly under the tree canopy in late winter or very early spring.

...Windburn maybe? I hope you figure it out, between the 3 Fuyu's, they're our most consistent, and possibly delicious fruit. --I hope you're growing some figs..? Those are real winners for us too.

My Izu has grown slowly but overbears. I tie it up every year during harvest so it doesn't fall over or break. It is smaller than I am and is loaded with fruit now every year. I saw another guy's Izu, though, and his was bigger, but not loaded with fruit yet. Mine took awhile too. I agree that they are slow growing trees. What a landscape/fruit addition though! Bright orange globes in the tree with no fruit. What else do you have that looks that cool or provides so much fruit in November and December? The squirrels are stealing my apples but they leave the persimmon alone. I do think that the American persimmon and the astringent varieties have more complex flavors. For size of tree vs. size of fruit and reliability of harvest, though, I think Izu can't be beat!
John S
PDX OR

John, “What a landscape/fruit addition though! Bright orange globes in the tree with no fruit. What else do you have that looks that cool or provides so much fruit in November and December?” -- You said it! To me, Persimmons are highly underutilized in our area. Only problem – they’re extremely brittle and will snap apart with gusty wind when in-leaf or loaded with fruit.

If there were a method of supporting them ... they’d be a must-have for everyone with a yard! No spray; no pollinator; little-to-no pruning; no seeds; no dear problem and yes, their foliage is magnificent. I’ve likely described it around here before, but their large lime-green leaves stand out in Spring beyond anything in my orchard or surrounding forest. They do bloom, but you’ve got to squint to see them! They’re lush all summer, plenty of shade (just a hint of stench) and their multicolored leaves of orange, red and purple are, for a couple of weeks, the prettiest in my yard / orchard / forest! And yes, then there’s the fruit; orange globes holding on strong and capable of withstanding a pretty good freeze (I’d say 24 degrees) without damage.

Then snip em off their stems, put some in the refrigerator, leave some in a cool garage / basement and take the rest to the kitchen. I love the non-astringent’s – and so do my kids! They got beautiful seedless slices this morning, so did I! And as they soften, they seem to become sweeter… Only problem this year, far fewer than normal (for me), if good sized - but that generally happens with fewer fruit... And it sounds like it’s a localized problem – only my place!

As mentioned, they’ll occasionally have an ‘off year,’ maybe all four had their off year this year? I may do some fertilizing next year, too. Noticed some ‘fertilizer’ in orchard today and it reminded me of an HOS Tour when one of my Mentor’s was asked what he used for fertilizer? “Deer manure” he replied – cracked me up – and yep, that’s what I found, piles of it!

Thanks for checking in.

Plumfun: “My branch of Early Golden was harvest a couple days ago. They were soft ripe on the tree. Smallish due to poor soil. But pretty tasty. I think they are actually tastier than the Hichyia's that I used to get in Southern Cal. Pretty good for a northern grown American persimmon.” …I know I’ve mentioned losing my Early Golden Am. Persimmon years ago with several Summer wind gusts… Yes, one of those little jewels pack the same amount of flavor as a Fuyu or Hichyia! I’d haul some to my Mother in Portland; a Midwest girl from Illinois, they brought back memories! She won’t waste her money on “those big tasteless ones at the stores” because she grew up on what you described… Though she describes them as having been loaded with seeds and only eatable after a frost.

…OK – just ran into the wet orchard to verify the name of my (though advertised as Non-Astringent) Mackewa Jiro Astringent “American like” persimmon. Though my Fuyu’s barely ripen ‘up here,’ this M. Jiro could use even more heat. When they’re soft-ripe, Wow! They remind me of a Date with an attitude " title="Laughing" />

Thanks for the input!