Description
Persimmon is a tree with a rounded or pyramidal crown with a size between 6 and 12 meters. Its leaves have an elliptical shape and are dark and shiny in color, and can reach 18cm long. Its flowers are 3cm in diameter and yellowish-white in color. They can be male, female or hermaphroditic and their pollination is entomophilous. In the absence of pollinators, a significant drop in flowers can occur. In this crop, there are varieties when fruits can change considerably in the event that the flowers have been pollinated.
World persimmon production is centered on China (60%), Japan (19%) and Korea (10%). In Europe, persimmon production occurs mainly in Italy and In Spain. In Spain, the production is relatively low when compared to other fruit trees, with a cultivated area of 18,000 hectares with a production of almost 500,000 tons of persimmons per year.
Soil
As it has a pivoting and very extensive root system, it adapts well to all types of soils. Although its roots can suffocate in poorly drained or very wet soils. It prefers loamy or clay-loam soils, fertile and deep. It tolerates limestone soils well, but not salinity.
PH
Salinity
Quality
Temperature
Persimmon is a plant of subtropical origin, but it adapts well to mild climates in the temperate zone, especially in the Mediterranean zone. In the case of colder climates (holds up to -12ºC) it can even increase production. Having a late flowering stage it avoids production losses due to frost damages. It has low requirements for chilling hours but needs long, warm summers to ripen its fruits properly.
Irrigation
Irrigation properties
Varieties
Spanish varieties can be astringent and non-astringent. Among the astringents, there are a number of varieties which must be subjected to postharvest maturation treatments in order to be consumed. The main variety grown is Rojo Brillante, although there are also the varieties Tomatero, Gordo, Sharon and Triumph.
Other similar crops