I am considering getting a Rosseyanka persimmon as well as a JT-02. I have read JT-02 will survive my zone 5b/6a temps but haven’t read anyone on here growing a Rosseyanka in these conditions. Anyone have any experience on this topic?
Thanks!
I have one here In one of the “banana belts” of VT. I think I grafted it in 2021, so its just a tall feathered whip currently. Its done fine here, and is plenty hardy I believe. However Im likely going to regraft or at least topwork a good portion of the tree due to how late it ripens. December is just way too late, since killing frost and defoliation is pretty much guaranteed around Halloween here.
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Jerry Lehman, who introduced Rosseyanka to the US, was located at Terre Haute, IN…z5b until just recently. To my knowledge, it never experienced any winter damage in his orchard
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It froze back to the rootstock for me a few years back (maybe 2017?) I was surprised as I had been told that it was the hardiest of the hybrids at that time. It was a small non bearing tree still.
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Same for me. My rootstock might not have been as hardy (I have since switched), but no problems with JT-02.
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I live in Middlebury; I’m always pleasantly surprised when I see fellow Vermonters! Being I’m in the Champlain Valley, I’m wondering if you think they might work here. Thanks for any thoughts.
Hi @Barb -
The Champlain Valley is similar to and perhaps a tad milder than here where Im growing around 25 varieties of persimmons. Some of these are on the experimental end of things, but as yet on the whole Ive found them hardy and productive here. The main thing you need be concerned with is ripening time. My top recommendation is ‘Mohler’, and since its ready around Sept 1, it’s almost always a winning bet. You might contact Buzz Ferver at Perfect Circle Farm just north of you in Berlin and see if he’ll graft you one.
Wow! I can’t believe how quickly you responded; thank you so much for the tips. I have six varieties of American persimmons, but had been warned off of other types, based on zones listed in catalogs and websites. I have a link to Perfect Circle on my computer, and I was planning a trip there when the weather was more conducive. Thanks again.
well I happened to see your note… good you’ve already connected with Buzz. What are your 6 varieties?
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(So far!) I have Yates, Prok, Meader, 100-46 or Lehman’s Delight, Valeene Beauty…and I’m drawing a blank on the sixth. I had a heck of a time getting them to get started. I have one out front that has decided to get going, and it is now taller than me. How big can I expect them to grow? Listed ranges in size are all over the place, so I have no idea as to their final height. I plan to either let them drop or I’ll shake the tree, so I’m not too concerned, but just curious. I’ve not yet connected with Buzz, and I’ve been leary to buy because many things are not listed as specific varieties. Instead, they are very generic, like “American persimmon seedling.”
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I just looked a little more thoroughly, and there are specific varieties at Perfect Circle, but they are all sold out. I think six trees will probably suffice, anyway! Persimmons are only one of the 40 types of fruit I’m growing on my one acre lot. I’m still trying to track down some heartnuts and then I think I will be satisfied. After all of the wind and ice storms, I don’t want very tall trees here. I am aiming for most to be 20’ or so. I know heartnuts can get bigger, but I think that they are the smallest of the nut trees, other than hazels, of which I have four on the north edge of the back yard.
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all probably good bets. I hear conflicting reports on ripening time for 100-46. It may be a bot late for us. Some say Meader doesnt taste good. Ive not had it. Get a ‘Mohler’ if you can. You wont regret it.
I sometimes think that myself. Usually sets in around fall and resolves itself by spring 
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Funny! Thanks for that. I will look into getting a Mohler…what’s one more?! That would be a bummer if 110-46 and Meader don’t work out.
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You can always try them and if they don’t work, graft to a different type. 100-46 is a bit later and we had some destroyed by freeze this year.
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I grow Rosseyanka in what is now 6b. Most of mine fail to ripen. However, the ones that do ripen are good and greatly extend my persimmon harvest.
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I have both varieties in southern Michigan. We used to be zone 5 but are now 6. I have a few I grafted to small rootstocks almost two years ago. They are all about 6-8 feet tall now with no winter damage, so far.
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