I’m going to try growing asian persimmons (rated 6a -10 F at best) in Utah zone 5b/6a (we get down to -25 F every so often) and am thinking through placement near the house and researching protection strategies.
I found someone who is growing palm trees in 7a over the mountains and built this for the winter months:
I might try building one that is 4’x4’x8’ and putting it on a smart plug to turn on the lights anytime the local temperature drops below 0 F. The electricity would only cost about 5 cents per 24 hours w/ three CFLs.
The persimmon will take a few years to grow into the space, but after that I’d have to prune it strategically each fall. Is this crazy?
If anyone has experience with cold protection for persimmons (or other fruit trees out of zone), I’d be interested in hearing your ideas and experience.
If I protect the roots and first 4-5 feet of the trunk (w/ a box or wrapping or other strategies), will it die back like a fig or just die?
I am one zone warmer 6a-7b and have several varieties of persimmon. So far I have not had any problems with no protection. A couple persimmon varieties might make it where you are with no protection. For sure American persimmon.
I planted Asian persimmon that is rated most hardy ( Ichi-Ki-Kei-Jiro) in zone 5B 4 years ago. It was planted near south wall of the house and also gazebo frame was installed around it. First year it was covered in two layers of insulation and tall layer of mulch leaves. It was a cold winter and it froze to three buds that were under leaf mulch. next summer it regrew from those three buds into a good size tree. Since that winter I use double reflective insulation around gazebo frame(with some space between the layers), boards on top of it to prevent heavy snow to sink in the cover and tarp covering whole thing to prevent wind damage. There is a heater inside. Heater is combination of 200W heat lamp for terrariums, small fan and thermostat. Thermostat was set first winter(when the tree regrew) on 32F, second winter on 25F and this winter on 23F, though I don’t think it ever turned on the heat this winter yet, the winter is very mild so far. One more thing I have to do is to remove leaves in fall. The tree refuses to go dormant until a first frost, it stays green and just drop green leaves after the first frost, but not all of them. So I remove the rest before making winter cover. I also make sure to protect the trunk from rodents - warm, sheltered place make nice hotel for them, but it is missing a restaurant . One down side of such shelter, I have to keep the size of the tree small to fit 5X7X7H gazebo frame. I use ropes to tie branches to make the tree more compact before installing the cover.
Here’s another couple of pictures of what I’m thinking of constructing…I’m going to tour this person’s house in May to ask some questions about temperatures he’s seeing inside the box. If my trees are rated to 6a/-10F, I only need to keep them above 5F or so, right?
What type of thermostat are you using @anon89542713?
The thermostat is Inkbird. You will have to build a much bigger box, than on the picture. My tree is 4 years old and branches already stiff enough so you can’t bend them much to tie up or down, only new grows is bendable. But the idea is great.
. One down side of such shelter, I have to keep the size of the tree small to fit 5X7X7H gazebo frame. I use ropes to tie branches to make the tree more compact before installing the cover.
