@lisamariaweiss Another one to consider is Inchon if you are looking for a smaller tree. It is relatively dwarf and has a bit of a weeping attitude to its branches, so might work well for your needs.
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I have scoured nursuries for Sung hui but in California it seems like I only see Hachiya, Saijo, fruitcake, etc. Is it a tree only available on the east coast? I even had a hard time finding it online anywhere?
I’m not sure who currently sells trees of it. I think mine originally came from Edible Landscaping.
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I am also in zone 6b and very interested in container-growing persimmons. I have two Nikita’s Gifts and an Elmo planted in-ground but was told by the nursery not even to attempt to grow persimmons in containers because they would never yield fruit. How has everyone’s experience been with container persimmons? Also, are there certain places that are better to purchase from?
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Persimmons will certainly fruit ok in a pot. But they will do much better in ground.
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I just acquired a JT-02, Kassandra, and Journey trees that were grafted last year and I may have to grow them in pots for a year or so before putting them in ground.
I am wondering if 15-gallon nursery pots will be good enough; and if it is true that it is likely they will not survive the transplanting shock / process from a container into the ground.
Also, I understand JT-02 and Kassandra are smaller size persimmon trees, but I am not sure about Journey. Any thoughts on that would be appreciated. Thank you.
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Based on my experience:
<< I am wondering if 15-gallon nursery pots will be good enough>>
MFJFIGS – Yes. I have my potted trees in 20 g pots, which as big as I can handle, intending these as permanent homes.
<< if it is true that it is likely they will not survive the transplanting shock / process from a container into the ground. >>
False. I believe it would be best to transplant the trees in the spring when dormant. Dormant young trees can usually be transplanted bare root. If you move a dormant tree with some semblance of a root ball, shock should be minimal.
<< Also, I understand JT-02 and Kassandra are smaller size persimmon trees, but I am not sure about Journey. Any thoughts on that would be appreciated. >>
My Kasandra, planted in 2017, is ~20’ tall. It takes some pruning to keep it that height. Journey is a sibling (same parents), so I’d expect it to be similar. My JT-02 was grafted in 2021. It’s roughly 8’ tall and wide. It seems destined not to be as tall as Kasandra. But I say that with low confidence because JT-02 grafted to an established DV tree grows 6’ per season. So i’s quite possible that as the rootstock tree matures, my small JT-02 gets as big as Kasandra.
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Thank you, Joe. That is very helpful.
Are you growing any hybrids in containers, or Asian varieties only?
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A forum friend convinced me to try Nikita’s Gift, which I expect to ripen late and which is relatively tender. So I’ve got it in a pot. Otherwise, my hybrids are all either already in the ground (JT-02, Kasandra) or destined to be (Dar Sof, Chuchupaka).
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Just want to show that persimmon in a container can fruit.
This was a Rojo Brillante ifruiting in a 15 gallon pot.
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That is awesome!
I am looking forward to see something like that on my potted Izu, Saijo, and Sheng. Hopefully next year they will fruit.
My Izu, from JF&E dropped all but two flowers.
Should I leave it up to her to keep or drop them?
On a separate note, I put her straight in a 22 gallon pot which makes it harder to manage soil moisture & watering.
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what is your overwintering procedure?
I assume that you bought it this year?
If so, I wouldn’t expect the tree to keep its flowers and I would remove any fruit that sets. Let the tree devote its energy to developing roots.
I don’t get why a pot makes it difficult to manage water. Assuming you have a well-draining mix, just figure out an amount of water that keeps the mix damp, them water that amount every day. Like maybe a quart. More as it grows.
Yes, I bought these about two months ago. It is the rain that throws watering off schedule, but they look healthy so far.
Saijo seems to be more robust than Izu, and Sheng seems to be a real slow grower.
People sometimes complain about lack of vigor in Izu, but so far mine is doing fine. I’ve grown Saijo and Sheng side by side for 4-5 years. There’s no material difference. So it seems that what you are observing is more about the tree or its specific conditions than the variety.
@kinghat
I put my potted persimmon tree along with potted fig trees in my attached garage. I usually water them once a month (or two).
However, this past winter, we were too busy and I did not water any potted trees in my garage. Many figs died (dried out?). I thought Rojo Brillante would be dead, too. To my surprise, it leafed out in mid May and today, I saw flowers!! It did not flower last year as it kept too many fruit in 2023.
Now I have to add compost to the pot and feed the tree properly out of guilt.
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I would be happy if next season my persimmons produce as much fruits as my little fig trees do 
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