Root Hybrid Persimmon Cuttings

RedSun · 2020-09-21T19:32:03.515Z

I’m going to winter prune my Kasandra hybrid persimmon tree. So I just wonder if I can root the hardwood cuttings just like rooting grape or fig hardwood cuttings. Is it better to wait until spring time than fall?

Most of the persimmon trees here are grafted. But I prefer own-root trees that are relatively safe from winter damage.

This tree has no winter die-back.

jcguarneri · 2020-09-21T20:30:58.873Z

Everything I’ve read about rooting persimmons is that it’s very low percentage, at best. I have read studies from Japan and the US where they’ve had success rooting cuttings taken from fresh root suckers or by etiolation. Basically, you need to trick the shoots into entering a juvenile state.

I detailed my research so far in this thread:

Rooting Cuttings By Etiolation General Fruit Growing

Has anyone tried etiolation methods of rooting hard-to-root species, such as persimmon, apple, peach? I first came across the basic method while reading through Garner’s The Grafter’s Handbook and was intrigued. Garner describes basically leaning over the stock plant, pinning it to the ground, and burying it. You then repeatedly cover the shoots that emerge from the buried buds (similar to stooling rootstocks) to promote a blanched, leggy growth that is more likely to root. I found this more up-…

I plan to try this out once I have my trees more established.

RedSun · 2020-09-21T22:21:41.375Z

Well, I’ve not seen any root suckers from the tree. I think it should be a seedling. I’ve had it for 4 years.

ramv · 2020-09-21T22:41:46.656Z

Grafting is easy and rootstock is cheap. If you follow Dax’s hot callusing method, your success rate will be close to 100%. The right rootstock will be hardy to zone 4 or as low as persimmons go.

Barkslip · 2020-09-21T22:47:59.168Z

Fersure.

RedSun · 2020-09-21T22:57:22.215Z

I’ll give it some thoughts. If I go that route, then it will be regular Asian persimmon, not the hybrid. TY.

Barkslip · 2020-09-22T13:51:28.496Z

Always and I sort of shout to the world right now, use Northern persimmon seedlings Diospyros virginiana - NORTHERN SOURCED if you’re gonna sell them or trade plants with friends that you may not of planned on doing. Southern American persimmon seedlings are fine for the southern folks as rootstocks or wildlife plantings, but they are not fine for the majority of the country.

Southern seed, grows a rootstock or wildlife tree that in zones 6 and colder dies back to the ground all the time and always kills a graft. If you’re ever in doubt of the seed source/provenance of your trees, ask.

Also, Northern seedlings do just the same as southern seedlings for the south.

Dax