Hi,
A little while ago I purchased a 10 gallon Jiro persimmon tree. It is around 7 feet tall (including pot)
It has several branches all the way up the tree.
I was told Jiro is somewhat unreliable in my area (pacific northwest) as we have rather cool summers and Jiro doesn’t always ripen. As a consequence, I plan to graft on the existing branches with “Izu” scionwood which I have already obtained. Izu is supposedly much more reliable in our area.
I will replace some of the existing branches with Izu whip and tongue grafts: The diameters seem to match pretty well.
Is there anything problematic with this plan? The Jiro has broken dormancy has has a leaf or three on each branch. Izu scionwood is dormant.
My only experience grafting is with apples and pears where I have been successful. I’ve heard that persimmons are much more tricky.
After care is especially important. Take off ALL new growth below the graft, religiously.
Also, I grafted Nikita’s Gift last year (successfully) and it took 2 months, almost to the day, for any growth to happen (May 26th to July 25th)
Scott
Also I grafted 4 scions and only 1 took. Of course once it did it branched out in 3 places, of which I removed all but the strongest this spring once growth began swelling
Scott,
Did you graft directly on top of the rootstock (Lotus/Virginiana?) I plan to graft on the Jiro but let several of the Jiro branches still continue to exist essentially creating a two variety Japanese persimmon tree.
I have heard that American persimmons can branch prune but not sure if Japanese persimmons do the same.
All of them died except 1. Basically 25% success rate. Hopefully this one branch will grow well.
A far cry from my Apple/Pear/Fig/Plum where I got nearly everyone to take.
I know the mistakes I made: Didnt remove the growth from below the graft and didnt protect the graft from direct sun/dessication. Also, in hindsight a couple of scions were suspect.
I also confirmed that Jiro is unreliable in our area. All of them ripened but they tasted… well tasteless.
Yes, rootstock was leafing out. I did use parafilm on the scion but still we got some hot days.
I think the main problem might have been bad scionwood.
I probably did everything wrong with last years persimmon grafts except for covering with parafilm. I attempted three grafts and long after I thought none would take one started growing. Compared to apple grafting one out of three is not so good. I plan to add the following techniques many of you suggested.
-Graft after leafing
-Shield to help reduce drying
