Who's Growing Improved American Persimmons? Suggestions welcome!

Anyone have opinions on these other than what is stated above already?

Claypool A-118 (Elmo) according to
Elmo American Persimmon Tree - Stark Bro’s Zones 4 - 9 The Elmo American Persimmon is a hand-pollinated cross of Golden Supreme and Garretson Persimmon. It is also referred to as Claypool A-118. Chosen for its reliable crop of large fruits resistant to both pests and diseases. Elmo Persimmon is known for its heavy bearing. In Fall, enjoy harvesting large, orange, flavorful fruit with no black spots.

Claypool C-100 - according to Diospyros virginiana 'C-100' (C-100 Common Persimmon, Eastern Persimmon, Possumwood) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
C-100 is a medium-sized cultivar in the Ebenaceae family whose parent plant is native to central and eastern United States. It is beautiful, delicious and easy to grow, and offers year-round interest in the landscape. Bred by the late James Claypool, its fruit resembles the ‘Morris Burton’ cultivar in look and taste.

Claypool H-118 according to Prairie Star® American Persimmon - One Green World
Prairie Star® American Persimmon
One of the earliest ripening American Persimmon varieties, Prairie Star® American Persimmon is prized for its unusually large, very sweet, firm and flavorful fruit. Apparently self-fertile, Prairie Star™ fruit is also seedless in our orchard. (Claypool H-118 cv.)
One of our best native American fruits and hardy to minus 25 °F, American Persimmon can be grown in all but the coldest regions of the U.S. Our hard-to-find, grafted varieties produce bountiful crops of delicious, light-orange fruit. American Persimmon fruit is ready to eat when it is soft like a tomato and is great for fresh eating and for making delectable cookies, cakes, and other treats. American Persimmon trees are easy to keep 10-12 ft in height with pruning.

They like full to half day sun and can grow on most soils. Our varieties are partially to fully self-fertile but all will bear heavier crops with a Male tree for pollination. Naturally pest and disease resistant, our American Persimmon varieties can produce 30 lbs. or more of fruit and often begin bearing the 2nd or 3rd year after planting.

Latin Name Diospyros virginiana
Site and Soil: Persimmons like 1/2 day to full sun and well-drained soil
Rootstock Description Grafted onto American Persimmon rootstock
Pollination Requirements: Prairie Star® is self-fertile. Plant with our Male Persimmon to ensure good crops
Hardiness: Hardy to minus 25°F.
Bearing Age: 2-3 years after planting
Size at Maturity: Can be kept at 12ft with regular pruning. (Without pruning Persimmon can reach upwards of 20ft)
Taste: Sweet
Fruit Size Large
Bloom Time June
Ripening Time: Late September
Yield: 30+ lbs.
Pests & Diseases: With proper care and placement Persimmon trees are not bothered by pests or diseases
USDA Zone: 4-9

Claypool I-94 according to I 94 American Persimmon Tree - Stark Bro’s

I 94 American Persimmon is also known as Claypool 1-94 or Valeen Beauty. This Large fruit has clear flesh with excellent flavor. Claypool I-94 is large, early, and delicious. It differs from Early Golden by being slightly larger, more oblate and brighter orange color. Another interesting trait of Claypool I-94 is its very large and glossy leaves, making it a beautiful tree year-round.

1-94 American Persimmons ripen in October to November. Come harvest in the fall, you’ll easily spot the bright orange fruit. The fruit softens and sweetens once they experience frost.

Dollywood - according to Dollywood Persimmon – Bass Pecan
Dollywood Persimmon

(Diospryros virginiana) Zone 5-9

Dollywood Persimmon is a seedling of Early Golden, the first named persimmon cultivar. It is a heavy producer of very large high-quality fruit. Dollywood has a spreading growth habit with drooping branches which is unusual for an American persimmon.

Fruit Drop: September - October

Early Golden - according to Early Golden American Persimmon - One Green World

One of the best American Persimmon Varieties, Early Golden American Persimmon has 1-1/2″ diameter fruit that becomes very sweet and deep orange when ripe, with a delicious taste not unlike dates.

Garretson according to Garretson American Persimmon Tree - Stark Bro’s
An early-ripening, cold-hardy persimmon!

Hardy all the way up to zone 4! The Garretson American Persimmon is a seedling of Early Golden, making it a relatively early ripener and it has been noted to ripen as far north as Geneva NY, and Grant MI. The small to medium-sized fruit is a rich orange color, soft with good flavor and small seeds. The Garretson American Persimmon is known for its high yields.

John Rick according to Home Garden Persimmons | UGA Cooperative Extension
Productive, excellent flavor and firmness with 2-8 seeds.

Killen according to Home Garden Persimmons | UGA Cooperative Extension
Good flavor and firm fruit. Medium sized and moderately productive.

Lena - according to American persimmon - Lena

Lena (Mitchellana) was winner of the Mitchell Indiana Persimmon Festival in 1955.

American persimmon variety that is well regarded for it’s flavor, tender skin and attarctive red color. .

Often mentioned as one of the best tasting persimmons. Good for pulp or fresh.

Ripens early over a long period. Late ripening.

Zone 5-9

Morris Burton - according to Early Producing Morris Burton Persimmon - Blue Hill Wildlife Nursery

Fruit is small to medium at best with an ok flavor

Female persimmon that is self-fruitful(we have no male trees) and early producing. Morris Burton bears heavy crops of persimmons annually that very slowly drop beginning in late October and continue into winter. This persimmon fully ripens on the trees in central Pennsylvania but sheds very little fruit and holds most of it throughout the winter. This would be an excellent choice if you’re looking for persimmons falling late in the year in the Deep South. Morris Burton produces 1 1/2″ – 2″ persimmons with an ok flavor, in my opinion. This tree is vigorous, early producing, typically producing the 3rd year. Mature height 40′-60′. Plant hardiness zones 5-9.

Wabash - according to Worth trying American persimmon?

The flavor is second rate and fruit is small and unremarkable

Weber - according to https://ediblelandscaping.com/products/weber-persimmon-1?variant=41928285651113

Weber came to us from Alabama. It is an early ripening Native persimmon with an enjoyable flavor and deep orange, almost red flesh. The fruits are larger than most native persimmons and ripens well before frost. Space 15’ circle Zone 6-8 perhaps Zone 5

Yates (Juhl) - according to Yates American Persimmon Tree - Stark Bro’s

A sweet native of Indiana. This fast-growing variety is pest- and disease-resistant. When fruit is soft and completely mature, it features a sweet, apricot-like flavor. Cold-hardy and heat-tolerant. Tree reaches 35-50’ tall. Ripens in early September.

According to American Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) – The Fruit Nut

" In 1880 the first named American persimmon was selected out of the wild in Illinois. This original variety, ‘Early Golden’, would go on to be the female parent for many of the cultivars developed throughout the twentieth century. Elwyn Meader of Rochester, New Hampshire, was interested in American persimmons and developed one supposed self-fruitful cultivar called ‘Meader’. Another one of the more famous American persimmon breeders was the late James Claypool who began his work in the 1970’s. He also worked with Professor J.C. McDaniel from the Unniversity of Illinois whom is responsible for selecting ‘John Rick’ and ‘Florence’ (5). Over the course of 20+ years Claypool evaluated over 2,000 trees and kept extensive orchard records describing the characteristics of each tree in his breeding project. As Claypool’s health declined in the early 1990’s various members of the Indiana Nut Growers Association decided to carry on his work (1); one of those individuals was Jerry Lehman, who has a 60-acre orchard in Terra Haute, IN. He has been working with persimmons there ever since and has a large repository containing some of the most diverse American persimmon genetics in the world. The breeding aims today remain largely the same as Claypool’s original criteria (1):

1.Reduce the long ripening period
2.Improve fruit size
3.Calyx holding to fruit when dropping from the tree
4.Increase the already wonderful flavor
5.Skin tough enough to hold fruit when it strikes ground
6.Better the color of skin or attractiveness
7.Reduce seed numbers
8.Eliminate black spots in fruit flesh
9.Improve pulp color & longevity when frozen

Out of all the above criteria the first point seems to be the most important for extending the range and viability of American persimmons as a crop in the Midwest. Brix testing should also be done to determine peak ripeness; in the case of ‘Prok’ we’ve seen and tasted samples that look ripe, feel ripe, lack any astringency, but taste bland and borderline insipid. Insufficient heat units may inhibit certain cultivars from developing their full sugar content. Another goal is to find and identify more individuals that exhibit self fruitfulness. My primary focus is to plant as many cultivars as possible to trial for the above criteria. The hope is to determine which of the existing cultivars are most likely to succeed under a short season.

CULTIVARS:

My persimmon plantings are all in their adolescence and haven’t begun to bear. However, I am affiliated with a network of individuals around the state who are growing persimmons; many of the varietal images below come from those orchards. Through the Michigan Nut Growers Association we’ve established joint efforts to assess a wide range of cultivars over the next decade. This process will become increasingly sophisticated and systematic in our approach. In 2011/12 I planted ‘Szukis’, ‘Yates’,’Prok’, ‘Ennis Seedless’, ‘Sugar Bear’, and the kaki X virginiana variety, ‘Rosseyanka’. In the spring of 2013 I received several cultivars of scionwood from Jerry Lehman which were grafted onto seedling understock with around an 80% success rate. Those varieties are as follows:

Mohler
L32
Killen
H-118
GL
NC-10
WS8-10
Garreston
J-59
C-100
A-118

These are fruits from a 'Yates' seedling tree. Very high quality and good size. Grown by Hank and Nghi Frehtling in Willianston, MI.

These came from a ‘Yates’ seedling tree. Very high quality and good size. Grown by Hank and Nghi Frehtling in Willianston, MI. Photo taken October 6th, 2013

IMG_0363

‘Prok’ and ‘Geneva Long’ grown by Hank and Nghi Frehtling in Willianston, MI. Hank noted the warm microclimate where he planted the trees—this may have aided in ripening. Photo taken October 6th, 2013

10363018333_f1365f1169_o

‘Geneva Long’ cross section. One of John Gordon’s top five recommended varieties. Possibly a virginiana X kaki hybrid.

IMG_0364

‘Slate’ and ‘Geneva Pumpkin’ grown by Hank and Nghi Frehtling in Willianston, MI.

IMG_0896

‘Prok’ grown by Marc Boone in Ann Arbor, MI. Multiple years we’ve noted this variety for having large and firm fruit (when ripe). Flavor has been very mild in taste tests, borderline bland.

IMGP3169

C-100 from the Claypool breeding program grown by Bill Nash of Nash Nurseries in Owosso, MI.

In seedling large populations it is not uncommon to find individuals who sport blue fruit...this coloration is only skin deep and this is NOT the cultivar 'Blue'; seedling tree grown by Ken Asmus of Oikos Tree Crops.

In seedling large populations it is not uncommon to find individuals who sport blue fruit…this coloration is only skin deep and this is NOT the cultivar ‘Blue’; seedling tree grown by Ken Asmus of Oikos Tree Crops.

Visit the Link/Resources page to find nursery sources for persimmon trees. Contact me if you’re growing American persimmons in MI.

REFERENCES:

  1. “Story of James Claypool.” http://www.nutgrowers.org/persimmon.htm. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2014.

  2. “Michigan Nut Growers Association.” Www.michigannutgrowers.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2014.

  3. “Persimmon Pudding.” Ed to Growing, Education, A: Dedicatnd Use of Diospyros Virginiana L., the Common, or American Persimmon. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2014.

  4. “Exotické Rostliny, Zdeněk Černoch, Větřkovice U Vítkova.” Diospyros Virginiana. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Mar. 2014.

  5. Reich, Lee, and Lee Reich. Uncommon Fruits for Every Garden. Portland: Timber, 2004.
    "

According to Home Garden Persimmons | UGA Cooperative Extension

Variety Characteristics
Even Golden Productive, with medium sized fruit containing 3-8 seeds. Excellent quality and firmness.
John Rick Productive, excellent flavor and firmness with 2-8 seeds.
Woolbright Excellent flavor but soft and splits easily; productive.
Miller Productive, flavor good with large firm fruit.
Killen Good flavor and firm fruit. Medium sized and moderately productive.

According to Jerry Lehman in 2011 when he was alive he sent the following [NAFEX] Apple Scions, plus

"still have the following persimmon:
WS8-10, Owen seedless, Jim Claypool Early Golden (JCEG), C-100, H-65A,
I-93A, Morris Burton, H-118, 100-29N, 100-29S, 100-42, 100-45, 100-46, 100-47,
Knightsville.

Also Pounds Pecan, MacAllister Hican (several spellings of this one), Oran
Barton carpathian (large Hardy English walnut). Oran Barton is very winter
hardy in central Indiana as the ortet is over 100 years old.

Send $5.00 for snail mail shipment, $10.00 for priority mail, for 5
varieties or less pieces, as long as supplies last to cover postage and handling
to:

Jerry Lehman
7780 Persimmon St.
Terre Haute, IN 47802-4994

Persimmon descriptions:

Please note: This is not intended to be complete by any stretch of the
imagination. Neither scientific. It is a guide line only.

H-118 Very Early, large, soft, Lehman testing in orchard situation.
I-93A Lena x JCEG. Early, large, clear pulp, average taste.
U-20A D-128 x F-58. Late, very large, dull orange, good, pulps nicely
WS-8-10 VVLarge (some 86 Gr.), D-128 x F-58, mid to late, black material

19-10 Juhl x F-100. Mid to late, good producer, Avg size, good
tasting, vigorous.
100-29S Late, produces heavly, good for wildlife and deer.
100-29N Late, produces large crops of average size fruit, for wildlife.
100-42 B-59 x G-62. Mid season, Large, nice color, good flavor, soft.

100-45 B-59 x G-62. Mid season, avg to large, red blush, golden pulp,
jucy.
100-46 B-59 x G-62 .Mid to late, large, pretty red blush, sweet, exc.
taste.
100-47 B-59 x G-62. Mid season, orange, avg to large, wild life.
JCEG Many people may not have true Early Golden. This variety may
be mixed up. Lehman is using JCEG to designate the material
he has, traceable to the ortet. Lehman judges it still
as one of the best tasting compared to varieties available
today, it is mid season, avg size.
Knightsville, Mid season, very large, red blush, soft, sweet, gd taste,
origanted at Knightsville, IN.
Owen Seedless No description except seedless in some areas.

I’m often asked which is the best tasting. Taste is subjective. What may be
best for my self, others may not judge as best. If it isn’t good here in
Indiana it isn’t distributed"

Considering a wholesale order from Products | Rising Creek Nursery which is why i was checking on opinions of these varieties. There are many newer types at @KYnuttrees http://www.nuttrees.net/

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