| I know it is the nature of the persimmon tree to put on lots of fruit and then drop most of it at various times through the maturation process. How can I keep more fruit on the tree to maturity? |
| Some fruit drop is natural, but stress can also cause fruit drop. Uneven watering, either through changes in rainfall or deluges from the hose can prompt fruit drop because sudden increases in water uptake are a stress. If the water levels become more steady, usually only a portion of the crop is dropped. Although we cannot do anything about the rainfall, we can moderate the water levels by keeping plants well watered during dry periods. It is the alternating very dry, very wet pattern that causes the stress. Another problem persimmon growers sometimes have is over-fertilization. Persimmons should only be fertilized once a year, in late winter, before any fruit is on the trees. Fertilizing after fruit is on the tree forces the plant to grow foliage. Unable to hold fruit and produce a flush of growth, the plant drops the fruit. Hope this answers your question! |
