The links are contradictory in their approach to fertilizing; and since I didn't suggest that
@jckeystone12 SHOULD fertilize, the links are moot. My suggestions/comments were offered to help avoid taking a path that could easily lead to limitations imposed by using any fertilizer product w/o a soil test.
The idea that young persimmon trees shouldn't be fertilized, regardless of nutrient deficiencies or toxicities existing in the soil is rather shortsighted. It's far more likely that a little persimmon tree with appropriate fertility will grow to be an old and fruitful persimmon tree than a tree in a landscape where the soil has deficiencies and/or toxicities (nutrients in excess). Think Goldilocks. The level of each nutrient in the soil should be neither too high nor too low; rather, the goal is getting it 'just right', and the only way to do that is by acting on the findings of a soil test.
If, however, Jckeystone is convinced it is essential that the plant is fertilized, the best way to travel that road is by starting by adding nutrients most likely to be deficient, rather than adding nutrients which are most likely not. It is highly unlikely (nearly impossible) that using a 1:1:1 ratio fertilizer like 10-10-10 or 12-12-12 would lead to results equal to applications of specific nutrients shown by a soil test to be deficient.
Al
