You love persimmons and can't get enough of them? Then just multiply your persimmon tree. All you need is seeds.
Persimmons (Diospyros kaki) are easiest to propagate by sowing. The chances of success are very good if you avoid the typical beginner mistakes. In the following instructions, we explain what you need to look out for when propagating persimmons so that you can soon enjoy a he althy little tree.
How to propagate your persimmons from seeds
❶ Obtain Seeds:
Trying to extract persimmon seeds from a fruit in the supermarket can take some patience. In the vast majority of cases, the persimmons offered for consumption are seedless. If you are lucky, carefully remove the seeds from the fruit, gently scrape off the pulp and let the seeds dry for a few days. If the effort is too much for you, persimmon seeds from garden shops are a time-saving alternative. Here are the 5 tastiest kaki varieties.
❷ Stratify seeds:
In order for the seeds to sprout, they must be stored at cool temperatures of around 4 to 6 °C for a long period of time. To do this, wrap the seeds in cling film with some damp sand in late autumn and leave them in the fridge for at least two months.
❸ Place seeds in seed pots:
After stratification, place one persimmon seed in a seed pot about the size of a teacup. Use a nutrient-poor substrate so that the roots can develop quickly later. You can also use peat, a mixture of peat and sand, coconut soil, or poor soil from the garden. Cover the seeds with some substrate and dampen it with water from a spray bottle. Finally, cover the seed pot with cling film and place in a warm, bright place.
❹ Germinate seeds and cultivate seedlings:
In the coming weeks, remove the transparent film for half an hour once a day and spray the substrate with water. Expect a germination time of around 30 days, but don't lose patience if it takes a little longer. As soon as the seedlings are visible, canremove the film permanently. Also keep the seedlings regularly moist. Place the seed pot in a light spot that is also protected from the midday sun. The young plants need to get used to full sunlight gradually.
❺ Repot young plants in tubs:
As soon as the seed pot has rooted through, repot the young sapling into a bucket with more nutrient-rich substrate. A mixture of garden soil, sand and potting soil optimally meets the needs of the persimmon tree. If you live in an area with mild winters, you can plant your persimmon tree in the garden from the fourth year.