I knew that persimmons have long taproots, but I guess this is not common knowledge among all growers. I found out when trying to grow some native American Persimmons. I wanted to transplant some very small seedlings from one part of my woods to another. Impossible, as after digging about 18", I still had yet to find the end of the taproot for a less than 6" tall seedling. Their taproots also do not like disturbance; that is a surefire way of killing them. This is one of the reasons I have shied away from Diospyros species in my collection. The only one I have is Texas Persimmon, and they have never done well as container plants.
Interesting. I have done a bit of research into germinating Persimmon species since they can grow anywhere from freezing to tropical temperatures. But I'm surprised because never once I see a source mentioned that Persimmon species have very long taproots.
After my failed "excavation," I did some reading on American Persimmon. I should have done that reading before I tried transplanting them, as it was stated in a couple of different books that they have long taproots. In that way, they are as similarly untransplantable as buckeyes, walnuts, pecans, and hickories.
My Texas Persimmons do not have as large or as fleshy a taproot as those American Persimmons; their taproots are thinner, but that taproot shoots down, and, even after a couple of years, there is a relative paucity of lateral roots coming off of it. Even 12" tall tree pots have not been of great help in giving their taproots enough room, and they lack enough lateral roots to become rootbound even in such small containers. I would plant them in my yard, but I am not entirely sure they will survive my winters. I lack a sheltered location where I am certain they will, though at this point, planting them anywhere in my yard is probably preferable to keeping them in containers.
Topic: PSA for those growing persimmon (Diospyros) species from seed. (Read 511 times)