Jodi,

Could it be sudden death syndrome? Look at the link below.

Tony

Here is a link that might be useful: SDS

Jodin, I don't think I can tell you anything, but I feel for you.

Everyone else, what is there to learn from a presumptive case of SDS following a mild winter and a spring -- correct me if I'm wrong Jodin -- any late freeze events? What ways might there be to make sense of what's going on?

I might well have missed some of the temperature extremes since I live in two places, Atlanta & Middle GA. it may very well be that there was a freeze or near-freeze event at the Middle GA farm in March or early April that I failed to take note of, although I try to monitor chill hours.
This year Spring in Middle Ga. has been delayed about 3-4 weeks. I am a month late planting tomatoes, squash, cukes, etc. The soil & air have been unusually cool.
The most puzzling aspect of this is why only one tree was affected. All my persimmon stock is from Ison's Nursery in Brooks, GA and all have done well.
I think they are all grafted to native persimmons.
I'm wondering about the vitality of Kakis that are grown on their own roots...
Do they exist? Are they viable? Are they available for purchase?

If you read Tony's link above you will find that the SDS occurred a year after cold injury, ie the second spring after injury not the first.

Thanks for the link. We had a severe freeze this spring so I'll be interested in how the trees recover this spring and if SDS occurs next spring.

http://lists.ibiblio.org/pipermail/nafex/2003-May/010852.html

Author of original Clemson article says there may be more involved than just weather..or virus.

I think I'm out of my league!

But will keep planting kakis each year. Perhaps I can always have some producing, to offset those hit by SDS. They're expensive, but worth it.

Jodin,

You can buy Kakis at Legg Creek Farm for $14 a tree. Hope this will help you.

Tony

Here is a link that might be useful: Legg Creek Farm

Thanks Tony!
I've also signed up with NAFEX to try to learn more.
Right now I'm just a spoiled novice, since all my trees have prospered with almost no attention or care, except the unfortunate one that met such an untimely demise this Spring.
The prospect of them all getting SDS is terrifying, so I'm going to try to learn as much as my old brain will process.
Perhaps it is a good idea to get widely divergent genetic stock from different nurseries.

Tony, I just followed the link you offered -- thank you -- and they say something about their persimmons I can't make any sense of. About Hachiya, for instance: "Plant with another astringent variety for best results; avoid planting with Fuyu." And about Fuyu: "Does better with another variety. Does not need a pollinator!" What could that be about?

Fruitnut, thanks for the year after suggestion. That would make sense if the weather in Georgia was similar to NC last year. We had two hard freezes last April. My pawpaws leafed out and got completely frozen back twice before finally leafing out a third time.

CF,

They probably are trying to say that Fuyu does make male flowers sometime and that will pollinate the Hachiya and you will get seeded Hachiya.

Tony

Thanks, Tony. That makes sense on the Fuyu and occasional male fllowers, but what about the does better with another variety part while at the same time not needing a pollinator? Can anyone make any sense of that? If it doesn't need a pollinator, and especially if both trees are female, what good could another variety possibly do the first one? My best guess is that they either don't know what they're talking about or said something they didn't mean to say, but maybe it's just me.

Can I ask if your tree survived? My 4 years old Fuyu tree has the same problem this year and I am thinking it might be fungus problem.

Thanks

My persimmon had the same problem, leaves fell off within weeks of blooming, wondering if this is it, or do I continue to water and apply fertilizer. Thanks

mine died and had to plant a new one few weeks ago. It seems they cant absorb water and food anymore. and I dont think your tree will be a nice growing tree anymore, Sorry.