Well, no, that's not true, all my trees are in pots including the persimmons, and 2 of my 3 persimmons fruited the first year after I planted them. Since you only took a picture of the pot and not the branches, it's hard to say, but the tree is probably too small to carry 30 fruit. And the pot in the photo is very small, my trees are in 1/2 wine barrels. So it could be dropping fruit because it is stressed from heat or cold or small pot size, or because it is trying to keep the right amount of fruit for its size, or because you are overwatering it. But don't be too unhappy, your tree is better off because persimmons will over-set fruit. Mine did and it snapped at the base because I hadn't thinned and left too many fruit on it, it got too heavy, and instead of dropping fruit, the tree trunk just split. Carla in Sac

The pot is 25 gallon container. But it has been in there for 3 years (this year being the third). It seems to hold misture, but the soil temps might be impeding the water intake. Some of the fruits drop at night though, and not during the heat of the day. I think the rootbound idea is a fair one. I guess I'll have to root prune it this winter. If it's not rootbound when I do that then I'll just give it to someone to put in the ground (I have no ground!)

TF, I've looked at some of Jim Claypool's notes from his American persimmon breeding program - some selections were noted for holding their fruits - but, in my experience, none of the good named varieties available in the nursery trade - with the exception of some of the D.kakiXvirginiana hybrids - hold their fruits. I have encountered 'wild' trees that do hold well into the winter; sometimes those fruits essentially 'freeze-dry', becoming sweeter and meatier after multiple freeze/thaw cycles - but most I've had a chance to sample were 'spitters' - not very tasty - but probably well-liked by the hooved rats. I've sent scionwood from some of those really late/long-hanging trees to a friend in MS who's grafting them as a soft mast crop for wildlife on his properties.

Persimmon usually need 3 or 4 years to become well established before they hold their fruit. So, hang in there.