moonlight Your question about what to plant with what hasn't been addressed yet, so the site that I use is given below. Apparently this isn't a site that buys into the notion that some plants benefit other plants. Only a few do if you examine the serious research. But the author lists whether specific plants do well either planted with other specific plants or in last year's spot where those other plants grew. One of the primary reasons there are "bad" companions is because some soil diseases are shared so you don't want more infections than might already occur. Potatoes and tomatoes come to mind. Or they may be attractive to the same insect pests and you'll be overrun with them. Another reason something may be a bad companion is that it may overwhelm a particular plant next to it. Or the root structures may not be compatible for sharing adjacent spaces. Anyway, this is what I use, and I'm happy with it! Here is a link that might be useful: Good and bad companions

It's true. The fruit will be of variable quality and the seeds won't be true to type they will be hybrids. If you are going to plant self pollinating use only self pollinating of the same hybrid type. If you aren't using self pollinating then you will need different types to cross pollinate. In this case, people usually pick a type of persimmon because they like it's taste and so a similar tasting persimmon that ripens earlier or later than your favorite as the cross pollinator makes sense. In my case I was recommended, if I remember right, a Yates or a Prok, by this nursery: http://www.nolinnursery.com/Persimon.htm He is a Ag graduate from UK with many years of experience. So if I was like you I and wanted two trees I'd buy 2 Yates or 2 Proks. You should buy 1 or 2 or the same variety if they are self pollinating. I'm only buying one so I don't have that problem. I have a Black Gum (aka Black Tupelo) in my yard already and it's you've seen one you know they are closely related to persimmons. I'm not sure it they can 'cross pollinate' persimmons like donkeys & horse can cross breed though. Here is a link that might be useful: Nolin Nursery Persimmons This post was edited by AgroCoders on Sun, Jun 8, 14 at 3:09

I guess I don't have much experience with conifers (just fruit trees) so spacing is always a big issue (lots of pruning in my yard). With most? conifers, you can really pack them in and still have huge specimens (one day!)...although shading is going to become a huge issue with other plants in the are (the reason I planted all my conifers on the north side of my property). The area we hiked is really neat. The pines block out the wind and its very quiet. In winter with a good snowcover, you can cross country ski or snowshoe through this area. It becomes so quiet. If you ever get a chance, southwest Wisconsin is pretty neat to explore in the fall. The glaciers spared us for the last million? years and water has done all the carving.

Spacing is a bit tight, you might want to use a geneva double curtain or something similar to allow you to have more canes per vine to manage vigor. Also, research grape varieties. Sure those you listed are popular commercial varieties but they might need a lot of sprays or maintenance to get good fruit (no idea, would not survive in my zone). Also, there are so many super flavorful varieties that for one reason or other are not suitable for commercial growing but are awesome in a backyard. So far here in zone 4b I am LOVING Somerset as a early season seedless grape. Good luck.