Hey Scott, I just ordered a bunch of 3 gallon containers. I'm going to purchase a 'Saijo' and one other Asian persimmon. Then, in addition to my 'Meader' American, I'm going to purchase a 'Szukis' and one other American cultivar. I want to experiment, after these threes are established single (well-pruned specimens) in producing an Asian Persimmon duo multi-graft (Saijo and one other) and produce an American persimmon trio (Meader, Szukis, and one other). If they don't work out, it will be ok since I'll have them separately growing (pruned). 1.Since you highly recommend the PVNA Asian types, in addition to the 'Saijo', I want to grow one PVNA (perhaps 'Chocolate'); I live in Zone 6b, and I know that 'Saijo' is said to be cold-hardy down to -10F. What would be a recommended variety of PVNA that would be cold-hardy for zone 6? From what I've read, 'Chocolate' is not an option (whereas other sites contradict this, claiming it would work out in zone 6). 2. What varieties of American persimmon (flavor) are you familiar with? Some have suggested 'Szukis' is the best and that 'Meader' is not necessarily the best tasting variety, comparatively. 3. Do you think that I can, forever, continue to summer prune an American persimmon tree - if I wanted to keep it under 10' feet, or would this eventually stress and kill the tree years down the line? 4. As for the 'Saijo' and PVNA Asian varieties, can I place the tree only 8' from my pavers/walk way - or will the roots destroy the paves? I intend to prune the lowest branches so that the lowest limb is above 6' off the ground so that it can spread without obstructing the walk-way. Thanks, Steve

Spinosad is the insecticide most recommended for thrips. However, with the common flower thrips on rose, the basic symptoms are not the things Marc mentioned, but rather scratched and dirty-looking flowers with dry brown petal tips. Thrips will always be (barely) visible in the flowers, and it's rare to have noticeable symptoms on the foliage and new growth. If insects are causing bent necks, you should be able to see damage in almost every case (use a lens). Rose midge is a possible culprit if you are seeing dead growth tips. Again, look for a flange or flattening inside the bend, and if these are present, insects have nothing to do with it.

i would say you are moving from a juvenile bark.. to a more mature bark .. but i could be wrong... but what i want to know.. is why you are leaving such a low branch in the first place>???? ken

The reason I posted the question was because I was not sure if I should bother planting them, since we have a short growing season. But....I planted 4 seeds in a pot outside and 4 in a little cell pack indoors. The seeds in the cell pack indoors germinated a couple of days ago (no sign of the ones outside, yet!). I will transplant the seedlings next week. Will let you know how it goes.