Hi guys, theme is old and I do not know if it's still active. I would like to get in touch with Kristian from Hungary and I was wondering if somebody's got his e-mail? I want to have hardy kaki (persimmon) in my backyard but can not find it in my country. Would seek in neighboring and Hungary is one of them, by the way I am from Serbia. I have tried to contact people from Bulgaria but with no success. So if someoene has some contact or knowledge about hardy persimmon on Balkan please send me. Greetings, Martin.

Kelper: Young persimmon trees appreciate deep, rich soil, preferably with a heavy mulch, and resent competition from weeds and grass around the trunks. Your tree is practically being choked out by roots from the grasses growing right up to the little trunk. All your tree needs is a little care, starting with some hand weeding to remove the grasses in a circle at least 4 feet in diameter, followed by some balanced fertilizer and several inches of mulch. I planted three bareroot Asian persimmons in spring, '07, and they put on 4 feet of growth the first season, and I am now having to prune them back to keep them from getting out of hand. Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA

I'm with denni & fruitnut. Loss of leaves has nothing to do with it. Translucent appearance and softening are prime indicators. Usually, if they're dropping off, they're ripe, but every variety differs. I don't have NG bearing yet, but its hybrid parent, Rosseyanka, holds its fruit on the tree well into December here - and must either be snipped off or pulled free from the calyx. Currently, the tree is bare of leaves, and the fruits are yellow-orange, but still firm - and probably astringent; however, I've sampled Rosseyanka fruits that were picked at this stage, peeled, sliced, and dried, and they are marvelous, with no astringency remaining. I'll usually let those hang on the tree until they're soft and translucent, or we're due for a good hard freeze, then pull them off and freeze them for consumption as persimmon-sicles throughout the winter.

Absolutely beautiful trees! Wonderful resource. Thanks.