How Long Does It Take for a Persimmon Tree to Bear Fruit? A Detailed Explanation of Fruiting Time
SummaryGenerally, a grafted persimmon tree begins to bear fruit after 3-4 years, and reaches full fruiting age after 15 years of planting. The duration of the full fruiting period directly determines the economic returns of growing persimmon trees. Therefore, when planting persimmon trees, you should choose an environment suitable for persimmon tree growth and also master scientific and reasonable planting management techniques, so as to shorten the growth period of the persimmon tree, extend the fruiting period, delay the aging period, and maximize economic returns.
Persimmon trees are not very demanding about soil quality. Whether on hills, plains, mountains or riverbanks, whether the soil is fertile or poor, and whether planted in clay or sandy soil, they can grow normally and produce a good yield. Persimmon trees are mostly propagated by grafting. Generally, they begin to bear fruit 3-4 years after grafting, and reach full fruiting age after 15 years.
The canopy of a persimmon tree grows rather open, and the leaves are relatively large and green. In summer, you can enjoy shade under the tree. In autumn, the tree is covered with persimmons in bright colors. In late autumn, the leaves turn red, offering a unique sight worth viewing.
Planting persimmon trees can make full use of the land, increase ground coverage, and thereby improve the climate and people's living environment.
1. The growth period of persimmon trees
From the survival of the grafted persimmon tree to the first fruiting of the young tree, the 2-5 years are the growth period. During this stage, persimmon tree planting mainly involves vegetative growth. Their root system and scaffold branches grow fastest at this stage, and new shoots grow relatively thick and strong. They can produce 2 flushes of branches within a year, with strong branching ability and relatively small branching angles. The persimmon tree grows vigorously, and the canopy is straight.
2. The initial fruiting period of persimmon trees
From the first fruiting of the young tree until the full fruiting period, it is called the initial fruiting period. The length of this stage has a certain relationship with the persimmon variety and the level of planting management. For example, Fuping pointed persimmon begins to bear a small amount of fruit from the 3rd year after planting and survival. If daily planting management is adequate, it can generally enter the full fruiting period early in the 5th year, and the yield can reach 1500-2000kg/mu.
At this stage, the framework of the persimmon tree has basically formed, and the canopy will continue to grow rapidly, gradually changing from the original vegetative growth to reproductive growth. As the tree age increases, the amount of fruit set will also continuously increase, and the angles of the branches will continuously open outward, forming many thick and strong fruiting branches. Each year it will bear relatively large fruit, but the yield will not be very high.
3. The full fruiting period of persimmon trees
From the time the persimmon tree bears fruit in large quantities until the yield declines and it ages before decline, this is the full fruiting period. At this stage, the production efficiency of the persimmon tree reaches its best. The length of the economic life of planted persimmon trees has a certain relationship with the planting environmental conditions and planting management techniques. Suitable environmental conditions and professional and scientific planting management can extend the full fruiting period of persimmon trees. Under ordinary management conditions, the full fruiting period of persimmon trees can last 100-250 years.
At this stage, the canopy of the persimmon tree has already formed, the branches open outward, and the tree body is mainly in reproductive growth. The large branches on the tree will bend downward, and the lower branches will droop downward. The extension shoots on the scaffold branches are like other new branches, while all the fine branches below die off. The inner part of the canopy slowly becomes empty, and the fruiting position moves outward.
The fruiting branches are relatively short, and alternating bearing and natural renewal of fruiting branch groups will occur. In the later stage, the large branches will renew. During the full fruiting period, using their growth characteristics and applying scientific and reasonable planting management techniques to persimmon trees can, to a certain extent, extend the full fruiting period of persimmon trees and increase yield and economic returns.
4. The aging period of persimmon trees
In the late full fruiting period, the yield of persimmon trees will decline, and the plants will begin to gradually age until the entire tree dies.
At this stage, the canopy of the persimmon tree changes from complete to incomplete, the canopy gradually becomes smaller, the tree shape becomes distorted, the number of fruits set decreases noticeably, and the number of dead branches increases every year. The persimmon tree grows weakly, and the latent buds from the branch tips to several parts slowly lose their sprouting ability until the persimmon tree dies.
These four growth stages of persimmon trees do not have very obvious year limits or boundaries. The length of each stage depends on the planting environmental conditions and planting management techniques. Only when the environment for planting persimmon trees is suitable and the planting management techniques are scientific and reasonable can the growth period of the persimmon tree be shortened, the fruiting period be extended, and at the same time the aging period be delayed, thereby obtaining better economic returns.