How many years does it generally take for black persimmon saplings to bear fruit after planting?

Black persimmon is a relatively rare persimmon variety with high nutritional value; it contains more vitamins and sugar than ordinary fruits, and its vitamin C content is twice that of ordinary persimmons. So, how many years does it take for black persimmon saplings to bear fruit?

1. How many years does it take for black persimmon saplings to bear fruit?

Black persimmon saplings bear fruit about three years after planting, and the yield increases year by year. Black persimmon saplings are mainly planted in areas with higher temperatures such as Guangdong and Hainan.

2. Propagation methods of black persimmon trees

The grafting method is used, and bud grafting should be carried out during the period of slow growth. Young trees have two growth cycles per year; the first growth cycle stops in mid-June, and the second growth cycle stops in mid-September. Before they stop, the sap flows most slowly, which is favorable for graft healing. Therefore, the suitable period for bud grafting is from late May to early June and from late August to early September. Experience shows that it can be done during the flowering period from May to June; in terms of phenological phenomena, bud grafting can be carried out from the time flower buds appear on the branches until the fruit has grown to the size of a walnut.

3. Technical key points for the survival rate of persimmon tree grafting

1. Selection of rootstock

Mountain persimmon may be selected, and other rootstocks are not suitable. Measures such as intertillage and weeding, fertilization, timely pest and disease control, and pinching after the seedlings reach 30 cm in height should be implemented to cultivate robust rootstock.

2. Grafting at the right time

Branch grafting: select plump fruiting mother branches from the previous year that have not yet sprouted and store them in sand to prevent the scions from drying out. Graft when the rootstock sap begins to flow and the scions are in the initial stage of sprouting, generally from mid-February to late February. If grafted too early, the rootstock and scions are still dormant, the cells at the graft interface will dry up, thickening the dead cell layer at the interface and affecting graft survival. If too late, the scions have already sprouted and are prone to water loss and drying out after grafting.

Bud grafting: the scions should be plump buds from the middle of vigorous new shoots of the current year, collected and grafted immediately; the scions should be placed in clean water to prevent the tannin on the cut surface from oxidizing, and the scions must not be stored for long. The suitable grafting period is when the scion tissue is already plump and the rootstock sap flow has slowed and the bark is easy to peel. From late August to early September is suitable, giving the highest survival rate. Environmental requirements during grafting: choose cloudy, windless, and relatively humid weather for grafting, but do not do it in rainy weather, and even more so do not let rainwater directly enter the graft interface.

In addition to its high nutritional value, the wood of the black persimmon tree is grayish-black, hard and heavy, fine-textured, and quite rot-resistant, and can be used as timber for construction, mechanical equipment, furniture, and so on.