Huge Persimmon Crop in 20' Tree

JSmall · Joined: 01 Jun 2004 Posts: 11

My 20' tree (Tamopan persimmon) has a bumper crop of fruit this year. Problem is getting the fruit above the roughly 12' level. Wonder how orchard folks do it? Any thoughts?

Tricky Grama · Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 7:35 am Post subject: persimmons

Maybe instead of a 'cherry picker' they use a persimmon picker? :lol: I see pictures of people on step ladders picking apples in orchards, is that feasible for you? We have 2 small persimmon groves & the larger trees that have produced get eaten by critters quickly. The ones I've tasted are awful-just like alum! These trees are just 'volunteers' from seed-I have no idea what variety.
Patty

JSmall · Joined: 01 Jun 2004 Posts: 11

We have step ladders. One is an 8 footer which is helpful but cannot reach the upper parts. And yes, the birds especially mockingbirds, feast on the upper fruits. The tree we have is a Japanese hybrid and the fruit is astrigent unless you wait 'till it is ripe. It's also virtually seedless. Ripening will speed up after the first feeeze. As to getting the fruit on top, I've thought about these lifters seen in warehouses but the expenses of renting one and then operating it just may not be worth it.

Tricky Grama · Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 7:27 pm Post subject: persimmon

If your trees are as 'spindly' as ours, I guess you couldn't lean an extension ladder against them to get at the fruit either. Ours have only 2 persimmons left so we've never been able to sample them after the 1st freeze as has been suggested. They are full of big seeds anyway. I don't mind letting the critters have 'em but yours sound really good. Can you shake 'em out? Supposed to freeze in the metroplex tomorrow nite.
Patty

JSmall · Joined: 01 Jun 2004 Posts: 11

We cannot shake them loose because they are firmly attached by a woody stem from the limbs. You mentioned leaning a ladder against the tree. Good idea, we did that but we only have a 10' extension ladder. The tree limbs higher up may not be secure enough to hold me safely. What I did was mount a small box on a 12' pole and had my wife hold it under the fruit while I used an extendable limb pruning pole to cut the fruit as close to the stem as possible. We will get most that way and the birds can have the ones at the very top. You might be surprised to know that even after the first 2 freezes, most of the persimmons have not fully ripened. Oh, they look ripe and maybe to a bird they are, but one bite and your mouth feels like you just bit into a ball of cotton. Thanks for you suggestions.

Jerry