I posted this in the GardenWeb forum but I though I'd try here too.
Does anyone know if Asian Persimmon varieties like Jiro and Fuyu will grow well here and produce good fruit in zone 8, Portland, OR. The One Green World folks seem to think so but I am very wary of their "alternative" fruit selections. But if these persimmons work here I would love to try them.

HOS Member Glen Mills has several persimmon trees, and I believe a few of them could be Asian. I think they all produce very well.

I think Jerry Shroyer also grows persimmons, so he might be a contact to ask. His number & email are on the back of Winter 2006 Pome News.

Hope this helps.

tstoehr,

I'm very close to writing something for the Pome News describing the success I've had with both Jiro and Fuyu Persimmons. Joanie Cooper, our current HOS President, wrote an ode to Persimmons in a recent Pome News. YES - "Asian Persimmon" varieties do magnificently well in Portland, and the surrounding communities! Canby should be perfict

And, you can trust One Green World - Jim Gilbert (co-founder...) is the very person that, nearly 20 years ago at an HOS "All About Fruit Show," persuaded me to plant one. I now have four. Supposedly, "Jiro" is a slightly earlier version of "Fuyu." My Sister's Fuyu does great at about 500+ feet in Happy Valley (Oregon); mine have done nearly as well here in the Coast Range foothills (Gaston area).

They need full sun, as do most decent tree fruits, and are wonderfully carefree. They form perfectly structured trees; mine are all from 8 to 10 feet tall @ 12 to 18 years. They are very brittle! If you have high winds, like an Uncle of mine, you'd best stake it. And if it sets real heavy, temporarily prop up the limbs. They need no pollinator, and have no seeds (though I've heard they'll set heavier with a pollinator - and seeds). The Deer don't mess with them; pruning is a matter of heading a few twigs of new growth and snapping off the older brittle ones.

They ripen late, which is great for extending your season. We'll eat Persimmons and Kiwi for months after everything else is gone... I've never sprayed them for anything, and their leaves are always the most beautiful in the orchard; a fluorescent lime-green all Spring; deep glossy-green all summer, to the widest fall array of reds, oranges, and purples... And after the first hard frost, the leaves instantly drop and the orange fruit can hang for weeks (until the birds / raccoons discover them).

...I could go on, and maybe should write something up, but Joanie covered it pretty well ... They do take around 5 years or so to begin producing - so hurry up! You'll be impressed!!

PS: I heard Ted Swensen on "The Dirt Bag" radio program Wednesday on KBOO FM - Yes Ted, I plan to haul my usual selection of Persimmon wood to this years "Exchange" - see you there!

OK... that does it. No matter how cold it is tomorrow I'm gonna venture over to OGW and buy one or two of those persimmon trees. Nothing can stop me now. But do I want two persimmons or one persimmon and a green gage plum? Decisions, decisions.

I went over to One Green World today to pick up a Green Gage Plum and an Asian Persimmon. They told me they were out of all of the non-astringents, so I figured I'd have to look elsewhere. On the way out I ran into Jim Gilbert and he went to the back somewhare and located a very excellent looking Fuyu Persimmon. Pretty cool. I've buried its roots under a giant pile of wet barkdust, hopefully that will keep it from freezing tonight when it hits 18 degrees... brrrrrrrrr!

So, you met the Man! Neat! Here's some more info on Persimmons, now that you've got yours ...

http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/persimmon.html