If you have room for just one more fruit tree in your garden or, for that matter, just one tree, then I strongly suggest that you plant a persimmon as these relatively quick growing, fast fruiting trees are not only beautiful to look at but will reward you with magnificent harvests from the age of three years onwards. Having said this, if you can only manage a single tree then be sure to purchase a self-fertile variety otherwise both male and female trees are required if fruit is to be produced. The recommended ratio is one male to six female trees but I myself have just two persimmon trees and, embarrassingly, have no idea which is male and which female but both do fruit and fruit very heavily.

Persimmons, called ‘Japani phul’ in Urdu and ‘Diospyros kaki’ in botanical terms, can be cultivated in sub-tropical to cool temperate zones and are native to both North and South America, Southern Europe, Asia and Australia. They take both heat and cold but do require lots of water during the growing and fruiting season and if you can cultivate them immediately adjacent to a river or pond, they will reward you with a very big thank you indeed!

The trees are extremely beautiful when full of developing or mature fruit, they are spectacular during the autumn months when the large leaves turn dazzling shades of yellow, orange and a deep, blazing red. A mature tree can reach a height of 15-40 ft depending on the variety and on growing conditions and is an awesome sight to see.

They flourish in a well drained position in full sun although, as previously mentioned, copious amounts of water are a must to keep them happy: The soil needs to be rich in nutrients and organic material and I suggest that you work lots of old, well rotted, organic manure and compost into the planting site before even thinking of preparing a planting hole. As an additional, long lasting measure, place a handful of rusty iron (not stainless steel) nails in the bottom of the planting hole along with a fist size chunk of perfectly clean beef knuckle bone. The easiest way to clean the bone of all traces of gristle, fat and marrow, is to boil it and then scrape it clean with a sharp knife. If any remnants of gristle, etc. are left behind this could attract vermin which is something that nobody wants!

It is preferable to plant persimmon trees in a location that is sheltered from strong winds and to do this during the winter months when these deciduous trees are leafless and resting. Some nurseries do offer pot grown saplings which can, in theory, be planted out all year round but it is unadvisable to disturb persimmons if they are at the flowering or fruiting stage, this may vary slightly depending on which part of the country you are growing them in, which rules out the months from March to October or even November.

The twigs and branches are extraordinarily brittle and break easily, so handle the saplings with care. Later on, when harvesting your first luscious fruit, do not pull them off the tree but cut the short stems with a sharp pair of secateurs, otherwise you are liable to end up with at least half a branch in your hand!

Persimmon flowers are often not noticed unless you are actively looking for them: They are tiny, pale yellow flowers, sometimes single and sometimes in bunches of up to five, and are, if you pay attention, very attractive to look at and have a slightly waxy appearance which catches the sunlight and glitters in the rain or in a heavy dew.

Persimmon fruit starts out as a tiny green purse, swells into a larger green purse and then, as it swells through green to glowing orange, it becomes the fruit that connoisseurs can’t wait to sink their teeth into!

Admittedly, persimmons are not to everyone’s taste but there is a reason for this: At any stage before it has turned fully ripe and squidgy to the touch, even a miniscule piece of fruit is so astringent that your mouth is completely numbed. A ripe or slightly over ripe persimmon is, especially if it has been chilled in the fridge first, an absolute delight and, as the fruit ripens over a period of weeks not days as with some other kinds of fruit, you can indulge your taste buds for quite some time.

If cultivating persimmons in Karachi it is necessary to keep your eyes open for thrips, mealy bugs, scale insects, fruit flies and fungal diseases encouraged by periods of high humidity. Take organic action at the first sign of any of the aforementioned. It may also be necessary to net the fruit against birds.

Please continue sending your gardening queries to zahrahnasir@hotmail.com. Remember to include your location. Answers to selected questions will appear in a future issue of the magazine. This takes time. The writer will not respond directly by e-mail. E-mails with attachments will not be opened. Please note: The writer’s garden is not open to the public.