I have four persimmon trees in my yard - American Persimmon "Yates", Asian x American "Nikita's Gift", and two Japanese persimmons - Nishimura Wase", also called coffee cake, and another one called "Chocolate". Im not certain of my zone, either 8a or 8b in the latest upgrade.
You really have just about every variety worth having !! I saw the coffee cake one and am deliberating on it. I do want another Persimmon but can't make up my mind which variety to buy. Do you have a recommendation @Daniel W ? I definitely don't want an astringent variety. I was 8b and they changed me to 9, then we got snow last year. 53 years, no snow.
If I had to do it over again, I think I'd try a nonastringent one. All of mine are astringent. Like Fuyu or Rojo brillante. But I haven't grown them, so I don't know.
Very nice, Annie Kay! I also grew lots of potatoes over the years. When I went low-carb, I had to give them up. I've been slowly downsizing anyway, so not a problem for me.
What a beautiful kitchen garden. I wish I knew gardeners like you in my neighborhood. They mostly grow lawns here. Those metal sided raised beds look fantastic. What a great way to grow crops. Are those yellow squashes "straightneck prolific"? They look like seed packet. I just planted some last week.
Thanks @Daniel W nobody gardens much at all around here. That squash is called "Saffron". I don't notice much difference in these and in the straightneck or the crookneck but, these grew bigger more quickly for me than the latter two did. That might be just because this year we have had no squash bugs, (knock wood) so far and it's been milder weather than usual. I have four more that are waiting in the wings, that I potted on because, normally, the vine borers would be after my squash by now. We have termites galore down here so, wood raised beds don't last long. I was swarmed just the other day by them while gathering cut flowers for the vase. The only thing about the metal beds is they absorb heat more than wood would. So, need more frequent watering when temps are high. I wanted all creamy white ones but I buy them when they are on sale so you have to take what color you can get.
A liitl update on how the Veg and fruits are coming. Above the blackberry patch, this big one is 12x 30' and the berries are starting. Below This peach, of which the tree has only given me three, is a Chinese Flat peach. We can't get them in the US at the grocery. I don't care for fresh peaches because of the fuzz, but I ate these when I lived in Germany and I can deal with the fuzz because it is so fine that you barely notice it. This is the first year it has fruited and it's in the ground four years from 4" wip. Paw paws are getting big. There's just one on one of the other Pawpaw trees and the third has none eventhough it did flower. There's only one little fruit on the Mayhaw tree !! The Amaranthe is starting to flower. Blueberry patch is finally giving me a decent berry crop.
@Anniekay you have quite a nice fruit garden . Everything looks good. Way way ahead of the short season I have in the PNW.
Yes, we have an early spring warm up but the disadvantage of my climate compared to yours is that I have little choice in varieties because of our heat and low chill hours. You have many more varieties to choose from and can plant fruits that have varied maturity dates and, thereby extend your season.
Your response is so true and some plants and fruits need a chill period. I was amazed at the variety of plants that grow in this zone 8b when I first moved here from Colorado. There are many other plants that can be grown in your zone that I covet and would like in my garden. Instead they are house plants that I move outside when temps warm usually late May to June until the first chill in Oct/Nov. Climate change has also affected many of my garden plants that do not like temps past 85/ 90. In the mean time the battle with critters who have destroyed hundreds of $ of plants are still the main focus in my garden . All battle stations are up and running.
@Pacnorwest I really don't envy you with those awful squirrels !! We have deer around but we also have lots of farms and swamps and the deer rarely are seen in town. As far as critters go, cats spraying in the yard are the most of my problem.
