Diospyros kaki ´Zirochka´ - hardy japanese persimmon /SUMMER 2026/
- Early-fruiting Ukrainian variety of Diospyros kaki type PVNA. This variety require pollination and seed formation to lose their astringency. A substance contained in the seed, acetaldehyde, makes the tannin insoluble and thus the seeded fruit will be sweet even when it is still hard. If the flowers are not pollinated and the fruit remains seedless, it will be astringent until it becomes fully soft and jelly-like when ripe. Thanks to its early ripening and good frost hardiness, Zirochka can also be grown in regions with colder climates.
Origin: selection from the offspring of the cross Batumskij II x Fuyu, Nikitsky Botanical Garden, Yalta, Crimea. Registered in Ukraine in 2010.
Vigor: semi-vigorous, a 10-year-old tree reaches a height of 3 m, with a hemispherical crown
Flowering period: June, this variety is self-fertile. This means that it produces seedless fruit even without pollinator. If the flowers are pollinated, fruits with seeds develop.
Fruit: medium-sized, 160 - 190 g, flat-round, skin orange. When fully ripened, the flesh is orange-red, sweet, with a jam-like consistency and very tasty.
Harvest season: fruits ripen early, typically at the end of September. They can be stored under standard conditions for up to December.
Yield: high and consistent, up to 65 - 90 kg of fruit can be harvested from a mature tree
Disease resistance: resistant to fungal diseases and pests, no chemical protection is required during the growing season
Frost resistance: down to -26°C, frost protection is recommended for the first two years after planting