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Photograph by Shari Kaplan
Sweet Winter Fruit: In winter, when most of the trees in Los Gatan Scott Pearson's orchard are bare, large orange Fuyu persimmons (left and right) are still available. Between them is a Hachiya persimmon.
Winter dormancy is a good time for hardwood cuttings
By Tony Tomeo
Now that the weather is becoming somewhat wintry, there are fewer chores in the garden. Personally, I don't mind. I do not want to be out in cold, rainy weather any more than necessary. It is difficult enough spending much of my time in the gardens of others without coming home to spend more time in mine.
Another garden enthusiast, John Allen, recently reminded me of a season-appropriate garden activity that is best performed in winter when most species are dormant. Making hardwood cuttings is a form of propagation that exploits the natural dormancy cycle of the species involved.
Unlike softwood and semi-hardwood cuttings that exploit the active growth that occurs between spring and summer, hardwood cuttings are "stuck" (installed in their rooting medium) when inactive so that they can emerge slowly from dormancy in their new environment, producing new adventitious roots as needed. Root or leaf cuttings are very different from these three forms of stem cuttings, and I may discuss them later when they are seasonable.
The newest growth from the previous season is most conducive to rooting as hardwood cuttings. Deciduous species, such as rose, weigela, forsythia, grape, lilac (the simple species, but not the French hybrids) and California dogwood are some of the many examples of species that can be rooted as hardwood cuttings. With the exception of poplars and willows, most large trees are not so easy to root as hardwood cuttings. Most evergreen species, although dormant, are generally propagated by other procedures because remaining foliage may cause adverse desiccation of the cuttings.
For most species, the best cuttings are about six inches long with about the same diameter as a pencil. They are not necessarily the most distal (farther from the parent plant) growth but should originate where the stem is of sufficient caliper (width). Any length of stem beyond 6 inches from this same origin may be removed. The stem should be cut at the proximal end (toward the parent plant) immediately below a bud. The distal end should be cut immediately beyond a bud.
Cuttings may be stuck directly where the resulting plant is desired, or rooted in a flat or container for transplant later. Rooting hormones may be used to promote adventitious roots. During the rooting process, it is imperative that the medium does not completely dry nor become completely saturated for too long. New roots will not survive without adequate aeration.
Tree of the Week: Persimmon
Percy is a very friendly cat who works at the Ladera Garden Center. His name is derived from persimmon, Diospyros kaki, because the orange color of the fruit resembles the color of Percy's coat. Also, those who know him would say that he is sweet.
The most common persimmons are the Oriental or Japanese persimmons. The American persimmon, Diospyros virginiana, is much more rare, but sometimes found in older gardens. The American persimmon fruit ripens slowly but is then very perishable and the trees are smaller. Fruit of the Japanese persimmon is generally larger, bright orange and hangs on the trees into winter, long after the deciduous foliage is gone. Those who enjoy persimmons find the display of winter fruit impressive, but have difficulty consuming and giving away the abundant fruit.
The bright yellow, orange and red autumn foliage is just as striking as the fruit. During the summer, the approximately 3-inch-wide, 6-inch-long leaves are glossy green. Trees are usually less than 20 feet tall and wide, but can get taller with a distinguishing structure and interestingly fissured bark. Incidentally, the wood is used to make golf clubs.
Fruit is very abundant and will be very messy if not harvested. The most popular cultivar, Fuyu, produces fruit that is about the same size, shape and (almost) color of a large tomato, but about as firm as a pear. Some prefer them when they are firmer like an apple. Hachiya, which is my favorite, produces large, 4-inch-long fruit shaped like an acorn. They should be harvested while still firm because they are fragile and attractive to birds when ripe. Hachiya fruit is best if left to ripen after harvest, but it becomes very soft and messy to eat. Some of my boyhood friends have determined that ripe Hachiya persimmons, when compared to any other fruit, produce the most impressive "splat!" when dropped from the bridge over San Tomas Aquino Creek.
Horticulturist Tony Tomeo can be contacted at 408.358.2574 or at LGHORTICULTURE@aol.com.
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
