Chocolate persimmon Korolek: a description of the variety, where and how it grows when it ripens

Persimmon Korolek is one of the most common varieties growing in the subtropics of the Federation. The plant was brought from China to Europe in the nineteenth century, but for a long time it was not appreciated due to the astringency of the fruit. Everything changed after they began to be eaten in the stage of their full maturation.

Description of the variety of persimmon Korolek with a photo

Persimmon Korolek is often called chocolate or “black apple”. Outwardly, the tree looks like a cherry, it can reach a height of twelve meters. Its leaves are oblong, dark green, lighter on the back side. Flowering persimmon Korolek begins in May. Single bright scarlet buds bloom on the branches. In the phase of full ripeness, the ovaries reach the size of an average apple, their shades are from bright orange to brown. If the berries are unripe, they are tart, with an astringent taste and a slight bitterness. In October, the pulp acquires a creamy structure, a chocolate hue, and becomes sweet.

The shape of the fruit can be round, flattened, slightly elongated, heart-shaped

Frost resistance of persimmon Korolek

Korolek is an oriental type of persimmon. When grown in cold regions, plantings must be covered, since the frost resistance of the plant is low – the trees can withstand temperatures as low as -18 ⁰С.

A plentiful harvest greatly weakens the plants, reduces their winter hardiness. To increase it, special events should be carried out – pruning and feeding trees on time, and carefully cover young seedlings in preparation for winter.

Where does persimmon Korolek grow in Our Country

The ancient Greeks called persimmons “food of the gods”. It is grown in Japan, Australia, USA, China, Philippines and Israel. Although the Kinglet is unpretentious in care, a mild climate is required for full growth and fruit ripening. In the Federation, the variety is distributed in the Caucasus, in the Crimea, in the Stavropol and Krasnodar Territories, in the Volgograd Region.

When the persimmon Korolek ripens

Persimmon season begins after the first frost. In October, when the foliage completely falls off the trees, the fruits ripen. Kinglet reaches its ideal taste by November and December. The fruits cease to be viscous, acquire a sweet taste and juiciness.

You can distinguish the most delicious ones by translucent brown flesh, dark dots or stripes on the peel.

In place of the buds in July, rapidly growing ovaries are formed.

The composition and benefits of persimmon Korolek

Persimmon is considered a valuable and nutritious product for the human body. This is due to its rich chemical composition, which includes:

1. Vitamin A – improves vision, strengthens the immune system.
2. Vitamin C – helps to restore tissues, remove radicals.
3. Vitamin E – has a positive effect on the reproductive system.
4. Vitamin K – helps to strengthen bones and blood clotting.
5. Vitamin B6 – has a positive effect on the work of the gastrointestinal tract.
6. Thiamine is essential for muscle and bone growth.
7. Potassium – helps to supply oxygen to the brain, maintain memory and clarity of thought.
8. Copper – provides a normal metabolic process.
9. Manganese – promotes the transmission of impulses between cells.

Regular consumption of persimmon has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular, nervous, endocrine systems. In folk medicine persimmon Korolek has found wide application. Allergies are treated with an infusion of the peel, the pulp is applied to burns, insect bites, a decoction of the leaves can cleanse wounds from pus, the fruit juice is used for scurvy.

Persimmon fruits are recommended to be eaten with edema, obesity, anemia and beriberi

Growing persimmon Korolek

You can grow a persimmon tree on the site yourself or by purchasing a ready-made seedling. In the first case, the seed of the Korolek variety is taken out of the fruit, washed and placed in the refrigerator for two months, wrapped in a damp cloth. Before planting, they are treated with a growth stimulator (“Epin”) and buried 2 cm deep in a container filled with loose, moist soil (loam or sandy loam). Cover with a film or glass on top until germination, removing only for watering or airing. After the appearance of the sprout, the shelter is removed and the small seedling is transferred to a place with diffused light.

The seedling is grown for two years in a container, after which it is planted in open ground.

Landing

The optimal time for planting persimmons is spring or autumn. In the second case, the survival rate is better, but all work must be completed two months before the onset of frost. Choose a healthy seedling, without signs of disease and damage, whose age is two years.

It is believed that the lifespan of a persimmon can reach five hundred years, so the choice of a place for a tree must be approached responsibly. Persimmon Korolek is a tall plant and enough space must be left for each, since the feeding area of ​​​​an adult tree is at least 64 square meters. The best area for him is near a wall or a high fence, well lit by the sun, protected from drafts and strong winds. Drained loam is suitable as soil for persimmons. To properly land, proceed according to the algorithm:

1. A hole with a volume of 50-60 liters is dug in the chosen place two weeks before planting.
2. At the bottom, a drainage layer is created from broken bricks, pebbles, expanded clay.
3. Pour humus on top in the form of a mound.
4. The day before planting, the root system of the seedling is soaked in a growth stimulator solution.
5. Install it in the center of the landing pit, straighten the roots.
6. They fall asleep with soil and humus, without tamping the soil.
7. Set a peg nearby and tie a seedling.
8. Plentifully watered (20 liters of water).
9. Mulch the soil around the trunk.

It should be remembered that persimmon Korolek does not like swampy soils, as they contribute to root rot and plant death. If the site is located in lowland areas, you need to create an elevation before proceeding with the landing. Strongly fertilized soils are not good for fruit trees. This circumstance can cause excessively rapid growth and inharmonious development of the crown. The further condition of the seedlings depends on the quality of care for them.

The first fruits may appear on young trees two years after planting.

Care instructions

Persimmon Korolek is an unpretentious plant and does not require laborious care, but responds to care very quickly. Attention should be paid to moistening the soil, fertilizing, pruning plants, protecting them from diseases and pests.

Watering, fertilizing

The kinglet loves frequent watering in the hot summer, but when waterlogged, the persimmon can greatly increase in growth, stretch out, and bring small, watery fruits. A day after watering, the trunk circles must be loosened and mulched with peat, compost or well-rotted manure.

The first top dressing is carried out only eight years after planting persimmon Korolek. Phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are applied to help plants prepare well for winter, survive frosts, lay flower buds, and give a rich and high-quality harvest. The Kinglets are fed three times per season – at the very beginning of spring, before flowering and in the phase of fruit formation. In addition to fertilizing the soil, foliar top dressing can be carried out using potassium iodide.

The tree does not grow well in drafts, in the shade and on the cold side of the site.

Preparation for winter

To save young seedlings of Kinglet, it is necessary to ensure their protection from low temperatures. Use cardboard boxes, lutrasil and spruce branches. An additional layer of mulch 20 cm thick will help insulate the persimmon root system.

Trimming

The first shaping haircut is carried out immediately after planting. For this purpose, the central conductor is shortened to 80 cm, which stimulates the growth of skeletal branches. A year later, the trunk is shortened to 1,5 m, the side shoots are slightly trimmed, the damaged branches that grow inside the crown and thicken it are removed.

Fighting diseases and pests

If fruit trees are regularly cared for, they do not get sick. In the absence of proper care, persimmon Korolek is attacked by mites, caterpillars, foliage, buds and fruits, scab and gray rot are affected. Fungicides and insecticides are used to control pests and diseases, with at least two treatments per season.

A distinctive feature of persimmon Korolek is the color of chocolate, sweetness and the absence of an astringent taste.

Conclusion

Persimmon Korolek is one of the most popular varieties among gardeners. This is due to the unpretentiousness of trees, the excellent taste of fruits and the possibility of growing in different climatic zones.

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