November in Sonoma County

Sundays with Sue

By SCMG Sue Lovelace
Updated: November 17, 2019

Orange is such a great fall color. Pumpkins often taken center stage, in that regard, but I will tell you that my favorite orange is the persimmon (Diospyros kaki). I look so forward to it’s appearance and consequent ripeness, knowing I will feast madly on the unique, sweet, crisp ‘Fuyu’ persimmons until they are gone!  We have a 4 year old dwarf in the front yard and I decided to plant a second one near it, to further feed my persimmon obsession!

Not all persimmons are created alike. There are two types of persimmons, astringent and non astringent. Two common cultivars grown around here are ‘Hachiya’ (astringent) and ‘Fuyu’ (non-astringent), both Asian varieties. ‘Hachiya’ which are an oval, egg, shaped fruit, have to be very ripe and soft when eaten and are usually cooked into a recipe, or added to smoothies. Cutting the top off, will allow one to scoop out the pulp and eat as is, or add to a dish.  ‘Fuyu’ which is shaped like a pumpkin or tomato, is usually eaten raw, sliced or whole, and can be eaten hard and full colored. Both varieties are very sweet but ‘Hachiya’, because of a high level of tannins, is too astringent to eat until very soft, as mentioned already.

Persimmon trees lose their leaves, after turning beautiful colors, in the late fall/early winter, but fruit will continue to hang on the tree like little ornaments. When the leaves appear in the spring, they are bright green; lighting up the garden. They are drought tolerant but produce better fruit with regular irrigation, and also seem to tolerant clay soils. Amending with compost before planting is always advised to provide drainage.

Besides being beautiful, delicious, and highly unique, persimmons are very nutritious. They are high in fiber and contain impressive levels of vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and manganese along with B1, B2, B6, magnesium and phosphorus. I love the fact that the persimmons ripen just about the time apples are done!  I have to mention how beautiful these fruits are in wreaths and arrangements. Simply, filling a cylinder shaped vase with these orange beauties is a lovely addition to a room.

We are trying to prepare for winter rains (There will be winter rains; I hope!). Last year we had issues with flooding around the chicken coop. Every year we add a straw waddle (looks like a straw filled sausage) to the coop for chickens to walk on, keeping their feet dry, and also to divert water away from the coop. Well, this year, we added two waddles, creating an obstacle course for the girls but giving them more activity and a higher perch on which to look out at the yard. They seem to like it!! 

Gophers in the front yard seem happy, as well; a phormium, their latest victim!  Rumor has it that persimmon trees aren’t necessarily on their menu plan. One can only hope, as neither of the two we have, were put in cages before planting.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and I’m hoping the huge Swiss chard plants that I’ve left alone in hopes of harvesting for the dinner stuffing, makes it through pest challenging times!!  Is there anything as rewarding to a gardener than enjoying freshly grown produce from the garden?  For me, I think not. With this thought, I stay armed with row covers, gopher cages, and whatever else I think to use to keep up a defense! Some fair weather pests have left the scene until the warmth of spring; namely the cabbage moth, and, “knock on wood”, the flies whose larvae become leaf miners on spinach and chard.

As the holidays approach and the weather dramatically cools, I wish you a healthy week in the garden, that will produce rewards for your meals, and arrangements for your table. 

“When the Pilgrims first came to America, they nearly starved because of insufficient food. It was with the help of a Native American they knew as Squanto that they learned to properly cultivate the land so that they could survive and flourish....“ Bill Heid,  Squanto’s Garden

Master Gardeners in Print

The Garden Doctors
Dana Lozano &  Gwen Kilchherr, The Press Democrat

What makes a rhododendron a healthy, reliable bloomer? 11/1/2019

The best ways to store squash and potatoes 10/18/2019

 

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