Persimmon Cultivars

Laurie starts with ...
Hi there,
I have questions about a persimmon planted over 5 years ago bought as the name "20th Century."
A recent Google revealed a couple of sites (e.g. http://era.deedi.qld.gov.au/2210/5/Chapter_04i.pdf) inferring that "Oku-Gosho… sometimes mistakenly named Twentieth Century."
This does not imply that *all* Twentieth Century persimmons are Oku-Gosho. On the other hand it doesn't necessarily imply that Twentieth Century and Oku-Gosho are different cultivars.
What is revealing is that many sites (cites) outside Australia refer to the Twentieth Century persimmons as being non-astringent, which is the opposite of Daley's classification.
The deedi.qld.gov. doco also states that "Oku-Gosho is unlikely to be commercially acceptable as it has serious stylar end cracking, smaller fruit than the true Fuyu and poor storage life"
However many local sites declare Oku-Gosho makes for an excellent backyard specimen.

Now for some comments on my tree:
Whether it is a Oku-Gosho or not, it is a very good cropper for its size (2mX2m). The fruits are smaller than your average persimmon, and are unpalatable when hard.
The second year after planting, it got nibbled by cows, and since then, the new spring shoots are not so large or profuse. I maintain this is good for the tree, as persimmon roots develop slowly, and should match what is happpening upstairs.
Top heavy growth of Oku-Gosho probably caused the above mentioned problems in Queensland. Also, being in a fairly exposed area, (Brogo NSW SC) it's early years were windblown, scorched, frosted, and dry.
It has a good set of sturdy limbs, no breakages, and no problem with fruit production.
Unlike other varieties of kaki, Oku-Gosho also has male and female flowers, but how do I tell?
Would it be best to submit a photo next flowering to determine Oku-Gosho or Twentieth Century?

I am also considering planting a Fuyu within coo-eee. Would that help with pollination?
Fuyus are slightly less cold tol. than the astringents. Would they do as well in the colder latitudes?

Cheers,
Laurie

Laurie says...
Hi jakfruit etiquette,
What varieties do you have male and female flowers on?
The above doc also stated "Most commercial sweet persimmon varieties produce only female flowers. However, some varieties such as Oku-Gosho have the ability to produce male flowers in addition"
It goes on: Some male, female, hermaphrodite, some only male.
The doc also has a table of diiferent features betwwn the two. Here are my obs:

My calyces are flat against the fruit for half their length, then are raised. (prob not Oku-gosho)
My leaf margins are straight top down, but become wavy (side-on) summer through to autumn. (prob not Oku-gosho)
I cannot recall if my fruitlets have a reddish tinge, but there is certainly no reddish tinge on the fruits late summer onwards. (prob not Oku-gosho)
The tree is spreading & semi dwarf. (prob Oku-gosho)
Hmm I'll need to re-examine my leaf petioles Nov-Dec. I don't think they were red. (prob not Oku-gosho)
The tree has been a little stressed in the past, but I do not recall any (non-pollinated) fruit drop. (prob Oku-gosho)

It also suggests an iso-enzyme test.
I'll take one (no- two) of them as well please,
Cheers
Laurie

Laurie says...
Hi jakfruit etiquette,
No, I kept an eye on it. BTW to avoid birds devouring too much of the crop, I harvest the fruit round about this time of year when still hard, and they ripen nicely inside the house within a week. Still keen on getting a Fuyu in this winter. Is there likely to be beneficial cross-pollination for later production?