New Zealand production is based in an environment outside the normal climatic range of the crop. These markets and the climatic characteristics of New Zealand dictate that a high level of management input is required in producing export persimmons. A knowledge on how plant and climate can influence fruit quality parameters is needed by the grower to ensure successful management of fruit quality. In persimmon, fruit weight, colour, soluble solids and soluble tannins are fruit quality parameters of particular importance to export markets. Each of these parameters has a series of conditions which need to be met during the growing season to ensure high fruit quality at harvest.
Management influences on fruit weight.
Management and climate influences on fruit quality. Thick shoots of 6-8 buds long are selected during winter pruning for carrying fruit in the coming season. These shoots tend to have better flower bud development than weaker or stronger shoots. Winter pruning is required to reduce shoot competition for resources and light during the growing season. The size of the flower or calyx at flowering can influence fruit weight at harvest.