This will be my third season taking care of this persimmon tree. The tree itself has always had lichen on its branches, but has tended to produce about 40-50 Fuyu persimmons every year.

This year, however, the tree seems to be dropping a LOT of buds and small fruits. This has not happened before. Could it be a result of some of the Espoma Citrus fertilizer that is in the soil? I have been giving it a good watering once a week. Pictures below. Thanks!

Can't see the pic...

Persimmons dropping fruit under stress? Not surprising.

stone said: Can't see the pic...



Persimmons dropping fruit under stress? Not surprising.

Just put the pictures in the thread rather than the link. Trying to determine what the stress factor is. Could it be the nearby fertilizer?

cmcgin202 said: the tree seems to be dropping a LOT of buds and small fruits.

The tree looks fine to me.
If you've been dumping chemicals on the soil... that certainly may be causing some fruit drop.

But I commonly see fruit drop on these Japanese persimmon around here.

I think you should still see ripe fruit this Autumn.

To me those leaves look scorched from intense sun, not fatal. Second photo—south or southwest side? Had hot weather? Can't rule out some nutrient deficiencies, but my experience with Fuyu persimmons just north of you in Sonoma County was that they produced abundantly with minimal care, moderate water. Sometimes fruit trees will self-cull when they've produced more fruit than they can maintain under prevailing conditions. Assuming you didn't OD the fertilizer and the watering is adequately deep and not too frequent, I'd just wait and see. Or contact your local UC extension service.

I think I remember you from a couple of years ago. Didn't you have a magnificent Meyer lemon?