Japenese Persimmons Sometimes
Have Seasonal Pollination Problems
Dear Plant Doctor: I have been
growing Japanese persimmons for
many years but have never had such
rotten luck until this year. Fruit set
on my trees was excellent but all the
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pear to be prematurely rotting. I
have never had a disease or insect
problem with my persimmons until
now. Can you help diagnose the
problem? I have sent some of the
fruit to your office. ? Southport
ANSWER: The Japanese persim
mon (Diospyros Kaki ) is a tasty
peach-sized fruit in the tropical
Ebonywood family that is native to
China. Japanese persimmon was in
troduced in the United States more
than 125 years ago. The fruit is such
a delicacy that some consider it to
be the national fruit of Japan
Our native persimmon (Diospyros
virginiana ) is a poor second in fruit
quality when compared to the culti
vated Japanese varieties. The dense
hardwood of the American persim
mon produced fine golf club heads,
but the fruit is best consumed by
opossums. Most cultivated types of
persimmon can be grafted or budded
to the native American wild types.
The problem with your fruit is
most unique. I sent the fruit samples
to the Plant Disease and Insect
Clinic ai Norih Caiuiina Siaic
University and Dr Mike Parker filed
this reply:
"The flesh discoloration of per
simmon is the result of the seeds
that were formed There arc two
types of persimmons, astringent and
nonastringent. depending on how
the flesh colors after pollination.
The two types are pollination con
stant or pollination variant In polli
nation constant varieties the flesh is
clear after pollination. In pollination
variant types the flesh changes to a
reddish brown when seeds arc pre
sent. However, if no seeds arc
formed in the pollination variant
types, then the flesh is clear and
browning does not occur. If only one
seed is formed in the pollination
variant types, then the flesh will
generally be dark around the one
seed and clear throughout the rest. It
must be stressed that it is not the
pollination that causcs the discol
oration. but the formation of the
seeds. Some varieties of persim
mons will not torm seeds, even if
pollinated. And if pollination variant
persimmons are pollinated, but no
seeds are formed, then the fruit will
have clear flesh "
In other words, your persimmon
has a pollination problem. The
brown flesh is not diseased and re
mains edible ? just unappealing.
Dear Plant Doctor: How can we
get rid of tiny red ants in our rock
garden and brick flower bed border?
We have sprayed Black Rag and
Sevin to no avail. They arc making
Holden Beach
Party Set For
December 8
Holden Beach residents and
property owners will gather at
their annual Christmas party on
Thursday, Dec. 8, beginning at 7
p.m. at Capt. Willie's Restaurant.
Participants should bring their
own beverage. $3 per person will
be charged for set-ups. Organ
izers are asking that participants
bring finger food.
For information, call Gay At
kins, 842-4939; Pat Sandifer,
842-6485; or Barbara Lowell,
842-7380.
Supply School
Needs Plants
For Projects
Supply Elementary School is
seeking donation? of spare plants,
shrubs and trees for its beautifica
tion and nature trail projects.
Homeowners, commercial land
scapes and greenhouse operators
may deliver their donations to the
school or call 842-9974 to arrange
for pick-up.
"All donations will be greatly ap
preciated," said Principal Carolyn
Williams.
Shallotte Middle
School PTA Meets
Tuesday, Dec. 6
Members of the new Brunswick
County Board of Education will be
on hand to introduce themselves and
answer questions when the Shallotte
Middle School PTA meets Tuesday,
Dec. 6, at 6:30 p.m.
The PTA will also discuss and
vote on the 1994-95 PTA budget.
Each item will be up for discussion.
THE
PLANT
DOCTOR
C. BRUCE
WILLIAMS
Extension Area
Turf Specialist
piles of sandy dirt that has covcred
and killed some of our newly plant
ed violets and dwarf snapdragons.
We pull the "ant dirt" out of the gar
den, spray, and in a day or two have
piles of "ant dirt" back. HELP.
? Favetteville
ANSWER: Your best bet for con
trolling those pesky little red ants
would be to use granular chlorpyri
fos (Dursban 0.5G) or diazinon
(Spcctracidc 2G to 5G). Follow all
label directions and instructions.
Several applicatioas may be re
quired throughout the growing sea
son.
D?ar Plant Doctor: I recently ate
some Thai food that was flavored
with lemongrass. Is it possible to
? i rku/m it e a i c
ukiS/ icv/w ? wnh_k_
Fri. and Sat., Dec. 9-10
Up to 50% -60% off
vinyl and in-stock carpet
good selection
SEASIDE CARPETS
Discount on all Dee- She Dolls
579-7592
Watch next week's Beacon for details
grow lemongrass in this pari of (he
country? Where can 1 get some
seed? ? Wilmington
ANSWER: Mmmmmm gooood!
Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus )
is an edible perennial tropical grass
herb that grows in large clumps that
will reach 6 feet in height and pro
duces pleasant lemon-scented
leaves. Cymbopogon nardus is a
nearly identical grassy cousin that is
the main source of commercial cit
ronella oil (of mosquito candle
fame!).
Plants can be easily grown from
tillers or divisions. Plant in a rich
well ? rained soil in full sun.
Lemongrass requires moderate fer
tilization throughout the growing
season. Most growers fertilize
lemongrass at the same rate as sweet
corn.
Lemongrass is very sensitive to
winter kill and frost damage.
Harvest, dig and pot tillers of
lemongrass several weeks before the
first hard frost. Place the potted
plants in a sunny window and light
ly water until danger of frost has
passed in the spring, then replant.
Most serious herb growers stock
this plant. 1 checked with Meg
Shelton at Shelton Herb Farm,
Leland, and she assured me supplies
will be available next spring in time
for planting. I am sending you a
publication on the care and culture
of lemongrass.
Send your gardening questions
and comments to the Plant Doctor,
P.O. Box 109, Bolivia NC 28422.
Send a self-addressed stamped enve
lope if requesting an answer or in
formation.
This ad is even smaller because these
25th Anniversary sweatshirts are
going so fast!
Still available at:
L Bookworm
Holden Beach Enterprises
?/A Holden Beach Properties
- - w
The Lighthouse
Or send *S18 plus S3. 50
postage and handling to:
L Bookworm
3004 Holden Beach Rd.. Holden Beach. NC 28462
?add S2.00 for XXL size
Make checks payable to: GHBMA
Call 842-7380 for more information
C^W4 THE BRUNSWICK BEACON
1
K.-aa" *
Wm
i . r
i
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
Celebrating Book Week
Storytellers Carolynn and Dyion Skipper of Leland fascinate Sup
ply Elementary students during National Children's Rook Week
(Nov. 14-18) with their tales of a one-eyed robber, a rooster that
found a diamond button and a stinky cheese man. Nearly 150 stu
dents aiso dressed as their favorite storybook personalities for a
" character parade." Some gave short talks about their books that
were shared later with other students on videotape.
! Prime Rib Dinner
For Two
with all the trimmings
s1595
with coupon
Good Nov. 30-Dec. 6
A.
Betty's jA
Waterfront Restaurant
On the waterway at Holden Beach
842-3381
Del monte
a"1NUAKU F?R SUPERMAKKE, EXCELLENCE
lways
^VAPORATE^
Milk *
WlAMN 0 ACOfO &
~-H& ?
?> '?fl 0Z U&4mU ^
New Winter
Store Hours:
8 AM-8PM
SUN.-THURS.
8 AM-9 PM
FRI.&SAT.
We accept
Food Stamps
KRAFT