2023-10-14 15:06:00
With hot and increasingly dry summers, some fruit trees suffer from lack of water, like cherry trees, for example. On the other hand, it is possible to insert a persimmon tree better known under the name “khaki” into our orchards. Latin name Diospyros kaki, this small tree will bring an undeniable plus to the fruit garden.
In deep, drained soil
The persimmon tree comes from the Far East and its fruits, persimmons or persimmons, are among the favorite fruits of the Chinese, Japanese and Koreans, to name a few. From the Ebenaceae family, this small tree barely exceeds six to ten meters but its growth is relatively slow. The fruits are only eaten when they are fully ripe and, in our country, following a slight frost (as with medlars). When they are not ripe, they are astringent; which is not very pleasant. The leaves of the persimmon tree are a shiny dark green and in the fall they turn red. The hardiness of this fruit tree is good since it tolerates cold temperatures of around – 12 to – 15°C. From a soil point of view, it shows a clear preference for deep, humus-rich and well-drained soils. A sunny exposure is preferable while a location sheltered from cold winds from the north and east is recommended. For abundant production, it is necessary to plant a female plant and a male plant.
“Fuyu” is self-fertile
If we only have a small orchard, we can direct our choice towards the Diospyros kaki “Fuyu”. This variety does not exceed five to six meters in height and it will not be necessary to plant a male and a female plant since this persimmon tree is self-fertile. Flowering takes place in May-June which protects them from spring frosts. The flowers are yellowish white and sometimes go unnoticed except by pollinating insects. The fruits are flattened and, unlike the type species, they can be bitten like an apple from October; hence the other name of “Fuyu” which is persimmon-apple. So no need to wait until they are overripe to eat them! But if we wait for the effect of the first frost, these persimmon-apples will become sweeter. Let’s think of him for our future plantings!
Plant of the week ©stock.adobe.com
This shrub deserves to be planted in most gardens. Latin name Bupleurum fruticosum, the shrub bupleur grows naturally in the Mediterranean region, in dry scrubland. Despite its origins, its hardiness is excellent since it supports temperatures of – 15°C. Its foliage is evergreen. The leaves, narrow and a beautiful bluish green, give off a pleasant scent when crushed. From June to September, umbels composed of yellow flowers cover the shrub. They are both nectar and honey-producing and attract many insects including bees and butterflies. If we are looking for a shrub that grows quickly, we can without hesitation set our sights on the shrub bupleur since its annual growth is 40 to 50 cm. Adult, this remarkable species reaches 1.5 to 2 m in height with a wingspan of 1.5 m. Its cultivation is not very complicated: sun and very well drained soil. Once this bupleura is well established, it is able to resist heat and drought. Note that it is not subject to diseases and very rarely attacked by parasites. If we wish to propagate the species, we can opt either for sowing in spring or for cuttings during the summer. Planting can be done either in fall or early spring.
the common pipistrelle ©stock.adobe.com
Pipistrellus pipistrellus is its scientific name. This bat is the smallest but also the most common in our regions. From the Vespertilionidae family, the pipistrelle is not very large, barely 3.5 to 5 cm for the body and 2.5 to 3.5 cm for the tail. His weight ? Five grams. She is not afraid of proximity to humans, she is anthropophilic, and this is how we can observe her both in the city and in the countryside. Nocturnal, it lives in homes, hollow trees, woodpecker holes and sometimes nest boxes during the day and then becomes lethargic to save its energy. It is only at nightfall that she comes out of her den to feed. In one night, this tiny bat is capable of swallowing more than 500 mosquitoes! This hunting is generally done in small groups with a predilection for forest edges, water points but also gardens. If we have already been able to observe these pipistrelles, we will have noticed that they have a fairly jerky flight and are capable of changing direction with disconcerting speed. Insects are detected using the ultrasound they emit, a very sophisticated and almost infallible system. From mid-November to March, the common pipistrelle hibernates. Bats, and therefore the common pipistrelle, are mammals protected by law.
The shrub bupleur ©stock.adobe.com
The biennial evening primrose (Oenothera biennis), originating in North America, was introduced to Europe in the 17th century and has been widely distributed since then. Can exceed 1.5 m in height, it produces numerous, large yellow flowers from June to September. The latter only open at the end of the day to fade the next day in the morning. This flowering is interesting for moths. Its popular name is “garden ham” because if we cook the roots we will enjoy a vegetable with a smoked ham flavor. Well resistant to cold (- 25°C), the biennial evening primrose deserves a beautiful place in the garden.
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