Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Ichi Ki Kei Jiro Persimmon (Diospyros kaki 'Ichi Ki Kei Jiro')— schedule & NPK
Also called Ichi Ki Kei Jiro persimmon, early Fuyu persimmon.
More about ichi ki kei jiro persimmon
About Ichi Ki Kei Jiro Persimmon
Diospyros kaki 'Ichi Ki Kei Jiro' · also called Ichi Ki Kei Jiro persimmon, early Fuyu persimmon · edible
Ichi Ki Kei Jiro is a non-astringent Asian persimmon, eaten firm and crisp like Fuyu but on a naturally dwarf, early-ripening, more cold-tolerant tree — a favourite for small gardens and containers. Self-fruitful and reliable, it wants full sun and deep well-drained soil, and is among the hardier kaki selections, taking roughly minus 12 to minus 15 Celsius once established.
Growth habit: Naturally compact, semi-dwarf deciduous tree with glossy leaves and good autumn colour. Self-fruitful and precocious, often fruiting young; its small stature suits patios and pots.
Watch for — Fruit drop on young trees: Precocious bearers can shed fruit early on, and over-fertilising worsens it. Limit nitrogen and keep moisture even to retain more fruit.
What fertiliser ichi ki kei jiro persimmon actually wants — and why
Ichi Ki Kei Jiro Persimmon feeds in two distinct phases — balanced to build the plant, then high-potassium the moment flowering starts to set and fill a heavy crop.
Balanced (even N-P-K) at planting for roots and frame, then switch to a high-potassium ("high-potash") tomato-style feed once the first flowers open — potassium is what sizes and ripens fruit, not nitrogen.
For the language behind the three numbers on the bottle — what nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium each do — see the NPK ratio explained entry. The short version for ichi ki kei jiro persimmon: match the feed to the job the plant is doing right now, not to a generic “plant food” on the shelf.
How often to feed ichi ki kei jiro persimmon, and which months
Feeding only earns its keep while the plant is in active growth and can use the nutrients — pour feed into a dormant or low-light plant and it simply builds up as root-burning salt. For ichi ki kei jiro persimmon:
Light feeder. Compost or balanced fruit-tree fertiliser in early spring; for containers, a slow-release fruit feed in spring. Avoid excess nitrogen, which causes fruit drop. So: a balanced feed or compost at planting, then a high-potash liquid every 1-2 weeks from first flower through harvest across the main season (spring through early autumn).
The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when ichi ki kei jiro persimmon is resting. For the wider context on indoor feeding rhythms across the seasons, the houseplant fertiliser schedule walks through the year month by month.
What strength to mix for ichi ki kei jiro persimmon
Follow the crop-feed label rate for ichi ki kei jiro persimmon — these are calibrated for hungry vegetables. Consistency through fruiting matters more than strength; erratic feeding causes problems like blossom-end rot.
Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water ichi ki kei jiro persimmon first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the ichi ki kei jiro persimmon watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding ichi ki kei jiro persimmon
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for ichi ki kei jiro persimmon:
- Vigorous dark-green leafy growth but few flowers or fruit (excess nitrogen).
- Lush foliage hiding the crop; soft growth prone to pests and disease.
- Salt crust on the soil and scorched leaf edges in containers.
Signs you are under-feeding ichi ki kei jiro persimmon
- Pale, yellowing lower leaves and stunted growth.
- Small fruit, poor set, and a quickly exhausted plant.
- Blossom-end rot and weak cropping from erratic or insufficient feeding.
If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full ichi ki kei jiro persimmon care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
In containers, fertiliser salts build up fast — water ichi ki kei jiro persimmon thoroughly so excess drains from the base each time, and flush pots with plain water every few weeks to prevent a damaging salt build-up.
Organic vs synthetic feeds for ichi ki kei jiro persimmon
Organic options
Garden compost or well-rotted manure dug in before planting, plus a liquid comfrey or seaweed feed once fruiting starts. UK: comfrey feed or organic Tomorite; US: Espoma Tomato-tone or Neptune's Harvest. Builds soil and feeds in one.
Synthetic / liquid feeds
A balanced feed at planting then a high-potash tomato feed in fruiting — UK: Growmore at planting then Tomorite (Levington) or Phostrogen; US: a balanced 10-10-10 then Miracle-Gro Tomato or a bloom booster.
Brand names are examples, not endorsements, and UK and US ranges differ — check the label’s own NPK and dilution rate, since formulations change.
Fertilising ichi ki kei jiro persimmon — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does ichi ki kei jiro persimmon need?
Balanced (even N-P-K) at planting for roots and frame, then switch to a high-potassium ("high-potash") tomato-style feed once the first flowers open — potassium is what sizes and ripens fruit, not nitrogen. Ichi Ki Kei Jiro Persimmon feeds in two distinct phases — balanced to build the plant, then high-potassium the moment flowering starts to set and fill a heavy crop.
How often should I feed ichi ki kei jiro persimmon?
Light feeder. Compost or balanced fruit-tree fertiliser in early spring; for containers, a slow-release fruit feed in spring. Avoid excess nitrogen, which causes fruit drop. Light feeder. Compost or balanced fruit-tree fertiliser in early spring; for containers, a slow-release fruit feed in spring. Avoid excess nitrogen, which causes fruit drop. So: a balanced feed or compost at planting, then a high-potash liquid every 1-2 weeks from first flower through harvest across the main season (spring through early autumn).
What strength of feed for ichi ki kei jiro persimmon?
Follow the crop-feed label rate for ichi ki kei jiro persimmon — these are calibrated for hungry vegetables. Consistency through fruiting matters more than strength; erratic feeding causes problems like blossom-end rot.
What does over-feeding ichi ki kei jiro persimmon look like?
Vigorous dark-green leafy growth but few flowers or fruit (excess nitrogen). Lush foliage hiding the crop; soft growth prone to pests and disease. Salt crust on the soil and scorched leaf edges in containers. Staying on a high-nitrogen feed once ichi ki kei jiro persimmon starts flowering is the classic error — you get a huge leafy plant and a disappointing crop. Switch to high-potash the moment flowers appear.
Should I flush the soil of ichi ki kei jiro persimmon?
In containers, fertiliser salts build up fast — water ichi ki kei jiro persimmon thoroughly so excess drains from the base each time, and flush pots with plain water every few weeks to prevent a damaging salt build-up.
Keep reading
- Ichi Ki Kei Jiro Persimmon care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water ichi ki kei jiro persimmon — the watering schedule
- The houseplant fertiliser schedule — feeding through the year
- NPK ratio explained — what the three numbers on the bottle mean
- How to fertilise tomato
- How to fertilise pepper
- How to fertilise cucumber
- All 5561 fertilising guides in the Growli library