JAPANESE RAISIN GROWING INFORMATION   © Frances Michaels   Botanical Name: Hovenia dulcis Common Names: Japanese Raisin Tree, Chinese Raisin Tree, Kenpo Nashi Family: Rhamnaceae Origin: Native to China, Korea and Japan Plant Description: It grows well with little care and attention.  A  deciduous tree, it grows to a height of 6-9 m with a spread of 4 m. It is suited to temperate and subtropical climates and is very hardy to cold. The stem is stout, erect and branching at the apex, with deeply fissured dark brown bark. The leaves are heart-shaped and the flowers are white and small. It produces copious quantities of sweet, raisin-like, edible fruit. Uses: Food; the fleshy, thickened fruit-stalks, when dried, have the sweet flavour and texture of raisins and can be used similarly. Shade tree; it is an ornamental shade tree well-suited to the home garden and school playgrounds. CULTURAL REQUIREMENTS Recommended Planting Time: Sow the seed in spring and summer. Recommended Seed Treatment: The seeds have an impermeable seed coat that severely slows down germination. It helps to scarify by rubbing the seed between sandpaper or by soaking the seed in hot tap water (approximately 140°F) for several days. Planting Depth: Cover seed lightly with a seed raising mix. Keep moist, germination can be very slow, up to 3 months. Prick the seedlings out into forestry tubes and grow on before transplanting into their final position. Details: It can also be propagated from cuttings. Plants grown from seed usually bear fruit within 7 - 10 years, although bearing within 3 years is possible under good conditions.    Available from Green Harvest: Year round as seed     DISCLAIMER: We guarantee our seeds to the value of the purchase price. We are happy to replace the seeds, give you a credit or refund, whichever you prefer. Other than our guarantee to the extent of the purchase price Green Harvest gives no other warranty expressed or implied. No liability will be accepted by Green Harvest, its owners or employees as to the accuracy of any information. No responsibility will be taken for damage to property or persons due to information given about a product or technique. No responsibility will be taken for the loss of a crop or income due to information given about a product or technique.   Copyright © 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008  Green Harvest No part of this website may be reproduced without permission of the owner