Applying Potassium Phosphate Foliar Fertilization to Persimmon Trees Using an Electric Sprayer (feat. Foliar Fertilization Tips & August Pest Control)

Good morning! It is early August, right in the heart of summer, and I woke up bright and early today.

I wanted to tend to the fruit trees in my garden and vegetable plot during the cool morning breeze before the sun gets too strong. Today, I carried out a foliar fertilization of potassium phosphate to help the persimmon fruits grow firm and strong, and to prepare for next year’s farming as well!

For anyone managing a weekend farm or garden, I’m excited to share a practical review of the electric sprayer I’ve used myself for over a year, tips on foliar fertilization, and how to manage persimmon pests and diseases for August!

The 100% water-soluble potassium phosphate (N:0, P:52, K:34) I used today from Nongsacheon-guk dissolves very quickly, making it ideal for spraying with a sprayer.

August is a crucial time when flower bud differentiation (the process where flower buds for the next year are formed) actively takes place in persimmon trees. Usually, flower bud differentiation in persimmons is concentrated between July and August. Providing phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) while reducing nitrogen (N) during this period brings great benefits:

• Form strong flower buds (flower buds for next year’s fruit)
• Prevent excessive shoot growth and promote lignification (wood maturation)
• Improve fruit sugar content and strengthen cellular tissue for this year’s harvest

You can definitely see great results!

The 5L USB Type-C rechargeable electric sprayer I’m using is an absolute lifesaver that I bought over a year ago and am still using flawlessly without a single breakdown. It’s so convenient because you just press a button to spray the solution evenly and finely without any manual pumping.

💡 Why I use two separate sprayer tanks!

The most important thing to watch out for when farming or managing a garden is chemical residue damage.

• Herbicide-only tank: Used exclusively for weed-killing herbicides.
• Nutrient & pest control tank: Dedicated exclusively to potassium phosphate, calcium sprays, fungicides, and insecticides.

No matter how thoroughly you wash a tank that was used for herbicides, residual components remain, and if they touch fruit trees or crops, the plants can wither and die. Therefore, I strongly recommend purchasing and separating your sprayer tanks for herbicides versus nutrients and pest control.

1. Spraying early in the morning: Spraying under the strong midday sun can cause rapid moisture evaporation and chemical burns (scorching leaves), so early morning or late afternoon is best.

2. Focus on the undersides of leaves: Since a plant’s stomata (breathing pores) are mostly on the underside of its leaves, point the nozzle from bottom to top to thoroughly wet them.

3. Precise dilution: The standard dilution rate is usually 500x to 1,000x. Too much is as bad as too little, so please strictly follow the recommended ratios.

4. Use a spreading agent (sticker): Mixing in a spreading agent helps the solution adhere better to the leaves, increasing the absorption rate.

After August, pest control focusing on protecting the leaves and fruit until the end is key.

• Scale Insects (Lecanium scales / Mulberry scale insects): August is the hatching and peak activity period for scale insects. They attach themselves to branches, leaves, and fruit surfaces to suck out plant sap, weakening the tree’s vigor and causing black rot or sooty mold that looks like the fruit was scorched by fire. Because scale insects form a waxy layer (shell) on their bodies, you must mix a dedicated insecticide and spreading agent during the August nymph hatching period (the young bug stage) and spray finely and thoroughly into the tree bark and the undersides of leaves.
• Leaf Spot Diseases (Circular leaf spot / Grey-spot leaf blight): This is a disease where leaves turn black and fall off prematurely before harvest. Since dropping leaves cause persimmon fruits to soften or drop prematurely, you must continuously prevent this with a dedicated fungicide even in August.
• Anthracnose: A disease where black spots appear on fruits and branches, sinking inward. You should apply a dedicated fungicide right before and after rain.
• Stink Bugs: They suck the sap out of the fruits and cause misshapen fruits, so spray a dedicated insecticide either in the late afternoon or early morning.

Thanks to my electric sprayer, which has been working reliably and durably for over a year, managing my large garden and vegetable plot has become much easier. If you are also growing a weekend farm or fruit trees, try applying the two-sprayer operation tip along with this August potassium phosphate application and scale insect prevention to prepare for an abundant autumn harvest!

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