How to Grow Persimmons

Introduction to Persimmons

Persimmons are stunning ornamental trees that produce delicious late-season fruit. Two main species are grown: American persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), native to eastern North America, and Asian persimmon (D. kaki), from Asia. Both offer unique flavors and beautiful fall color.

Types of Persimmons

American Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana)

• Hardiness: Zones 4-9 (very cold hardy!)
• Size: 35-60 ft tall (can be kept smaller with pruning)
• Fruit: Small (1-2"), extremely sweet when ripe
• Type: All astringent—must be completely soft before eating
• Varieties: Meader, Early Golden, Prok, Yates

Asian Persimmon (Diospyros kaki)

• Hardiness: Zones 7-10 (some to Zone 6)
• Size: 15-30 ft tall
• Fruit: Large (3-4"), varies by variety
• Types: Astringent and non-astringent varieties

Astringent vs Non-Astringent

Astringent Varieties:

Must be completely soft and ripe before eating (pucker-inducing if eaten unripe)

• Hachiya: Most popular. Acorn-shaped. Rich, sweet when ripe.
• Saijo: "Very best one." Sweet and tender. Cold hardy.
• Great Wall: Large fruit, excellent flavor, cold hardy

Non-Astringent Varieties:

Can be eaten while still firm, like an apple

• Fuyu: Most popular. Flat/tomato-shaped. Sweet and mild.
• Jiro: Similar to Fuyu, slightly smaller.
• Izu: Early ripening, good for shorter seasons.

Site Selection

• Sunlight: Full sun for best fruiting (tolerates part shade)
• Soil: Adaptable; tolerates clay, sand, and various conditions
• pH: 6.0-7.5
• Drainage: Well-draining preferred but tolerates some moisture
• Space: American: 20-25 ft. Asian: 15-20 ft.

Pollination

• American: Dioecious (separate male/female trees). Need male tree OR choose self-fertile variety.
• Asian: Most are parthenocarpic (set fruit without pollination). However, seeds improve fruit quality and some varieties need pollinators.
• Seedless Fruit: Most Asian varieties produce seedless fruit without pollination.

Planting

1. Plant in spring after frost danger or in fall.
2. Handle taproot carefully—persimmons dislike transplanting.
3. Dig hole 2x wider than root ball.
4. Set at same depth as nursery.
5. Water deeply and mulch.
6. Stake young trees in windy areas.

Training and Pruning

Training:

• Modified central leader or open center
• Select 3-5 main scaffold branches
• Remove low branches gradually

Pruning:

• Timing: Late winter while dormant
• Light Pruning: Persimmons need minimal pruning once established
• Remove: Dead wood, crossing branches, suckers
• Avoid: Heavy pruning which reduces fruit production

Fertilizing

• Established Trees: Often need little or no fertilizer
• If Growth is Slow: Apply balanced fertilizer in early spring
• Avoid: Excess nitrogen which reduces fruit quality
• Mulch: Annual compost application usually sufficient

Watering

• Young Trees: Regular watering first 2 years
• Established Trees: Drought tolerant but fruit quality improves with consistent moisture
• Critical Period: During fruit development (summer)

Fruit Drop

Some fruit drop is normal. Excessive drop can be caused by:

• Lack of pollination
• Drought stress
• Excessive heat
• Too much nitrogen

Pest and Disease

Persimmons are relatively trouble-free:

• Persimmon Psylla: Can cause leaf damage. Usually minor.
• Mealybugs/Scale: Occasionally problematic. Dormant oil helps.
• Wildlife: Deer, raccoons, and birds love persimmons!

Harvesting

Astringent Varieties:

• Wait until fully soft (almost jelly-like)
• Fruit often falls when ripe
• Color deepens to orange-red
• Can pick slightly firm and ripen indoors

Non-Astringent Varieties:

• Harvest when fully colored (orange)
• Can be eaten firm, like an apple
• Flavor sweetens further if allowed to soften

Speed Ripening:

• Freeze for 24 hours (removes astringency)
• Place in bag with ripe banana or apple
• Expose to alcohol vapors (traditional Japanese method)

Storage

• Firm Fruit: Room temperature until ripe
• Ripe Fruit: Refrigerate for 1-2 weeks
• Frozen Pulp: Freeze puree for months
• Dried: Hoshigaki (Japanese dried persimmons) are delicious