How to grow Persimmon

Where to plant

Give persimmons full sun and deep, fertile, well-drained soil with some organic matter. They tolerate light shade and a range of soils, but not standing water. Allow plenty of room: Asian trees are usually spaced 15 to 20 feet apart, and the native American persimmon can grow 30 to 50 feet tall with a spread of 20 to 30 feet.

Persimmons have a long taproot and dislike being moved, so choose the final spot carefully and plant young trees.

• North and Central Florida, the Gulf South, Texas and Southern California: Asian persimmons do well. Plant bare-root trees in winter while dormant.
• South Florida and Hawaii lowlands: most persimmons get too little winter chill to crop well.
• Desert Southwest: choose Fuyu types, give them afternoon shade and water deeply.
• Mid-Atlantic, Southern Plains and sheltered zone 7 gardens in the Northeast: Asian types such as Fuyu are worth trying; American persimmon is fully hardy.
• Midwest, the colder Northeast and the warmer Mountain West valleys: grow American persimmon. Plant in spring.
• Northern Plains and Alaska: too cold, as even American persimmon is hardy only to about zone 4 or 5.

Choosing a variety

• Non-astringent Asian types such as Fuyu and Jiro can be eaten firm and crisp, like an apple. Fuyu is self-fruitful, so one tree crops on its own.
• Astringent Asian types such as Hachiya and Tamopan stay bitter with tannins until the fruit is soft as jelly. They are best for baking and drying.
• American persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) is the hardy choice for colder areas. Its small fruit is astringent until fully soft and ripe. Most trees are either male or female, so plant more than one unless you buy a named self-fruitful variety.

How to plant

1. Plant bare-root trees in winter while dormant in mild areas, or container trees in early spring in colder areas.
2. Dig a wide hole in deep, well-drained soil and set the tree at the depth it grew in the nursery.
3. Water in generously and mulch the root zone, keeping mulch off the trunk.
4. Hold off feeding until the tree is settled; extension advice is to fertilize about six months after planting.

Watering and feeding

Water young trees deeply and regularly through their first summers. Established trees are fairly drought tolerant, but steady water while the fruit is growing reduces fruit drop.

Go easy on nitrogen. Too much fertilizer pushes leaf growth at the expense of fruit and is a common cause of fruit falling early. Mature trees often need nitrogen only every other year.

Pruning and care through the year

• Prune in winter while the tree is dormant, mainly to shape young trees and keep the crop within reach.
• Some immature fruit falls most years as the tree thins its own crop. Young trees often drop most of their fruit for the first few years; this settles as they mature.
• On a heavy crop, thin fruit to about 6 inches (15 cm) apart while it is still under an inch across, which helps prevent broken branches.

Harvesting

Pick non-astringent Fuyu types once they are fully orange, while still firm. Clip the fruit with its cap and a short stem rather than pulling it off.

Astringent Hachiya and American persimmons are ready only when they are very soft. Pick them when fully colored and let them soften on the counter, or leave American persimmons to soften on the tree. Harvest Asian fruit before a hard freeze.

Growing in pots

Small Asian varieties can be grown in a large pot, at least 20 inches (50 cm) wide, for a few years. In the ground they crop far better, as the long taproot does not suit containers for life.

Using it

Eat Fuyu fruit sliced like an apple or in salads. Use the soft pulp of astringent types in breads, puddings and cookies, or freeze it. Hachiya fruit is also peeled and dried.