Have you been tempted by the bright orange fruits of fuyu persimmon trees adorning farmer’s market stalls?
These eye-catching and flavorful persimmons are quickly gaining popularity for their sweet, honeyed taste and incredible shelf life.
Even better, fuyu persimmon trees are surprisingly easy to grow in the right climate.
If you’ve been contemplating adding a fuyu persimmon tree to your edible landscaping, this comprehensive guide covers everything you need for a successful planting.
Growing your own fuyu persimmons allows you to enjoy an abundant harvest of nutritious fruits for months each year. With a little know-how, these lovely trees can thrive for decades with regular crops.
Let’s dive into selecting, planting, and caring for fuyu persimmon trees so you too can grow this impressive backyard bounty.
What are Fuyu Persimmon Trees?
Fuyu persimmons (Diospyros kaki) are a non-astringent cultivar of the Asian persimmon species. Prized for their elongated, bright orange fruits with a flavor reminiscent of honey and spices, fuyu trees produce one of the most pleasantly sweet persimmon varieties around.
Unlike conventional persimmon varieties like Hachiya, which are inedible when firm due to mouth-drying tannins, fuyu persimmons can be eaten at any stage of ripeness, from crisp to softened. This makes them incredibly convenient to harvest over an extended period of time.
Some key benefits of growing fuyu persimmon trees include:
- There are few to no seeds in the fruits
- Reliably sweet, non-astringent flavor when ripe
- Longer shelf life than other persimmon varieties
- Ornamental value with vibrant fall foliage
- Low-maintenance once established
- Cold-hardy in USDA zones 7–10
While it is technically possible to harvest from fuyu persimmon trees every year, they tend to produce cyclical heavy crops every other year. With their delectable taste and easy growing requirements, fuyu persimmon trees deserve a spot in every edible landscape.
Climate and Growing Zones
Fuyu persimmon trees perform best in regions with mild, sunny winters and hot summers. They require exposure to some winter chill to break dormancy and set fruit each year.
The ideal growing zones for fuyu persimmons are:
- USDA Zones 7–10: These zones provide sufficient winter chill hours (below 45°F) of 100–200 hours.
- Chill Zones 14–16: Maps of chill zones delineate areas by hours of winter chill more precisely.
Outside of these ranges, fuyu persimmons may struggle. In colder zones, the trees risk winter damage. In zones 11+, they may not receive enough chill hours to produce well.
Tree Size Options
Fuyu persimmon trees come in a few different sizes to fit various landscape needs:
- Standard: full-sized trees reaching 25–30 feet tall and wide at maturity.
- Semi-Dwarf: smaller at 12–18 feet tall, these have shorter trunk lengths.
- Dwarf: The most compact size,, maxing out around 8–10 feet tall.
Dwarf and semi-dwarf varieties work well for smaller yards or edible hedgerows. Standard trees require ample spacing but yield more fruit per tree.
Male vs Female Trees
Most fuyu persimmon cultivars are parthenocarpic, meaning the trees are self-fruitful and do not require pollination to set fruit. However, some growers note larger, higher-quality harvests when a male pollinator tree is present.
To be safe, planting both a male fuyu (like ‘Tane-Nashi’) and a female cultivar like ‘Jiro’ or ‘Gosho’ can help ensure adequate pollination.
Where to Buy High-Quality Fuyu Persimmon Trees
When sourcing your fuyu persimmon planting stock, look for reputable nurseries that specialize in warm-climate fruit trees. Purchasing from trusted growers helps ensure you get healthy, disease-free trees.
Some great options for buying fuyu persimmon trees include:
- Local nurseries carry suitable regional varieties
- Mail-order nurseries specializing in persimmon trees
- Online retailers with well-established reputations
- Joining a local permaculture/gardening group to get cuttings
No matter the source, inspect trees carefully. Avoid any plants showing signs of pests, diseases, or damage. For grafted trees, look for trees grafted onto D. lotus or D. virginiana rootstocks rated for your climate.
It’s generally advisable to plant fuyu persimmon trees when they are 1-2 years old from the nursery. These younger trees establish more quickly than older stock.
Planting Your Fuyu Persimmon Tree
With your new fuyu persimmon tree selected, it’s time to get it properly planted and off to a great start!
Fuyu persimmons need a sunny, well-drained site with protection from harsh winds. Choose a planting location that receives 6–8 hours of direct sun daily. The trees can handle partial shade, but excessive shade reduces fruit production.
Soil drainage is critical; persimmons will not tolerate soggy conditions. If you have heavy clay soil, amend generously with compost or consider planting on a raised bed mound. Aim for a slightly acidic to neutral soil pH around 6.0–7.0.
When is the Best Time to Plant Fuyu Trees?
The ideal planting window for fuyu persimmon trees is in the early spring or late winter, once the threat of hard freezes has passed. Planting during the dormant season gives the roots time to establish before spring growth kicks in.
In warm winter climates, fuyu trees can also be planted in the fall for the roots to get started before hot conditions arrive. Just be sure to water consistently through the first season until established.
Step-by-Step Planting Instructions
Once you’ve prepared the planting area, follow these steps for proper fuyu persimmon tree planting:
- Dig a hole 2-3 times as wide as the root ball but no deeper than the root mass height.
- Partially fill the hole with a mixture of the native soil and compost/aged manure.
- Remove any pot/burlap from around the root ball and score the surface to promote outward root growth.
- Place the tree in the hole, ensuring it is upright and the graft union is several inches above the soil line.
- Backfill with the soil mixture, tamping down gently as you fill to avoid air pockets.
- Build a temporary, 2-3-inch-deep basin around the outer edges to help collect water.
- Stake the tree on two sides for the first year to anchor it against winds.
- Water thoroughly after planting, then maintain consistent soil moisture throughout the first season.
Fuyu persimmon trees should be spaced apart based on their expected mature size: around 10 feet for dwarfs, 15-20 feet for semi-dwarfs, and 25+ feet for standard sizes.
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Fuyu Persimmon Tree Care
With your new fuyu persimmon tree successfully planted, the main priorities shift to proper watering, fertilization, and pest management. Paying close attention in the early years lays the groundwork for hassle-free future crops.
Watering Needs
Fuyu persimmon trees need consistent moisture when first getting established, but become fairly drought-tolerant once their roots are deep and spread out. Here are some watering guidelines:
First Year:
- Water 2-3 times per week, saturating the root zone each time
- Apply 5–10 gallons per watering session for a newly planted tree
Years 2-3:
- Deep water, once per week during growing season
- Ensure soil dries out slightly between waterings
Mature Trees:
- Deep watering every 2-3 weeks should suffice in normal weather
- Increase frequency during extreme heat or drought periods
Use a soaker hose, drip line, or manually apply water out to the dripline of the canopy and beyond. Maintaining a 2-4 inch-deep mulch ring also helps conserve soil moisture.
Fertilizing Schedule
Fuyu persimmons benefit from an annual feeding program, preferably timed for early spring before bud break. Here are some fertilizing tips:
- Apply a balanced fertilizer like 10-10-10 or a fruit tree formula
- For young trees, use 1/2 pound of fertilizer per year of age up to the 4th year
- Mature standard trees need 1-2 pounds annually, semi-dwarfs need 1/2-1 pound
- Compost can also be worked into the soil surface each spring
- Avoid fertilizing after July to prevent excessive new growth
Signs that signal a need for fertilizer include pale leaves, stunted twig growth, or diminutive fruit size. But be cautious about over-fertilizing.
Pruning Techniques
Annual pruning helps fuyu persimmon trees develop strong structural form and maintain productivity. The best time to prune is late winter or very early spring, before buds break.
For newly planted trees:
- Remove any dead, damaged or inward-facing branches
- Thin inner branches to open up the canopy
- Head back the leader by 1/4 to encourage branching
As the tree matures, pruning goals shift to renewing old wood and controlling size. Follow these guidelines:
- Remove any vigorous upright shoots to maintain an open, vase-like shape
- Cut back long branches by 1/4 to encourage spurs for next year’s fruiting
- Thin out crowded interior branches annually to increase air flow
- On large trees, remove one major scaffold branch per year to rejuvenate
Sterilize pruning tools between cuts when removing diseased wood. Avoid excessive pruning that can stimulate overvigorous growth.
Managing Pests and Diseases
With proper culture, fuyu persimmon trees have few major pest and disease issues. But it’s still important to monitor for potential problems:
Common Pests:
- Persimmon root borers: apply preventative pesticide drenches
- Persimmon platy scale: Treat with horticultural oil or introduce natural predators
Diseases to Watch For:
- Leaf spot, anthracnose: treat with fungicides, improve air circulation
- Root rot: ensure excellent soil drainage
- Alternaria fruit rot: Apply fungicide sprays if Environment is humid
Always choose disease-resistant cultivars when possible. Maintaining tree vigor through proper care is the best defense against pest and disease pressures.
Pollination for Fuyu Persimmon Fruits
While fuyu persimmon trees are parthenocarpic (able to set fruit without cross-pollination), introducing a pollinator tree can improve yields and fruit quality. Let’s take a closer look at the pollination needs.
Do Fuyu Trees Need a Pollinator?
In short, fuyu persimmon trees will set fruit without another tree for pollination, but size and quality may be diminished. Many growers report larger, more perfectly formed persimmons when a male pollinator fuyu tree is present.
The general recommendation is to plant one non-fruiting male fuyu tree for every 6–8 female fruiting trees. This allows adequate pollen transfer by wind and insects.
Best Pollinator Varieties for Fuyu Trees
When selecting a pollinator tree, opt for a male fuyu persimmon cultivar that overlaps bloom times with your fruiting females. Some good male pollinators include:
- ‘Tane-Nashi’: One of the most common male pollinizer trees
- ‘Russell’ or ‘Russell Premium’ hybrids
- ‘Rick’s F1’: A newer, consistently heavy pollen producer
Male trees are strictly for pollination; they do not produce edible fruit themselves. Some nurseries also sell artificial pollen extracts as an alternative.
Hand Pollination Methods
If you only have a single fuyu persimmon tree with no male nearby, hand pollination is an option to increase fruit set. When the female flowers open in spring:
- Use a clean brush to collect pollen from male flowers
- Gently transfer the pollen by brushing onto the newly opened female blooms
- Repeat every few days while the tree is in bloom
Hand pollination takes some extra effort but can make a noticeable difference in yields and fruit quality from lone fuyu trees.
Harvesting & Enjoying Your Fuyu Persimmons
After putting in the work to grow fuyu persimmon trees, the payoff finally arrives when it’s time to harvest and savor those delectable orange fruits! Here are some tips on knowing when to pick and getting the most out of your persimmon crop.
When and How to Pick Ripe Fuyu Persimmons
Unlike other persimmon varieties, fuyus can be harvested and eaten when still crisp and firm, all the way to being soft and jelly. This gives you an extended harvest window of about 2 months in fall.
For crisp persimmons, look for a deep, solid orange color and a very slight softening when cupped in the palm. Use pruners or pruning shears to snip the fruit from the branch.
If waiting for maximum sugar levels, the ripe persimmons will take on a very deep red-orange blush and become extremely soft and almost jellylike. They may even begin to develop black streaks on the skin.
For easy harvesting, lay down tarps under the canopy and gently pull or shake fruits from branches onto the tarp.
Tips for Storage to Extend Shelf-Life
Fully ripe soft fuyu persimmons have a short 2-3 day shelf life at room temperature. But the crisp, firm fruits can keep for 1-2 months under ideal conditions!
To maximize storage potential:
- Harvest fruits when they are still crisp with an orange pumpkin color
- Gently wipe off any residue or moisture on the skin
- Store in the refrigerator in a breathable bag or container
- Check periodically and discard any fruits developing soft spots
Well-stored fuyus at peak firmness can last up to 2–3 months refrigerated. Let them ripen at room temperature when you are ready to enjoy their sweetened, soft texture.
Ways to Use Fuyu Persimmons
These versatile and uniquely flavored persimmons have numerous culinary uses beyond simply eating them out of hand. Here are some delicious ideas:
- Baked into breads, muffins, cookies, and pies
- Used in jams, chutneys, curries, and salsas
- Dried into persimmon “chips” for snacking
- Puréed into smoothies, milkshakes, or baking batters
- Added to salads, grain dishes, or as a garnish
- Fermented into persimmon vinegar or alcoholic beverages
- Made into tangy-sweet persimmon pudding
The possibilities are endless for both sweet and savory preparations! Fuyu persimmons make an excellent addition to a range of cuisines and dishes.
Growing Persimmons for Profit on a Small Scale
Have a bumper crop of fuyu persimmons? Don’t let that surplus go to waste! These eye-catching orange fruits can be sold quite readily at local markets and farm stands.
Some tips if you want to sell your persimmon harvest:
- Invest in a small portable fruit grader for consistent sizes
- Get food safety certification to sell at higher prices
- Market persimmons as a healthy, unique fall treat
- Offer taste samples to introduce customers to this special fruit
- Sell value-added products like jams, dried persimmons, and baked goods
With their long shelf life and distinctive flavor, fuyu persimmons can be a lucrative crop to grow and sell locally during their peak season.
Conclusion
Whether you want to grow fuyu persimmons for their unbeatable taste, ornamental appeal, or simply as a unique addition to your edible landscape, these trees make an excellent choice for the right climate.
With proper planting and care, fuyu persimmon trees can be very low-maintenance while providing abundant harvests for decades.
Just remember the key requirements of full sun, well-drained soil, and some winter chill for best performance. Follow good cultural practices, and you’ll be rewarded with those brilliantly colored, super-sweet persimmon fruits for months each autumn!
