How to Grow Persimmon
Persimmon At a Glance
Difficulty
Moderate
Category
Tree Fruit
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Frost Tolerance
Frost Hardy
Cold Hardiness
Survives to -20°C
Plant Family
Ebenaceae
Growing Season
Warm Season
Plant Lifecycle
Perennial
How to Start It
★ Recommended for beginners
Buy a young grafted tree and plant it in early spring while it is still leafless, about 4 weeks before your last frost. Persimmons grow one long main root and dislike being moved, so dig a deep hole, keep the root ball whole and water deeply. In most of Canada, choose a hardy American persimmon, and space trees about 4.5 m apart.
There are two main kinds: American persimmons are hardy and suit the warmer parts of Canada, while sweeter Asian persimmons are damaged by hard cold. Some kinds are puckery (astringent) until jelly soft, like Hachiya and most American ones, and others, like Fuyu, can be eaten firm. Expect your first fruit about 4 years after planting.
When To Start
Persimmon needs warmth. Wait until your last frost has passed and the soil has warmed before sowing.
We do not have exact sowing dates for this one yet.
When should you plant Persimmon?
Your planting dates depend on your local climate. Sign up and add your location to unlock personalized dates.
Your Persimmon Planting Window
Start planting
May 15, 2026
Last chance
Sep 10, 2026
Your Persimmon Calendar
Set your location to turn these into exact dates and reminders.
Plant your persimmon tree, keeping the root ball whole
30 days before your last frost
Pick persimmons: Fuyu firm, Hachiya to ripen soft
170 days after your last frost· every year
Water your new persimmon plants well while they settle in. Deep and slow is best.
About 1 days after you plant it
Your persimmon is off to a great start! Water deeply once a week while it settles, and keep weeds away from the base.
About 30 days after you plant it
Checking in on your persimmon. Young trees can grow slowly up top while the roots spread, so steady watering is the best help.
About 90 days after you plant it
The Journey Ahead
Persimmon's Lifecycle
Seedling
Mature Plant
Seed Production
Step 1
Prepare Your Space
450 cm
Plant Spacing
550 cm
Row Spacing
Vertical Growing
No.
Succession Planting
No.
Good Companions
Bad Companions
Step 2
Planting & Sprouting
Growing Tips
- 1Plant persimmons in full sun, in soil that drains well.
- 2Mix compost into the planting hole and keep a layer of mulch over the roots, a hand's width away from the trunk.
- 3Water deeply once a week for the first 2 years, then during long dry spells.
- 4Feed lightly with a layer of compost each spring, since too much food can make the fruit drop early.
- 5Many American persimmons need a second tree nearby to set fruit, so ask for a kind that fruits on its own or plant two.
- 6Prune very little, only to remove dead or crossing branches in late winter, and net the tree as the fruit ripens if birds or raccoons find it.
Seedling Phase
Step 3
Growth & Maturity
500 cm
Mature Height
400 cm
Mature Width
Pests to Watch For
Diseases to Watch For
Mature Plant
Step 4
Harvesting
Harvest Window
30 days
When to Pick
Astringent types: pick hard, ripen to jelly-soft. Non-astringent: pick firm.
How to Harvest
- 1Pick non-astringent kinds like Fuyu when they are fully orange and still firm, and eat them crisp like an apple.
- 2Pick astringent kinds like Hachiya when fully coloured but still hard, cutting the stem with pruners since the fruit clings tight.
- 3Let astringent fruit ripen indoors until it is soft as jelly, because eating it early leaves your mouth dry and puckered.
- 4Put them in a paper bag with an apple to speed up the ripening.
- 5Scoop the soft pulp with a spoon, or freeze it for baking.
Step 5
Saving Seeds
Seed Production
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