Oriental persimmons (Diospyros kaki), also referred to as Japanese or kaki persimmons, are deciduous trees that grow well in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 7 to 9. Oriental persimmon varieties are classified as astringent or nonastringent. Persimmons from the astringent varieties are not edible until they become very soft; nonastringent varieties can be eaten when the fruit is still firm and crisp. The astringent varieties grow better in USDA zones 7 and 8, while the nonastringent varieties grow better in USDA zones 8 and 9. Most persimmon fruits ripen in the fall, but some varieties ripen very early while others take until December.
Very Early- to Early-Season Harvest
Very early- and early-harvest persimmon varieties are usually ready to pick from the first week of September to the first week of October in warm Mediterranean climates. The nonastringent "Matsumoto Early Fuyu" persimmon fruit is generally ready for harvest during the first week of September. It produces dark orange to red, slightly flattened round fruits 2 inches high and 2 3/4 inches across. The "Fuyu" variety is similar to Matsumoto Early Fuyu, but is not ready for harvest until the third or fourth week of September. The "Hachiya" persimmon produces dark reddish-orange oval fruit 3 3/4 inches high and 3 1/4 inches across. This astringent persimmon fruit is ready for harvest the last week in September.
Midseason Harvest Persimmons
Midseason harvest persimmon varieties are ready for harvest in October. "Costata" is an astringent-type persimmon that produces cone-shaped, salmon-yellow 2 5/8-inch high and 2 1/8-inch wide fruit. Astringent-type "Triumph" produces slightly smaller yellow- to orange-red fruit that ripens in October. "Hana Fuyu," also known as Giant Fuyu, produces large, dark red, slightly flattened, round persimmons. It is a nonastringent type ready for harvest toward the end of October.
Late-Season Harvest Persimmons
Late-season persimmons are harvested during the last two weeks of October or first two weeks of November. "Hanagosho" produces bright red persimmons about 2 inches high and 2 3/4 inches wide. It is a nonastringent persimmon. "Jiro," another late-season, nonastringent persimmon, has bright red to orange-red fruit that's slightly larger than Hanagosho. "Eureka" is an astringent persimmon that produces orange-red fruits about the same size as Jiro. The “Makawa Jiro” and “Ichikikei Jiro” persimmons are semi-dwarf nonastringent varieties that produce fruits similar to Jiro.
Very Late-Season Persimmons
Very late-season persimmons are ready for harvest during the last two weeks of November or in December. The "Ormond" variety is a very late-season persimmon that produces oval 2 5/8-inch high, 1 7/8-inch wide reddish-yellow fruit. It is an astringent-type persimmon. "Suruga" is a nonastringent, very late-season persimmon. It’s fruits are orange-red and larger than those of Ormond.
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