With their fresh, juicy flavor and beautiful orange color, persimmons are a fall treat right up there with pumpkins and apples. If you’d like to enjoy more of this delicious fall fruit, you should add “plant persimmon trees” to your garden to-do list.
Persimmons are some of the easiest fruit trees to grow. They adapt well to a wide range of growing zones and can even be grown in containers. Whether you have a green thumb or not, this guide has everything you need to know to learn how to plant a persimmon tree.
Choosing the Right Persimmon Tree
Before you get to planting, it’s important to take some time to choose a variety based on how you plan to grow and enjoy your persimmons. The right variety makes growing persimmons easier and more delicious!
USDA Hardiness Zones
When planting a persimmon tree in the ground, choose a variety that’s hardy in your USDA growing zone. Persimmons grow well in a wide range of zones, but not every tree is suited to every zone.
If you plan to grow your persimmon tree in a container, hardiness is less of an issue. Potted plants can easily be moved indoors when needed to protect your tree from harsh weather conditions.
Flavor and Texture
Some persimmon trees are best for cooking, while others are delicious straight off the tree. Think about how you plan to use the persimmons to help you decide what variety to get.
Would you rather have more fresh persimmons or do you want to use them for baking?
Persimmon Tree Pollination
Some persimmon varieties need a pollinator to produce a good harvest, while others are self-pollinating.
It’s important to note that American and Asian varieties of persimmons won’t cross-pollinate each other. Be sure to check whether your preferred variety needs a pollinator, and if so, which varieties are a good option.
If you’re limited on space, or you don’t need that many persimmons, choose a self-fertile variety.
Persimmon Varieties to Consider
American
The American Persimmon is soft and sweet with a slightly nutty flavor. It’s a beautiful tree in all seasons with spring blossoms, summer fullness, and fall color. Even the ornamental bark is attractive. This variety needs a pollinator to produce fruit.
Fuyu
One of the most popular varieties, the Fuyu Asian Persimmon is disease and pest resistant, self-fertile, and grows well in containers or the ground. The fruit is sweet, crunchy, and nearly seedless. It’s delicious right off the tree.
Hachiya
Hachiya Persimmons have a rich, sweet, and tangy flavor. They’re best when baked or cooked. The trees love hot summers like those in southern growing zones. They’re self-fertile so you don’t need a pollinator.
Saijo
A versatile variety, the Saijo Asian Persimmon is good for fresh eating as well as for baking, drying, and freezing. The flavor is best when fully ripe. This variety grows well in zones 6-9.
Tanenashi
Tanenashi Persimmons are prolific producers. No pollinator is needed to get a big harvest of medium to large sized fruits. These persimmons have a sweet, rich flavor and are nearly seedless.
For more information to help you choose the right variety, check out our blog post on Persimmon Tree Types.
Choosing the Right Location
Once you’ve decided on a variety, the next step in planting persimmons is to choose a location to plant your tree.
Plenty of Sun
Persimmon trees grow best in full sun. They tolerate some shade, but they produce the most fruit if they have a bright, sunny spot to grow in.
For the best yield, select a planting location that gets at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight a day.
Plenty of Room
Make sure your chosen location has adequate space for your persimmon tree to reach its full height and spread.
That young sapling may look small, but popular varieties like the Hachiya and Fuyu can grow as large as 20 feet tall with a 15-20 foot spread!
Soil
The ideal soil for growing persimmon trees is rich and loamy, with a pH between 6.0 and 6.5. The soil should be well-draining.
That being said, persimmons aren’t too picky about soil conditions. They adapt well to various soil types so amendments usually aren’t necessary unless you have very poor soil.
If you have heavy clay or very compacted soil, it’s a good idea to loosen it up by adding organic matter like compost, aged manure, or leaf mold.
What About Potted Persimmons?
Most persimmon varieties can be successfully grown in containers. That means anyone can grow a persimmon tree, even if you live outside the ideal growing zones!
Planting persimmons in a container is a good choice for many home growers, regardless of where they live. Container trees are compact, easy to care for and still provide plenty of delicious fruit.
How to Plant a Persimmon Tree
Once you’ve chosen a variety, found the ideal location, and prepared the soil, it’s time to plant!
Planting a Persimmon Tree
Dig a hole the same size as the container your persimmon tree is currently in. Loosen the soil around the hole about twice as wide as the current container.
Carefully remove the tree from its container and set it in the hole. Fill in all around the plant with soil. Make sure the tree is planted to the same depth as it was in the previous container. Press the soil down gently to make sure there aren’t any air bubbles.
Water well and wait for your tree to grow!
To learn about how your tree will grow in the first few years, check out our article, How Fast Does a Persimmon Tree Grow?
Planting Persimmons in a Container
Planting persimmons in a container is easy!
Choose a large planter container at least 24” in diameter, fill about halfway with high-quality potting soil, then set your tree in the container. Fill the container the rest of the way with soil, making sure to plant your tree to the same depth as it was in the previous container.
Water thoroughly after planting.
To keep potted persimmon trees healthy, repot them in new soil every 2-3 years. This ensures the plants have plenty of nutrients to keep growing those delicious fruits.
Persimmon Tree Maintenance and Care
The first year after you transplant is the most important time for a young persimmon tree. Getting your tree off to a healthy start is crucial for the life-long health and well-being of your tree.
Once established, persimmon trees are easy to care for and don’t require much attention to thrive.
Water
Water once or twice a week for the first year. Water deeply and allow the soil to dry out before watering again. This encourages the plant to produce deep roots rather than shallow roots.
Most persimmons are drought tolerant, but a lack of water will produce fewer and smaller fruit. Keep your persimmon tree well-watered while it’s getting established for the best results and the highest yield.
After the first year, watering can be reduced to once a week or sometimes even less if you get regular rain.
Fertilizer
Persimmon trees aren’t heavy feeders, so frequent fertilizing usually isn’t necessary. Fertilizer may not be needed during the first couple of years, though some gardeners like to apply it anyway.
If you notice your tree could use a boost, apply a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer once or twice a year in spring and/or fall.
Pests and Disease
Proper care is the best way to prevent pests and diseases from causing harm to your persimmon trees. Keep your tree healthy by ensuring it has plenty of water, weeding around the tree’s base, and removing fallen fruit and foliage at the end of the season.
Check on your tree regularly and address any signs of pests or diseases before they become major problems.
For more information on planting and growing persimmons, check out our guide, How to Grow a Persimmon Tree.
Where to Get Persimmon Trees for Planting
Check with your local garden center or nursery in the spring to see if they carry persimmon trees. The nice thing about shopping locally is that most places will only carry trees suited to your growing zone.
The drawback is that choices are usually limited. Your local nursery may not carry persimmon trees at all, or they may only have one or two varieties.
Online retailers like Stark Bros and Nature Hills have more choices and ship right to your door. Online shopping is a convenient and affordable way to plant high-quality persimmon trees.
Wrapping Up How to Plant Persimmon Trees
Are you ready to start growing persimmons? With these tips on how to plant persimmon trees, you’re well on your way to adding some delicious persimmons to your home garden. Once you taste the sweet, juicy flavor of a perfectly ripe persimmon, you’ll be glad you did!
Here at Minneopa Orchards, we have tips and tools to help you every step of the way. From planting to harvesting, our Persimmon Trees page has information on all things persimmons to help you choose the right variety, care for your tree, and enjoy a successful harvest.