How to Grow American Persimmons

Grow American persimmon for its sweet fruit.

An attractive addition to the home landscape, American persimmon or common persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) produces sweet fruits that increase in flavor the longer they stay on branches. Native to Kentucky, the American persimmon tree is hardier than its Japanese relative because it tolerates a variety of soils and freezing temperatures to produce golden orange fruits that measure 1 to 2 inches wide. American persimmons have few pests and diseases, and they provide shelter and food for a variety of birds and mammals. The fruit of the American persimmon tree is usually sweet, seedy and mushy.

Things You'll Need

• 10-10-10 fertilizer
• Organic mulch
• Rake
• Horticultural oil or insecticide
• Pruning shears

Instructions

1. Plant the tree in well-draining, preferably loam soil with a soil pH between 5.8 and 6.5 and full-sun exposure or partial shade. Avoid growing the persimmon tree in waterlogged soil.

2. Water the American persimmon tree immediately after planting until the soil is evenly moist. Afterward, irrigate every 10 days during the summer and less frequently in the winter or during the rainy season. Although American persimmons are more drought-tolerant than their oriental relatives, the trees drop fruit when watered too little or too much.

3. Feed the persimmon tree a well-balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer formulated for a fruit tree once a year, preferably during spring. Follow label directions for the recommended fertilizer dosage based on the size of the tree. Sprinkle fertilizer granules over the root zone of the American persimmon tree and irrigate deeply to release nutrients in the soil so they reach the roots.

4. Spread 2 inches of organic mulch around the tree to suppress weeds and retain soil moisture. Rake the mulch every year and spread fresh mulch to keep it effective.

5. Inspect the tree for pests including persimmon borer, psyllid, bagworm and twig girdler. Remove the pests with tweezers or apply horticultural oil or organic insecticide to control them. Because pests infect weak persimmon trees, adopt good cultural and sanitation practices to reduce infestations.

6. Prune old, dead or damaged branches from the tree whenever necessary. Use sharp, sterilized pruning shears to reduce chances of fungal diseases or disease-spreading organisms. Collect and discard clippings.

Tips & Warnings

• Select healthy, 1- to 2-year-old seedlings for planting in your yard. You can also grow American persimmons from seed provided they undergo a three-month stratification process.

• Overfertilizing the American persimmon tree causes fruit drop.

• Persimmon trees pruned to a modified central leader require less maintenance when they begin to produce fruit.

References

• Local Harvest: American Persimmons
• Virginia Tech; Persimmon; Soumitri Das, et al.; January 2001
• University of Kentucky Extension; American Persimmon; October 2008
• University of Illinois Extension; American Persimmon; Jennifer Schultz Nelson; October 2006