How to Harvest and Store Persimmons

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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Bright orange persimmons dangling from the branches of a persimmon tree are a familiar fall and winter sight in many parts of the country. Oriental persimmons are larger and heart-shaped. The American types are much rounder and smaller.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Baskets
Brown Paper Bags
Garden Shears
Gardening Gloves
Knife

Step1

Harvest when the fruit's color is completely set. For Oriental persimmons, the fruit should be soft, but not completely ripe. American varieties should be starting to drop from the tree.

Step2

Cut the stem with garden shears about 1 to 2 inches above the crown.

Step3

Let fruit ripen indoors until the pulp is soft. Keep refrigerated for a month. The pulp can be frozen for approximately six months. Seedless persimmons can be frozen whole. Persimmons can also be dried by hanging them in the sun.

Step4

Place persimmons in a bag with a ripe apple to ripen more quickly.

Step5

Eat fresh, or use the pulp in baking or as a substitute for applesauce.

Tips & Warnings

Both types of persimmons should be eaten when fully ripe. For all American persimmons and most Oriental persimmons, known as astringent fruit, this means when they are soft. Some Oriental types, notably Fuyu, are nonastringent and can be eaten when ripe, but still firm.