How to Grow Persimmon Trees in Zone 5

You can grow an American persimmon in zone 5.

Known as the fruit of the gods, the persimmon is very sweet when fully ripe. This golden-orange-skinned beauty is approximately 1 inch in diameter and a wildlife favorite. There are varieties of persimmon trees that grow well in the U.S., but if you live in zone 5, you will need to plant an American persimmon tree, which is hardy enough to withstand the freezing winter temperatures of your zone. The American persimmon grows to heights between 30 and 70 feet. If you have well-drained soil and a sunny location, the American persimmon will reward you with a bountiful harvest of persimmon fruits six to eight years after planting it from seed.

Things You'll Need

• Fresh fruit
• Persimmon seeds
• Water
• Paper plate
• Plastic bag
• Damp peat moss
• Refrigerator
• 4-inch pot
• Sterile potting soil
• Spray bottle
• Saran wrap
• Rubber band
• Grow light
• Plant heating mat
• Soil test
• Garden fork
• Lime or peat moss
• Shovel
• Soaker hose

Instructions

Germination

1. Harvest persimmon seeds from the ripe fruit. In zone 5, American persimmon trees ripen in the fall. You will know the fruit is ripe when it falls to the ground.

2. Remove three to four persimmon seeds from the fresh fruit. Peel away any attached pulp and rinse the seeds in lukewarm water. Lay the seeds on a paper plate out in the sun for three days to dry out.

3. Fill a plastic bag with damp peat moss and place the dried seeds in the bag. Seal the bag and place it in the refrigerator for three months. This stratification (chilling) will help with the germination process.

4. Remove the plastic bag from the refrigerator after the three-month stratification period. Fill a 4-inch pot with sterile potting soil and bury the seeds in the soil 1/2 inch deep. Pat the soil on top of the seeds to remove air pockets.

5. Fill a spray bottle with warm water and spray the soil with water to moisten it. Place a piece of Saran wrap over the pot and secure it with a rubber band, until germination takes place. Lift the plastic periodically to moisten the soil to keep it from drying out.

6. Place the pot in a bright window and maintain the temperature above 75 degrees F. If you do not have a bright window that can accommodate the pot, place it under a grow light. Use a plant-heating mat if it is not possible to maintain the required temperature.

7. Remove the plastic from the pot as soon as the seeds begin to sprout, which usually happens within three weeks. Continue to provide the persimmon tree seeds with bright light and water as they grow. When the persimmon saplings grow to a height of 1 to 2 inches, pull out the weakest and discard. Allow one sapling to remain growing in the pot. In zone 5, transplant the sapling outdoors after its first growing season.

Transplanting

1. Test the soil in the location where you plan to transplant the persimmon sapling. American persimmons prefer soil with a pH between 5.8 and 6.5. You can purchase a soil test from a garden center or nursery.

2. Prepare the soil for planting. The best time to transplant trees in zone 5 is in the late fall or early spring. Work the soil with a garden fork and mix lime into the soil if the pH is below 5.8. Add peat moss to the soil if the pH is above 6.5. Follow the package instructions on the required amendment to determine allocation amounts.

3. Dig a hole for the persimmon sapling equal to the length of its root ball, and twice its width. Place the sapling in the hole and backfill. Pat the soil gently around the trunk to remove any air pockets.

4. Apply a 4-inch layer of mulch around the persimmon tree to help with water retention and to reduce weed growth. The mulch will also protect the roots of the American persimmon tree from the cold zone 5 winters that drop to -10 degrees F.

5. Provide zone 5 persimmon trees with 1 inch of water per week in the beginning stages of transplanting. Once the tree is established, it will only require watering during periods of drought.

Tips & Warnings

• Water the American persimmon trees using a soaker hose. A soaker hose will provide deeper watering than a sprinkler.

• Do not over-water persimmon trees. Standing water will cause root rot. If the soil feels moist at a 1-inch depth, skip the scheduled watering and check again in a few days.

References

• National Gardening Association: Persimmon
• Willis Orchard: American Persimmon
• Non-Timber Forest Products: Persimmon

Resources

• University of Kentucky: American Persimmon
• Grow It: USDA Hardiness Zone Maps