How to Grow a Persimmon

Use persimmon fruit seeds to grow new persimmon trees.

The deciduous persimmon produces orange-red fruit that has a sweet flavor and juicy, orange flesh. When fully mature, persimmon trees can reach heights of up to 40 feet. These trees feature shiny, oval, green leaves and flowers that are yellowish-white in color. Use seeds obtained from the persimmon fruit to grow new trees. You can easily grow your own fruit-producing persimmon trees by preparing and planting the persimmon seeds.

Things You'll Need

• Sharp knife
• Spoon
• Paper towels
• Brown paper bag
• Plastic bag
• Sphagnum peat moss
• Bowl
• Biodegradable peat pots
• Organic potting soil
• Plastic water tray
• Shovel
• Hummus
• Garden spade
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Cut the ripe persimmon fruit in half with a sharp knife to remove all of the seeds. Scoop the seeds from the fruit with a spoon and rinse the persimmon seeds under warm, running water to remove the fruit pulp.

2. Spread the persimmon seeds out flat on a paper towel to dry. Allow the persimmon seeds to air-dry for up to two days. Store the persimmon seeds in a brown paper bag until you are ready to begin the cold stratification process, which takes three months. Keep the paper bag in a cool and dark location.

3. Remove the persimmon seeds from the brown paper bag three months before the last frost date in your area. Fill a plastic bag with sphagnum peat moss, and add the persimmon seeds to the peat moss. Bury the persimmon seeds at least 3 inches under the peat moss, and dampen it with water.

4. Place the plastic bag in the bottom drawer of the refrigerator. Keep the persimmon seeds in the refrigerator for three months or until you notice the seeds beginning to sprout. If the persimmon seeds have sprouted two to three weeks before the last frost date, keep them in the damp peat moss until planting time.

5. Remove the persimmon seeds from the refrigerator and place them in a bowl of water. Allow the seeds to soak for two days.

6. Fill biodegradable peat pots with organic potting soil. Push one persimmon seed 1/2-inch deep into the potting soil for every peat pot. Set the peat pots on a plastic water tray and water the pots until the soil is moist.

7. Place the peat pots in a sunny location --- preferably a southern-facing window --- until the seeds germinate and the seedlings have reached 3 inches in height.

8. Select a planting site that receives six to eight hours of full sun. Loosen the ground to a depth of 8 to 12 inches, using a shovel. Add 2 to 3 inches of humus onto the loosened soil and mix them together with a garden spade. Use the garden spade to create planting holes that will accommodate the size of the peat pot.

9. Trim 1/4-inch off the ends of the persimmon seedling roots with sharp scissors. Place the persimmon seedling --- peat pot and all --- in the planting hole, and backfill with dirt to secure the plant within the ground. Space the persimmon plants at least 15 to 20 feet away from each other to give the roots enough room to grow.

10. Water the persimmon trees regularly to maintain moist soil.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not expect to have fruit-bearing persimmon trees in one or two growing seasons. Most persimmon trees begin bearing fruit when they are between 25 to 50 years of age.

References

• USDA Forest Service; Common Persimmon; Lowell K. Halls
• Walter Reeves.com: Persimmon Tree Stratification