Asian Persimmon
Diospyros kaki 'Fuyu'
fruitFuyu is the non-astringent Asian persimmon: a flat-bottomed orange tomato-shaped fruit you can eat firm and crisp like an apple right off the tree, with sweet honey-mild flavor and no mouth-puckering tannins. Fuyu is the most popular persimmon worldwide and the easiest entry point to growing persimmons (no waiting for frost, no waiting for soft pulp).
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Sun
full sun
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Water
Every 5 days
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Harvest
~3 yrs
to first harvest
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Difficulty
medium
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Lifecycle
perennial
Comes back every year
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Spacing
15-20 ft apart
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Planting Depth
Graft union just above soil
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Soil pH
6.0-6.5
Growing Details
Soil Type
Average
Hardiness Zones
Zones 7 – 10
When to Fertilize
Light feed in early spring
Fertilizer
Compost; 10-10-10 only if growth is weak
🌱 Growing Guide
Plant in full sun on well-drained loam in zones 7 to 10. Fuyu is parthenocarpic and self-fertile, setting fruit without pollination. Set the graft union just above the soil line. Mature trees tolerate brief dips to 10F. Pruning is minimal: thin selectively in late winter to maintain a balanced framework, but Fuyu does not need annual heading cuts. Trees bear in 4 to 5 years on grafted rootstock.
Planting Calendar
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Direct sow
Apr 15
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Projected first harvest
Oct 17 · Year 4
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
Year 1
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Comfrey — Mineral-mining mulch
- White Clover — Nitrogen-fixing orchard floor
- Daffodils — Deters voles around the trunk
- Yarrow — Attracts predatory wasps
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Encourage natural predators; horticultural oil if populations build
Dormant oil spray in late winter
Rake leaves in fall, prune for airflow
The orange fruit is highly visible; net the tree as fruit colors up
🌾 Harvest & storage
Fuyu ripens in autumn (October through December depending on climate). Pick when the skin reaches deep orange; fruit stays firm and edible for weeks after harvest, unlike American Persimmon. Eat firm-crisp like an apple, or let it soften on the counter for a sweeter softer texture. The bare orange fruit hangs decoratively on leafless trees into winter, making Fuyu doubly useful as a landscape plant.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
About 70 calories per 100 g with 3.6 g fiber, 7.5 mg vitamin C, 161 mg potassium, and high carotenoid content. The orange flesh delivers beta-cryptoxanthin and beta-carotene (precursors to vitamin A), and Fuyu has notable manganese for connective tissue health.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.