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.