Starting Persimmon Trees from Seed

Baby persimmon tree just starting to get its first set of true leaves.

Starting Persimmon Trees from Seed

I purchased fifty Early Golden Persimmon seeds, from Perfect Circle Farm in late winter of 2024. Early Golden is a cold-hardy American persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) variety. Not surprisingly American persimmons are native to the United States from much of the east coast to the mid-west. According to BONAP they are not native to Wisconsin (where I live) but are found nearby in Iowa and Illinois. They are also native to similar and even more northern latitudes in New York. I chose the Early Golden variety because it is supposed to be hardy to zone 4, where I live. Like many tree seeds in northern climates, persimmon seeds require cold stratification. You can keep them moist, wrapped in a paper towel, or sphagnum moss, in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. They need a 60–90-day stratification period. After stratifying, I moved the seeds to a heat mat on March 1st, keeping them moist. I checked them every couple of days and first noticed that some seeds looked like they started germinating on March 16th. I then put the seeds in nursery pots designed for trees (see below) and waited much longer than expected for them to emerge (maybe I was mistaken about their earlier germination).

Persimmon seed just starting to form the root.

After Germination

I bought some deep nursery pots on Amazon that are 4-5 inches wide at the top and 12 inches tall. These types of pots are used for trees to accommodate long tap roots. As soon as I noticed germination I moved my seeds to potting soil in the nursery pots and covered them with a thin layer of soil. I moved them off the heat, and until they start sprouting (seeds put their roots out first, before their first leaves) they do not need light, just moisture. I waited until our days warmed up in late spring before I moved the pots outside, but it was not until June 26th that I first saw seedlings emerge from the soil. I was surprised because I assumed the seeds were not viable as it took so long to see growth. So far about 8 have sprouted (update, about 3 dozen have sprouted by 7/24/24). When the seedlings get big enough (maybe 6 inches) I will transplant them. I plan on putting these trees in our fields, partly for our use but mostly for wildlife.

Persimmon seedling just starting to emerge.

Growing Conditions

​American persimmon trees prefer full sun and moist but well-drained slightly acidic soil. The trees get large so they should be planted 30-50 feet apart. Make sure you dig a hole at least twice as deep and wide as the pot and fertilization should not be necessary unless you are planting in poor soil. These trees do require a second tree of a different variety for pollination. If these trees survive their first few winters, I will buy another persimmon variety for pollination. Other varieties hardy to zone 4 that would work as pollinators include Yates, Garretson, and Elmo. Prok is another variety that can be used as a pollinator, hardy to zone 5. All these trees, including Early Golden, can also be purchased from Stark Brothers Nursery (and probably others) if you do not wish to start from seed. I have also found American Persimmon trees at my local home improvement store in the spring.

Early Golden Persimmon seeds with quarter shown for size.

Persimmon Uses

​Persimmons must be fully ripe, or they will be tannic and very astringent. When ripe they are often eaten fresh and used in various desserts and breads or dried and eaten like prunes. Many animals also eat persimmon fruit including deer and birds, and even skunks, raccoons, opossums, and foxes.

References

1. https://www.perfectcircle.farm/
2. https://bonap.net/Napa/TaxonMaps/Genus/State/Diospyros
3. https://www.starkbros.com/growing-guide/how-to-grow/fruit-trees/persimmon-trees