How to grow Persimmon in Australia
Plant in full sun in deep, well drained soil. Young trees need steady water while establishing, then they handle dry spells once rooted.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 6 litres a week, watered every 4 days
- Spacing: 500 cm
- Time to harvest: 1095 days (about 3 years)
- Time to germinate: 21 days
- Soil pH: 6 to 7.5
- Frost tolerance: Frost hardy
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | June to August | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | June to August | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | June to August | Good chill hours. Plant bare-root in winter. Excellent in western Sydney. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | June to August | Ideal conditions. Excellent autumn colour and fruit. Fuyu is most reliable. |
| Adelaide & SA | June to August | Good chill hours. Plant bare-root in winter. |
| Perth & WA | June to August | Moderate chill. Plant bare-root in winter. |
| Tasmania | June to August | Plant bare-root Jun to Aug. Best in warmer northern and coastal gardens. Fuyu is the most reliable. |
| Canberra & ACT | June to August | Excellent chill hours. Outstanding autumn colour and fruit. |
| North Queensland | Not suited | Not viable. Needs winter chill for dormancy. |
| Darwin & Top End | Not suited | Not viable. Needs winter dormancy and chill. |
Varieties
- Fuyu
- Hachiya
- Nightingale
Companion planting
Good companions
- Fruit trees
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Astringent types are ready when fully soft and jelly-like; non-astringent when deep orange and firm. Snip with secateurs leaving a short stalk, as they do not ripen well once pulled.
Storage
Fuyu: bench until ripe, then fridge 1 week. Hachiya: ripen fully on bench. Freeze pulp.