Persimmonsare a true autumn fruit. Depending upon the variety and type of the persimmon, fruit grown in the garden are harvested August and into December.
Persimmons are a lovely fruit. They look like they might be plastic with their perfect flattened globe or heart shapes, their fall coloring of deep orange and sitting on the top of the fruit is the moss-green leathery calyx that looked like molded silk.
Persimmons are in the genus Diospyros, coming from the Greek dios (divine) and pyros (wheat) referring to the edible fruits, the meaning has been extended to the ‘fruit of the gods.’ Persimmon lovers “love” them but those who don’t care for them are 180 degrees opposite.
There are astringent and non-astringent varieties of persimmons. The two types look different and are completely different in texture.
Astringent types are high in tannins that leaves the mouth dry and gives a pucker response if not completely ripe when eaten. They are mucilaginous, often dark orange and heart-shaped. The astringent, Oriental variety Hachiya is shaped like an elongated oval, skin is dark orange, with a texture that is slimy or mucilaginous.
Non-astringent types are shaped like a squatty tomato with a leathery calyx on the stem end, skin and flesh of orange pumpkin-colored tones, crisp texture and when ripe, flavors evocative of pear and dates. Non-astringent types are super sweet due to high fructose. The non-astringent, Oriental variety Fuyu has a flat-bottomed, squat shape, skin is light orange and is edible at any time.
They are a nutritious fruit. One persimmon fruit provides 55 % of the daily value of vitamin A, 21% of Vitamin C, and is high in B-complex vitamins, manganese, copper, phosphorus, and fiber. It contains all kinds of phytonutrients, flavonoids, and antioxidants, such as catechins (antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties) as well as beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin, which helps to protect eyes.
Persimmons have ornamental as well as edible value. They are medium-sized trees with dark green, leathery leaves, adapted to Lubbock’s environment and are one of the latest maturing tree fruit crops, extending a garden’s harvest into November. Trees are available from catalogs such as Stark Bros., Burpee, and specialty nurseries. Some varieties require a pollinator to produce fruit. Depending upon the variety, persimmon trees are hardy to USDA zones 5 to 11, so read product descriptions carefully.
Some information from specialtyproduce; leafyplace. com
Ellen Peffley Harp, a retired professor of horticulture at Texas Tech University, writes about gardening for several Texas newspapers.
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.
