Long known as a productive
fruiting tree for warm
temperate and subtropical
zones, the ‘Fuyu’ persimmon
also makes a great container
plant for gardeners in northern
regions. Our ‘Fuyu’ persimmon
tree at Logee’s has been
growing in the ground in our
cold greenhouse since the
1940’s and reliably produces
fruit every fall. But unknown
to most gardeners, it does
equally well in containers
except the fruit grows a little
smaller. The persimmon fruit
ripens in the fall and will hold
onto the tree long after the
leaves have fallen. The skin
and pulpy flesh is a gorgeous
flame-orange. ‘Fuyu’ has few
seeds and is known for its non-astringent
quality. This simply
means that you can eat the
fruit hard or soft. When soft, cutting the fruit in half and scooping out the sweet
nectar is a mouth-watering experience. Give the plant full sun and plenty of water
during the active growing season. If grown as a container plant in the north, as
long as the nighttime temperatures during the winter reach down into the 40’s
and stay above the mid 20’s ‘Fuyu’ will produce reliably. As a deciduous plant, it
can be kept without light during the winter as long as the temperatures are kept
cold. This is a grafted plant that blooms and fruits sooner. Fruit may appear in 2-3 years.
