Persimmon

Persimmon is one of my favorite fruits.  One reason is because you can grow persimmons without spraying them at all. They get a few leaf diseases but nothing major, and there are no major insect problems.  On top of that, I think they’re delicious.

They come in two different types: the astringent type which really will pucker you up if you eat them too soon and the non-astringent type.  I like the astringent types the best.  The trick on them is to let a frost or freeze occur before picking them.  Or, harvest them and put them in the freezer overnight.  Bring them out, let them thaw, and then re-freeze.  Do that for a few cycles and they’ll be perfect for holiday baking and fresh eating.  There are several varieties that are great landscape plants with that edible bonus!