Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
All of the native persimmons on my place are very late ripening. I've never seen one that dropped before sometime in November. Over the years I have planted some persimmons from different places and today saw the earliest persimmon I have ever personally witnessed.
This tree was a seedling that I think came from some free trees that the NWTF gave away one time. I got a few of those, and this one (along with a few more) is bearing its first crop. I also got a few from another source about the same time, so not certain if this was one of the NWTF trees or not. I was surprised to find fruit already ripe and falling today. From the softness of the fruit, my guess is that even a week ago you could have eaten them.
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi219.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc97%2FSteve_Conover%2F1%2520-%2520Temporary%2520Spring%252016%2FBAE0E3F2-C84B-4D92-9E4C-4E2AAB24548F_zps7fglpyaw.jpg&hash=54e97779ac4ba7e27dcd9f7e066d812e)
For comparison, look how green the fruit is on this native seedling.
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi219.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc97%2FSteve_Conover%2F1%2520-%2520Temporary%2520Spring%252016%2FEFCE25B2-9542-4994-B088-12CE7BFA3922_zpsxntpi1xa.jpg&hash=63316053e50353b01e03b03090fa8d0d)
Here is another comparison - this is the fruit on a Morris Burton I planted this spring. It is advertised as an early drop persimmon. I can barely see the color beginning to change on it, but you can tell it is probably weeks away from being ripe. However, it will be much earlier than the natives.
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi219.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc97%2FSteve_Conover%2F1%2520-%2520Temporary%2520Spring%252016%2FF3736430-FAEF-46BF-80B0-F96D280C92CD_zpscaddftmy.jpg&hash=4e82900fda78a985fcf2be6664a7fb13)
So, I'm just curious when you see the first persimmon ripen in your area. I have to believe that my seedling must be one of the very earliest around.
This tree was a seedling that I think came from some free trees that the NWTF gave away one time. I got a few of those, and this one (along with a few more) is bearing its first crop. I also got a few from another source about the same time, so not certain if this was one of the NWTF trees or not. I was surprised to find fruit already ripe and falling today. From the softness of the fruit, my guess is that even a week ago you could have eaten them.
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi219.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc97%2FSteve_Conover%2F1%2520-%2520Temporary%2520Spring%252016%2FBAE0E3F2-C84B-4D92-9E4C-4E2AAB24548F_zps7fglpyaw.jpg&hash=54e97779ac4ba7e27dcd9f7e066d812e)
For comparison, look how green the fruit is on this native seedling.
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi219.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc97%2FSteve_Conover%2F1%2520-%2520Temporary%2520Spring%252016%2FEFCE25B2-9542-4994-B088-12CE7BFA3922_zpsxntpi1xa.jpg&hash=63316053e50353b01e03b03090fa8d0d)
Here is another comparison - this is the fruit on a Morris Burton I planted this spring. It is advertised as an early drop persimmon. I can barely see the color beginning to change on it, but you can tell it is probably weeks away from being ripe. However, it will be much earlier than the natives.
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi219.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc97%2FSteve_Conover%2F1%2520-%2520Temporary%2520Spring%252016%2FF3736430-FAEF-46BF-80B0-F96D280C92CD_zpscaddftmy.jpg&hash=4e82900fda78a985fcf2be6664a7fb13)
So, I'm just curious when you see the first persimmon ripen in your area. I have to believe that my seedling must be one of the very earliest around.