GrowSabzHow to grow persimmon in pots
Also called Sharon Fruit, kaki, sharon fruit, jaapani phal · Diospyros kaki
جاپانی پھل
- ☀️ Sunlight
- 6–8hours daily
- 💧 Water
- 11.3 Levery 7 days, 50 L pot
- 🌡️ Ideal temp
- 18–30°C
- 🪴 Min pot
- 50 L45 cm deep
- 🧺 Harvest
- 150–210days from sowing
- ⚖️ Yield
- 10 kgper 20 L pot
Persimmon is a long game. From seed it takes 3-7 years before you see a harvest, which is why most growers start from a nursery plant. Container growing is entirely possible, but the container has to be sized for a plant that will live in it for years.
Short answer
Grow persimmon in a 50 litre container at least 45 cm deep, watering about 1500 ml per 10 litres of soil every 7 days, and keep temperatures between 18 and 30 °C. First harvest comes 150–210 days after sowing.
Where to plant it
What size pot does persimmon need?
50 litres and 45 cm deep is the realistic minimum for a single plant. Pick a container below to see what changes.
| Container | Minimum size | Depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pot | 50 L | 45 cm | Requires large, sturdy pot with excellent drainage for young trees. May outgrow pots. |
| Grow bag | 50 L | 45 cm | Fabric bags promote air pruning and prevent root circling, good for temporary growth. |
| Open ground | — | 60 cm | Requires ample space for root development and mature tree size. |
| Raised bed | 100 L | 60 cm | Ensure sufficient depth and width for mature tree roots, not ideal for long-term. |
Watering
How often should you water persimmon?
Every 7 days through the growing season, at about 1500 ml per 10 litres of soil — every 3 days in hot weather, every 14 days when it turns cool. Water in the early morning. Deep root watering works best.
Too little water
- leaf drop
- wilting
- small fruit
Too much water
- yellowing leaves
- root rot
Avoid: shallow frequent watering; standing water.
Climate
Can you grow persimmon where you live?
No hardiness zone needed — compare your actual temperatures against the plant's own limits.
| Ideal range | 18 – 30 °C |
|---|---|
| Survives | -15 – 40 °C |
| Germinates above | 15 °C — best at 25 °C, about 60 days |
| Flowers drop | above 38 °C |
| Sunlight | 6–12 hrs/day, best 8 |
| Frost | Medium sensitivity |
The flower-drop thresholds matter more than the survival ones. A plant can be perfectly alive at 40 °C and still give you nothing.
How cold is too cold for persimmon? Check your temperaturesEnter your night low and day high — see if it survives, and if it will cropTimeline
Persimmon growing stages, day by day
Click any stage to see what's happening. Durations shift with temperature — a warm season runs roughly a quarter faster than a cool one.
Feeding
Fertiliser schedule for persimmon
Feed on the interval below, changing what you give as the plant shifts from making leaves to making fruit.
| Stage | What to use | Per 10 L | Every |
|---|
How to prepare each feed
Common mistakes
Why persimmon fails, and how to avoid it
- A container that is too small
Below 50 litres the root run is too shallow. The plant grows, flowers late, and drops whatever it sets because it cannot support the crop.
- Watering too lightly
A daily splash wets the top few centimetres and nothing else. Persimmon wants about 1500 ml per 10 litres of soil — one deep soak beats three shallow ones.
- Ignoring the flower-drop threshold
Above 38 °C flowers fall before setting. The plant can look perfectly healthy and still give you nothing — shade it through the hottest hours.
- Harvesting too late
Left too long the colour changes, seeds harden and the flavour sharpens. Pick on the signs listed below, not on the calendar.
- Planting it beside Walnut
Releases juglone, a chemical that can inhibit the growth of many plants, including some fruit trees. While persimmons show some tolerance, it's generally best to avoid.
Companions
What to plant with persimmon
Good neighbours
Nitrogen fixation, improves soil fertility, suppresses weeds, and acts as a living mulch.
Deep roots bring up nutrients from subsoil, attracts pollinators, and can be used as a chop-and-drop mulch.
Repels nematodes and other soil-borne pests that can harm persimmon roots.
Attracts beneficial pollinators like bees, which are essential for persimmon fruit set.
Deters rodents and deer from gnawing on the tree's roots and trunk.
Keep apart from
Releases juglone, a chemical that can inhibit the growth of many plants, including some fruit trees. While persimmons show some tolerance, it's generally best to avoid.
Aggressive root systems and dense growth can compete heavily with young persimmon trees for water and nutrients.
Known to release substances that can inhibit the growth of many nearby plants, including fruit trees.
Can outcompete persimmons for sunlight, water, and soil nutrients, especially if planted too close.
Problems
Persimmon pests and diseases
Each lists the weather that brings it on, so you know when to start checking rather than reacting once it's established.
Persimmon Psyllid humidity any · temp 18-30
Tiny insects that cause leaves to curl, distort, and form galls. Can lead to stunted growth and reduced vigor, especially in young trees.
Anthracnose humidity >80% · temp 20-27
Causes dark, sunken spots on leaves, twigs, and fruit. Can lead to premature leaf drop and fruit rot, especially in wet conditions.
Crown Gall humidity any · temp any
Bacterial disease causing irregular, tumor-like growths (galls) on the roots and lower trunk. Can stunt growth and weaken the tree.
Phytophthora Root Rot humidity high_soil_moisture · temp 15-25
Caused by waterlogged soil conditions. Roots rot, leading to yellowing leaves, wilting, and eventual tree death. Ensure good drainage.
Fruit Drop humidity any · temp extreme_fluctuations
Common for persimmons to drop a significant portion of young fruit. Can be due to stress (water, heat), poor pollination, or natural thinning.
Mealybugs Scale humidity any · temp warm_dry
Sap-sucking insects that cluster on stems and undersides of leaves, causing yellowing, stunted growth, and sticky honeydew. Can lead to sooty mold.
Borers humidity any · temp any
Larvae tunnel into the trunk and branches, causing sawdust-like frass, wilting, and branch dieback. Weakened or stressed trees are more susceptible.
Harvest
When to harvest persimmon
First picking falls between day 150 and day 210.
How to tell it's ready
- Full, deep orange or reddish color
- Slightly soft to the touch (for astringent varieties, after frost or ripening indoors)
- Firm but fully colored (for non-astringent varieties)
How much to expect
Storing it: Astringent varieties: ripen at room temperature until soft, then refrigerate for up to 2-3 weeks. Non-astringent varieties: refrigerate immediately for up to 2-3 weeks.
Questions
Persimmon: common questions
How long does persimmon take to grow?
About 180 days from sowing to the first harvest, with picking usually starting between day 150 and day 210. Warm weather pulls that forward; cool weather pushes it back.
What size pot does persimmon need?
At least 50 litres and 45 cm deep for one plant. A raised bed wants 100 litres of soil and 60 cm of depth.
How often should I water persimmon?
About 1500 ml per 10 litres of soil, every 7 days in normal weather — every 3 days when it is hot and every 14 days when cool. Water in the early morning.
What temperature does persimmon need?
It does best between 18 °C and 30 °C and survives from -15 °C to 40 °C. Seed needs soil above 15 °C to germinate, ideally around 25 °C.
Can I grow persimmon in winter?
It tolerates cold better than most, down to about -15 °C, so a sheltered spot or a cold frame will often carry it through.
How do I know when persimmon is ready to harvest?
Full, deep orange or reddish color; Slightly soft to the touch (for astringent varieties, after frost or ripening indoors); Firm but fully colored (for non-astringent varieties). Once picked: astringent varieties: ripen at room temperature until soft, then refrigerate for up to 2-3 weeks. non-astringent varieties: refrigerate immediately for up to 2-3 weeks.
How much does one persimmon plant produce?
Roughly 10 kg from a 20 litre container, or about 50 kg in open ground. Larger containers give proportionally more, up to a point.