2 to 3” wide Persimmons that all drop ripe in September in Zone 6.
There's a common repeated myth about Native Persimmons ( Diospyros virginiana ). It's that they require frost to finish ripening. The most important thing to understand about Persimmons in states north of Tennessee, Arkansas, and North Carolina is that many of the present persimmons are sourced from more southernly genetics. Persimmons of southern genetics when planted too far north do not mature their fruit properly. For example; persimmon trees that drop 100% of their crops in September and October fully ripe in Southwest Ohio are “on time” and follow the pattern of local wild occurring persimmons which by the way is before frost. The persimmons pictured were collected in early September, well before any frost, fully ripe. Persimmons with genetic origins in the deeper south often have green or half-orange colored fruits deep into September and October in the north. Many of these southern persimmons do not mature their fruit at all when planted up north, resulting in astringent (unripe) fruit that lingers on the branches into January. The same failed fruit maturity phenomena can be observed with northern origin vs southern origin Pecans and northern origin vs southern origin Passionflowers. Pecans can mature crops a bit north of Chicago region and in the east - Pennsyvania when genetics are of northern origin and Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) naturally grows as far north as New Jersey.
So for states in the northern portion of the native range of persimmons; if you find persimmons dropping to the ground in August, September, and early October then you know you've found a locally adapted persimmon. But if you find that the persimmons are still hanging onto the tree deep into the fall, it is likely a persimmon that was planted from southernly genetics or a seedling of a southern genetic persimmon. In the south these southern sourced trees have a longer growing season which allows them to fully mature their fruit before frost. When moved north the trees still grow their fruit as if they will have a long growing season to mature fruit - causing the phenomena of persimmons not dropping from the trees ripe and on time in the north. The misconception of persimmons needing frost is actually southern persimmons planted north of their origin - needing more growing season time to ripen their fruit. Frost or freezing doesn't actually change the ripeness of the fruit.
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