Description
Early Fuyu is a non-astringent Asian persimmon (Diospyros kaki) selected for its dependable sweetness and earlier harvest window. Unlike soft-ripe persimmons, Early Fuyu can be eaten while still firm, making it one of the easiest persimmons to enjoy straight from the tree.
The fruit is medium sized with bright orange skin and a crisp, apple-like texture when firm. Flavor is mild and pleasantly sweet, with none of the mouth-drying astringency found in traditional soft-ripe varieties.
Early Fuyu ripens ahead of many kaki types, allowing growers in cooler or shorter-season regions to harvest fully mature fruit more consistently. Trees are grafted onto American persimmon seedling rootstock for resilience and adaptability.
Overview
- Non-astringent Asian persimmon.
- Enjoyable while firm—no softening required.
- Earlier ripening than standard Fuyu.
- Medium-sized fruit with crisp texture.
- Excellent fresh-eating persimmon.
Growing Details
Latin Name: Diospyros kaki ’Early Fuyu’
Site and Soil: 1/2 day to full day of sun; well-drained soil
Rootstock: Grafted onto American persimmon seedling rootstock
Hardiness: Best suited to mild-winter persimmon climates with warm summers
Bearing Age: 1–3 years
Size at Maturity: Typically 15–20 ft tall and wide; easily maintained smaller with routine pruning
Bloom Time: Late spring
Ripening Time: Early to mid fall
Pollination Requirements: Self-fertile
Pests & Diseases: Generally low-pressure; good airflow and drainage reduce issues
Additional Notes
- Grower’s Insight: Early Fuyu offers the classic Fuyu eating experience with a valuable twist—earlier ripening, which improves consistency in regions with shorter or cooler fall seasons.
- Regional Insight: Early Fuyu performs especially well in regions where standard Fuyu may struggle to fully ripen, including cooler coastal and northern persimmon-growing areas.
- This is a non-astringent persimmon: fruit can be eaten while firm and crisp, with no need to wait for softening.
