When to Plant Persimmon in Cairns, Tropical Guide
What this month normally looks like in Tropical
In October the Tropical zone normally runs 34°C by day and 23°C overnight, with about 53 mm of rain over 5 or 6 wet days. Averages 1991 to 2026, 37 postcodes, SILO.
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This Persimmon guide is written for the Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Jun to Aug
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Soil pH
- 5.5–7.5
Underrated fruit tree that deserves far more attention in Australian gardens.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Tropical
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun P
- Jul P
- Aug P
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Persimmons are deciduous and fruit poorly without some winter cool, so they suit the Atherton Tablelands better than the humid coast. Choose non-astringent low-chill types and plant potted trees in the cooler dry season.
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How to Grow Persimmon in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Tolerates wide range of soils. Well-drained preferred but more tolerant of heavy soil than stone fruit.
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 5.5-7.5
- Sunlight
- Full sun for best fruit. Tolerates part shade.
- Good companions
- Anything, persimmons are undemanding
- Keep away from
- Nothing specific, very compatible tree
Tropical Growing Tips for Persimmon
Recommended Varieties
- Fuyu (non-astringent)
- Jiro (non-astringent)
Key Challenges
- Insufficient chill/dormancy period
- May leaf poorly
Pro Tips
- Not ideal. Higher altitude tropical areas with cooler winters may succeed.
Pests and problems for Persimmon in Tropical
Harvesting Persimmon
When ready: Non-astringent (Fuyu): pick when fully coloured (orange) and still firm. Eat like an apple. Astringent (Hachiya): pick when fully coloured, ripen until completely soft (jelly-like). Eating astringent persimmon before fully soft = incredibly unpleasant tannic experience.
How to harvest: Cut with secateurs leaving calyx attached.
Storing and preserving persimmon
How to keep it
- Freezing (astringent types). Freeze whole ripe soft fruit. Thaw to eat, eliminates astringency. Or scoop flesh and freeze as pulp. Keeps: 12 months.
- Dehydrating. Traditional hoshigaki (Japanese dried persimmon): peel astringent type, hang by stem, massage daily for 3-4 weeks. Or slice and dehydrate at 55°C. Keeps: 6-12 months.
- Jam/paste. Cook soft ripe pulp with sugar and lemon juice. Jar hot. Keeps: 12 months.
- Persimmon vinegar. Ferment ripe fruit in ceramic crock for several months. Traditional Asian method. Keeps: Indefinite.
What persimmon costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.
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- Soil and weather from your nearest station
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Common Questions About Persimmon
When do you plant persimmon in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Jun to Aug
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jun to Jul
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jun to Aug
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jun to Aug
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jun to Aug
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jun to Aug
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jun to Aug
When should I plant Persimmon in Cairns?
Persimmons are deciduous and fruit poorly without some winter cool, so they suit the Atherton Tablelands better than the humid coast. Choose non-astringent low-chill types and plant potted trees in the cooler dry season.
How do I know when Persimmon are ready to harvest?
Non-astringent (Fuyu): pick when fully coloured (orange) and still firm. Eat like an apple. Astringent (Hachiya): pick when fully coloured, ripen until completely soft (jelly-like). Eating astringent persimmon before fully soft = incredibly unpleasant tannic experience.
What are the best Persimmon varieties for Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Fuyu (non-astringent), Jiro (non-astringent).
What grows well with Persimmon?
Good companion plants for Persimmon include: Anything, persimmons are undemanding.
Are persimmon salt tolerant?
No. Persimmon are salt-sensitive, one of the more sensitive veggies. Use rainwater if your bore water is salty, or grow them in a raised bed of fresh mix if your soil is.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.