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Persimmon is a clearly seasonal fruit, which in Russia can only be purchased from late autumn to mid-winter. It is distinguished not only by its original bright taste, but also by its health benefits, so it becomes a valuable tool for strengthening the immune system and preventing vitamin deficiency. However, this only applies to ripe and fresh fruits; accordingly, you need to know how to choose them - after all, even during the persimmon season, unripe and spoiled fruits can be found in stores.
When the persimmon sings
Persimmon begins to ripen around mid-August - at this time, the fruit ovaries begin to quickly increase in size from 1-2 cm in diameter to 7-8, at the same time changing color to the typical color for the variety.
The ripening period for persimmons is October-November. The specific start time of the season depends on the climatic conditions in the cultivation region, the weather in summer and autumn, and the characteristics of a particular variety or hybrid. But in most cases, the fruits continue to ripen when the trees have already shed their leaves. It looks very original, especially in central Russia, where snow often falls in mid-autumn.
The homeland of persimmon is the tropics and subtropics of Southeast Asia; this determines the features of its vegetative period
The time for harvesting persimmons varies depending on its “purpose”. If the fruits are grown for personal consumption, you need to “wait until the last minute.” At the end of the season, the skin will take on its richest color and the flesh will begin to flatten slightly when pressed.
Fruits cultivated on an industrial scale cannot be transported long distances when ripe. Therefore, they are removed a little unripe.
When does persimmon season begin in Russia?
Almost all persimmons in Russia are grown in the south (Black Sea region, Krasnodar region, Crimea). There, its collection season begins in the last days of October or in the first ten days of November.
There are also frost-resistant, early-ripening varieties that can take root and bear fruit in the Lower Volga region and the Central region. They were bred on the basis of the most hardy natural varieties - common (Caucasian) and Virginia. They acquire their characteristic taste only after the first frost, so the harvest season begins around mid-November.
The crop is not particularly popular in central Russia; it is grown only by individual “enthusiasts”
When are persimmons harvested in other countries?
The trees bloom in April-May, fruit ovaries begin to form after 40-45 days. Accordingly, the ripening season for the earliest persimmon varieties occurs in the first half of October, and for mid-late and late ripening varieties in December.
Imported persimmons arrive in Russia with a certain “delay” relative to the time of their ripening. Therefore, the season for the fruit in stores begins in the first half of November and lasts until January-February.
In optimal or close to this conditions, the process of fruit ripening stretches for 7-8 months
How to collect persimmons
Even a completely ripe persimmon cannot be easily removed from the stalk - it is securely attached to it. Significant physical effort in this case is unacceptable - the sepals are inevitably damaged, which sharply reduces keeping quality and transportability, provokes the development of mold, rot, and other pathogenic microflora, even if the fruit is not harvested exactly in season, but a little earlier.
Persimmons are harvested using garden shears or pruning shears. The stalk is cut as close as possible to the sepals so that during transportation it does not damage the “neighboring” fruits. Handle the fruits with extreme caution, holding them with your hand.
Any mechanical damage, even small dents, scratches, tears on the skin during the collection process are unacceptable
The collected persimmons are laid out in boxes with the bottom covered with sawdust with the stalks down so that the fruits do not come into contact with each other. Completely ripe fruits - exclusively in one layer, intended for transportation - in 3-4, sprinkled with soft packaging material or wrapped each in paper.
Which persimmon is better to choose?
Even during the season, you can find unripe or, on the contrary, overripe fruits on store shelves. To choose fresh, juicy fruits, sweet and without an unpleasant tart-astringent aftertaste, you need to focus on the following signs:
- Too pale, yellow-orange skin clearly “signals” that the persimmon was collected before the start of the season, completely unripe.Its taste definitely leaves much to be desired. In high-quality fruits, the skin is colored in bright, rich colors - from orange to amber and red-brown. It is translucent, often the flesh is slightly visible through it. The presence of a thin layer of bluish waxy coating is not a sign of depravity, but a feature of certain varieties.
- Ripeness is indicated by “dried” brownish streaks or stripes on the skin, as if “girdling” the fruit. If they are present, it can be said that the persimmon was harvested in season. The more there are, the sweeter the fruit.
- In ripe persimmons, when gently pressed, the pulp slightly moves under your fingers, but no dents remain on it. If it is too hard (almost like an apple), the fruits are clearly harvested before the start of the season. In fruits that are too soft, rot is already developing.
The sepals of ripe fruits are green but dry, and the skin underneath is brownish.
Conclusion
When the persimmon season begins in different countries depends mainly on the characteristics of the local climate. In Russia, these fruits can be bought exclusively in the cold season - autumn and winter. But only ripe and fresh fruits will be tasty, healthy and safe for health, so you need to be able to choose them correctly, because even in season there are “substandard” ones on the shelves.
