For us, such is the case for the fruit of the Diospyros virginiana.
The American Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) is a tree that grows in the southern half of the United States from Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas eastward. Here in the Ozarks, you can find a lot in the wild and many planted in people's yards too. The tricky part is eating ripe fruit from these trees.
Near the end of summer and the beginning of fall, the fruit will begin to ripen. At this point the fruits turn from a green or yellow color to orange. However, just because the fruit is orange does not mean that it is ripe!
Unripe American Persimmon fruit can be very astringent. It almost reminds me of the flavor of alcohol-based acne medication... don't ask. If you try to eat an unripe one, your mouth will immediately let you know and it'll take a while to get that unpleasant taste out of your mouth.
Since I love eating free food, especially wild, healthy free food, we enjoy the fruit of the American Persimmon tree. There are many nearby our land and some already growing on our land as well. Plus, I picked up 100 seedlings too. Yes, one hundred seedlings may seem like a lot, but I will be sharing some with others and also planting a food forest on our homestead. To the untrained eye, it will look like any other forest. But, upon closer inspection, one would notice that every tree, shrub, vine, flower, and bush is some sort of food-bearing or useful plant. It'll take some work, but that is part of our goal!
When it comes to trying to eat the fruit, I've got a few tips. With the American Persimmon fruit, I've found two different methods that are quite effective in making sure that the fruit is ripe and no longer astringent. This year, we have only be able to use one method so far.
The first method is the one I included in the title to this post, letting it fall to the ground. This works well for a few reasons, but also has its drawbacks. First of all, it brings the ripe fruit down to where we can get it. A few unripe ones may also drop, but we find that the vast majority of persimmon fruit that drop from these trees are ready to eat. The ones that aren't ripe often have a color or firmness difference, so they are easy to distinguish from the ripe ones.
Since the ripe fruit is somewhat squishy and no longer firm, falling on the ground can cause them to burst. Also, many wild animals enjoy them too, so you have to get to them before they do.
We did pretty good collecting some ripe ones off of the ground yesterday. It blessed us with a healthy, tasty snack after we had done some hard work down on the land.
The other method is to wait until after a frost. Once the temperature drops below freezing, it seems that it helps the remaining fruit to ripen. I am way more likely to be found snacking up in an American Persimmon tree after a frost than before. Before the frost, I'll be eating off of the ground.
I think that it wise to familiarize yourself with whatever wild edibles grow naturally in your area. Local experts are always the best resources, and in many areas people even organize educational walks in the woods to share such knowledge with others. Since food is crucial to existence, it's not a bad idea to at least know what you can eat outdoors.
For @papa-pepper, it is becoming a lifestyle, rather than just a hobby. I want our homestead to be bursting with food that was grown naturally without chemicals and modification. I want to provide my children with the best that this life has to offer, and to understand how things really work. Food doesn't come from a store or a can. It may end up there, but that is not its origin.
The ripe American Persimmon fruit reminds me of orange flavored freezer pops when it comes to flavor. They are somewhat mushy, but very tasty. Inside, they usually have about two to six seeds, which can always be used to start new trees!
We were so happy to see the fruit dropping, and enjoy the nutrition that these wonderful trees can provide. If you see us eating food after it falls to the ground, just remember, we have our reasons!
As always, I'm @papa-pepper and here's the proof:
proof-of-ripe-persimmons-that-fell-on-the-ground
Until next time…
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we make jam with Persimmon
my nieces love exploring and finding anything shaped "round"
and reading the post and looking at picture I see the same thing all around the earth :)
We have persimmons to here in Tennessee. My grandson loves them! Have you ever heard of slicing the seeds open and seeing an image of a knife, or a fork or a spoon? It's some folklore about how severe the sinter will be. If there is a knife it will be extra cold, a spoon means you will shovel snow and I don't remember what the fork means. Probably something good. Great article!
Never heard of that with the seeds. Interesting!
Yeah that is a VERY popular way of predicting the winter weather around here with locals. So far, the last couple years have proven them wrong with their predictions. However, its AMAZING that most of the persimmons will always be the same. Knife, Fork or Spoon.
i saw them on mallorca
Wow! It would be cool to get some of a different variety like that.
I have always seen persimmons at our local store but i never knew what they actually were. I thought that it was some type of vegetable until one day a buddy of mine asked me to try it out. I was amazed with how deliciously sweet they tasted! I am not sure if the same applies to wild persimmon as well.
Great post ever :) Dear @papa-pepper . I definitely read every of your posts but never commented. Today I am commenting on your post for the first time and I am very happy because of this. I hope that more good posts will be found in the same way.
Thank you for letting me know!
Mention not dear :)
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done :)
Looks to me like the kids really enjoyed the fruit! Very nice post @papa-pepper
Healthy free food is the best!
Thanks papa-pepper!
tempting Fruits and nice pictures -- tempting
what fruit is that name
Perhaps there's a way to rig up some kind of net that could sit under the tree and catch the fruit as they fall? I suppose it would have to be carefully designed to not injure / trap any animals by mistake.
I LOVE your idea of the "food garden" that looks cool and happens to consist of only food-bearing trees and plants... that's a badass idea. Now that I live in North Carolina with a lot more space, you are giving me all kinds of ideas...
Glad to hear that you are getting some good ideas. Every food we can grow ourselves is one less food we have to pay for!
There is a place north of us that gives away old free billboard wraps. We lay those down and gently (I mean really gently) shake the tree to collect the persimmons. Next time I go up that way, I'll grab a few for you, papa.
Wow! Very cool man. Thanks my friend!
Persimmons are really tasty!One of my favourite fruit!In the country where I'm from the season for persimmons is winter,some people are selling them on the streets so they get all frosty,just the way I like!So cool you can get them fresh right from the tree!
That sounds so delicious and beautiful!
😊😊😊
follow @trangpu. photography beautiful and fun
Very good @papa-pepper . . I like it 👍
Those look really yummy! Great post.
I don't think I've tried that fruit...
I must try some.
It's worth it, as long as they are ripe!
Our persimmons here in OK, are not quite there yet, still pretty hard, and green. Won't be long though!
Won't be long at all! Enjoy them when they are ready!
Great post, btw!
really, fruits do fall when they are fully ripe and that's the most delicious part to eat it especially wild fruit.
good, let us both keep nature and plants
Yeah, 100 hundred seedlings does sound like a lot, but if you've got the land and the love for the fruit it may not be enough!
Sorry for writing you here but I do not know another way to contact you, I write you because I already publish the first chapter in Spanish of "Love, like his", take a look if you want:)
https://steemit.com/spanish/@soymanu/love-like-his-capitulo-1-una-novela-original-de-papa-pepper
Thank you, I'll check it out!
That's as true as it may be. It's healthier and easier to eat
Hey, @papa-pepper! Love the idea of waiting for the fruit to come to you. lol We have started to grow a food forest, but we need a few more trees and plants. It is really nice when you can start to harvest what you have planted. I haven't seen any persimmon trees here but would love to add a few to my collection of fruit trees. Persimmon jam would be yummy. I imagine that you could make a frozen pop with the mushy fruit...
VERY DELICIOUS
I tried eating one of these (still on the tree, but "ripe looking") last weekend while we were camping and it tasted like a mouth full of chalk! Hahah.
Then you know the "not ripe" flavor!
Trust me, they are good once they ripen!
We've made cookies with persommons and wine. If you eat one before it falls on the ground, you will probably regret it. I love our persimmons, but ours are not quite ready yet.
I find it very annoying that our local parks keep planting what I call 'junk' trees. The only thing those trees provide is shade and clean the air. They don't feed us. Can you imagine a park that is like your land; full of edibles? All those people who use the food banks could simply visit a local park in season and collect food from there, and it would probably be healthier than the stuff donated to a food bank! A couple years ago, I noticed a hazelnut tree growing in the local school yard and was anticipating the day it grew large enough to produce nuts. Someone went and took it out! The only trees left standing are Fir trees and Cedars. So disappointing!
That would be incredible! I think it would be revolutionary to infect others with that mindset!
If I'm not mistaken, that revolutionary movement has already begun! I see signs of it all over the world, and you are part of that movement in the example you display to your many followers.
:-)
Probably has more fulvic acid in it. Some people are like vegans but more extreme. They only eat stuff that has already fallen.
The first time I reached up into the tree and pulled off a persimmon, the experience was memorable. Not in a good way.
I have been a ground feeder for years with them and have lost a lot of fruit that way. Truth, there are only two of them and they are not native to here, but were bought in a nursery out West. I will try the netting and see how that works.
Try the spoon, fork, knife thing! It will make a hilarious weather predicting segment!
Thanks @papa-pepper. It is off to the awesomeness of Mother Earth New Fair for me!! Is there anything in particular you want to know more about?
Upped and Steemed
Another great post ! Awe come on, I know you love the taste of the green ones, lmao, omg probably the most sour thing there is to eat ... make you pucker for like 10 mins. This post sure brought back some good memories from when I was a kid. Our rule was if it squishes, eat it ! Thanks again bro !
Read More, Reason More ... JTS
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My first experience with the persimmon here in Missouri was on a hot summer day working for a small family owned asphalt company. After 5 hours of throwing hot heavy shovels I walked over to take a break in the shade as we waited for the next truck. The old man was sitting atop the roller cutting on a small green fruit with his pocket knife. "You ever try persimmon?" He asked. Well, I hadn't and as he was describing this wonderful fruit he handed down a nice green slice with a big smile on his face.
I popped that thing in my mouth and commenced to chewing! Almost magically and in an instant any bit of moisture that was in my head was whisked away. All of my saliva, the moisture of my skin, heck I'm pretty sure it sucked back in all the sweat on my brow. I spit that thing out coughing and hacking and trying to scrape the terribly bitter gumminess that now coated my tongue! Laughing he said" of course they're much better when they're rotten"
I had to walk almost a half mile to get back to the truck for water.
Such an evil trick that I hope to pull on some unsuspecting youngster one day. I'll never forget it.
OH no! What a terrible experience!
I love eating right from nature without having to go to the store! Thank you for sharing! You have received an upvote from mememememe ! If you would like to receive upvotes from mememememe on all your posts, simply upvote at least one of my posts and FOLLOW @mememememe :)
This is fruit that i have never heard of before @papa-pepper , i would love to try it sometime they almost look like plumbs but taste like oranges !? Very cool I @karenmckersie love this as a great addition to my new account @momskitchen Just started yesterday ! Please follow me there as well this post will be upvoted and resteemed for my new followers on my Only Food and Drinks Blog !!
Check out my First food post on ther ! Minni Cheeseburger Meatloaves great for those @little-peppers School Lunches !! Thanks for your awesome support for over a year now its much appreciated ! https://steemit.com/food/@momskitchen/minni-cheeseburger-meatloaves-and-sour-cream-mashed-potatoes-great-for-back-to-school-lunches
@papa-pepper You are living the dream! I would eat those fruits like candy :)
I also love Diospirus! Funny how things are! Here in Portugal they can grow as big as our hand palms!! :) And of course for this reason we can rarely wait until they fall on the ground to eat them because they are burst open! We take them off the tree when they have that orange tone and just wait a day or two to eat them :) Or if they are already cracking while on the tree, they are ready to be eaten!
I believe that the variety that you have must be an Asian kind in origin. They grow larger and are a bit different. Are yours seedless too?
Yes! Precisely! :) I've been living in Portugal for almost 20 years and I've found just one seed in one of the fruits :D I've planted it but it didn't grow a plant...
Persimmons are my number 1 favorite wild fruit. After a frost, they are so good! I eat them off the ground, no problem. And under a persimmon tree is a great place to set up a game camera. So many animals love persimmons, especially fox and 'possums!
Persimmon wood is a great specialty wood, too. Even in the 1980s, persimmon timber was worth a lot for making wooden driver heads for golf clubs. Now those drivers are made of synthetics, but persimmon wood is still hard and gorgeous -- like ebony. Ozark ebony! Enjoy all your persimmons!
Love persimmon cookies!