Diospyros kaki ´Honan Red´ - japanese persimmon /SUMMER 2026/
- The Honan Red variety is a popular, self-pollinating, astringent PCA (astringent) variety of persimmon (Japanese persimmon, Diospyros kaki) prized for its rich-tasting, very sweet fruit and high yield.
Color and appearance: Ripe fruits are a deep red-orange color with a shiny, semi-thick skin that may have pronounced wrinkles.
Fruit characteristics and taste
Texture and taste: When ripe, the flesh is soft, juicy, and smooth, without fibers and with a minimum of seeds (sometimes 4-5 seeds, often none). The taste is described as very sweet, rich, and honey-like.
Astringency: This is an astringent variety, which means it must be eaten fully ripe and soft to avoid unpleasant tartness caused by tannins. Honan Red persimmons are small to medium in size, with a rounded or acorn-like appearance.
Use: The fruit is excellent for fresh consumption, but is also great for drying.
Harvest: Harvesting takes place in the fall, usually from September to October, and the fruit can be stored over the winter.
Tree characteristics
The 'Honan Red' tree is hardy and grows well in a variety of climatic conditions, provided it has well-drained soil and sufficient sunlight.
Growth: The trees are tall and upright, reaching a height of approximately 3.5 to 4.5 meters.
Hardiness: They are frost-resistant (zones 7-11 according to the USDA) and have good disease resistance.
Pollination: The variety is self-pollinating and produces reliably even without a pollinator, although some sources indicate that the presence of a pollinator can lead to darker spots in the flesh (an indicator of sugar content).