The persimmon tree, with its striking orange fruit hanging stubbornly from high branches, presents a unique harvesting challenge. Because the fruit is delicate and bruises easily upon impact, retrieving an unblemished harvest requires specialized equipment and a methodical approach. Shaking the tree or waiting for the fruit to fall results in a significant loss of high-quality fruit. A planned strategy involving the right tools and safety measures is necessary to collect high-hanging persimmons without causing damage.
Knowing When to Pick
Determining the precise moment for harvest is crucial, as persimmons fall into two distinct categories. Non-astringent varieties, such as Fuyu, can be picked when they achieve a deep orange color while remaining firm to the touch, similar to an apple. These varieties contain lower levels of soluble tannins and are ready for immediate consumption at this crisp stage.
Astringent varieties, like Hachiya, contain high levels of tannins and must be completely soft before eating to avoid an unpleasant, mouth-drying sensation. These fruits should fully color and reach a jelly-like consistency on the tree before harvest. If picked firm, they must be ripened indoors until they feel almost like a water balloon. Regardless of variety, fruit should have full color before being detached, as persimmons do not significantly increase their sugar content after leaving the branch.
Specialized Tools for High Reaches
Harvesting from a tall persimmon tree often necessitates a specialized telescoping pole fruit picker to safely reach heights of up to 20 to 30 feet. These tools extend the picker’s reach while maintaining a lightweight profile, typically constructed from aluminum or fiberglass. The length and material choice directly influence the tool’s stability and user fatigue.
The mechanism at the end of the pole is designed to gently detach the fruit while protecting it from bruising. The most common configuration features a wire basket or ring attached to the pole, often lined with soft padding to cushion the fruit upon collection. This basket typically has metal prongs or a specialized claw used to hook and twist the fruit stem, separating it cleanly from the branch.
More advanced tools incorporate a remote cutting mechanism, such as a sharp V-blade or small shears, operated by a pull-cord or trigger near the handle. This allows the user to snip the stem precisely, letting the fruit drop directly into the cushioned basket or a collection bag. Selecting a model with secure locking clasps is important, as a fully extended pole must remain rigid to maintain control and prevent the fruit from swinging into branches and bruising.
Safety Protocols for Working at Height
When the tree height exceeds the reach of a pole picker, a tripod orchard ladder is often the most stable option for working vertically. These specialized ladders feature a single back leg, allowing them to be braced directly into the canopy for greater stability than standard four-legged ladders. Proper setup is paramount, requiring the ladder’s feet to be placed on stable ground, ensuring the spikes are firmly set to prevent sliding.
The angle of the ladder should be checked before climbing; a safe angle is achieved when the base is approximately one foot away from the tree for every four feet of height reached. When climbing or working, the picker must maintain three points of contact with the ladder at all times (two feet and one hand, or two hands and one foot). This practice keeps the body centered and reduces the risk of a fall.
The ladder must be moved frequently to position the body directly in front of the desired fruit, strictly avoiding overreaching. The highest safe standing level is generally several rungs down from the top, often indicated by a marked rung, and never on the top cap itself. Working with a spotter on the ground provides an extra layer of security, especially when repositioning the ladder on uneven terrain.
Handling and Storing Delicate Fruit
The care of the fruit begins the moment it is detached, particularly with fragile, soft-ripe astringent varieties. Whether using a pole or a ladder, the fruit should be transferred immediately and gently into a collection container to prevent impact damage. Persimmons should ideally be handled by their calyx, or cap, and laid in a shallow container in a single layer to avoid pressure bruising.
For non-astringent, firm varieties, storage in the refrigerator crisper drawer can extend their freshness for several weeks. They should be placed in a perforated bag to prevent moisture accumulation, which accelerates spoilage. If astringent fruit was picked slightly firm, ripening can be expedited by placing the persimmons in a paper bag with an ethylene-producing fruit, such as a banana or apple.
The naturally emitted ethylene gas concentrates within the bag, helping to break down the tannins and soften the fruit, typically making them ready to eat within two to four days. Once astringent persimmons achieve their fully soft texture, they should be eaten quickly or stored briefly in the refrigerator, as their shelf life is very short.