Ep. 234 Persimmon: Growing and Eating Illinois' Sweetest Fruit | #GoodGrowing

Persimmons are sweet, native to Illinois, and sometimes astringent! In this episode of Good Growing, Chris Enroth and Ken Johnson sit down with Nick Frillman, Local Foods and Small Farms Educator, to uncover everything you need to know about persimmons. From American vs. Asian cultivars to tips for growing them in Illinois, we cover cultivars, pollination, pruning, and harvesting tricks to avoid that dreaded cottonmouth. Skip to what you want to know:00:39 Hey Ken! Have we ever eaten a persimmon?01:42 Welcome Nick!03:24 What is the difference between the Asian and American persimmon?08:10 Which type of persimmon is grown in Illinois?12:01 What is the comparison of astringent vs. non-astringent persimmon?16:47 What do we need to know about sourcing persimmon trees?19:45 What are some improved cultivars of persimmon available for sale?20:09 https://nafex.org/21:46 How are these trees sold? Bareroot or potted?22:45 American persimmons sold for deer hunting23:54 Where do persimmons need to be planted?  24:28 Chris Evans winter tree ID webinar https://youtu.be/PuAlyp9PamA?si=bdcAOXUjY-NUIe09&t=317625:52 How does pollination work with persimmons? 30:39 What type of pruning is needed to grow persimmons?33:31 What other maintenance needs to occur when growing persimmons? Fertilizer? Irrigation?35:01 What pests can be problems with persimmons?36:39 How do you know when persimmons are ripe and ready to pick?41:16 What about the dropped persimmon fruit on the ground?44:39 How should we store persimmons?48:03 The difference in flavor and texture of American and Asian persimmons50:03 What are some processing methods for preserving persimmons?53:03 Thank yous and coming up next week!Chris Evans winter tree ID webinar https://youtu.be/PuAlyp9PamA?si=bdcAOXUjY-NUIe09&t=3176Growing and Enjoying Pawpaw and Persimmon with Patrick Byers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy6aZdQ5FokContact us! Chris Enroth: [email protected] Johnson: [email protected] Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingSubscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribeAny products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk --You can find us on most podcast platforms.  iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377     Tunein - https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/  Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR    Vurbl - https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/    Listen notes - https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/    Ivy - https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902    Castbox - https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us