Technical sheet of the Kaki Jiro Persimmon variety
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Fruit flesh color: Yellow to dark red when ripe.
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Skin color: Bright orange when ripe.
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Size and Shape: Medium to large (approx. 230 grams), flattened, slightly square in shape with 4-8 grooves.
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Tree size: Medium, reaching 4 to 8 meters in height.
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Fruit maturity: Early, 1 to 2 weeks before Fuyu, generally late October to early November.
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Fruit taste: Sweet and pleasant. Firm and crisp flesh, comparable to an apple. High sugar content for a non-astringent persimmon (approximately 16-18% soluble solids).
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Earliness of the variety: Early.
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Fruiting period October to early November;
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Disease Resistance and Storage: Good resistance to common persimmon diseases. Excellent post-harvest storage.
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Variety yield: Very productive.
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Is this variety self-fertile? Yes, self-fertile, requiring no pollinator. However, the presence of other varieties can increase yield.
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Commercial use: Mainly recommended for fresh consumption due to its non-astringent texture and pleasant taste. Also suitable for drying and other processing (compotes, jams).
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Comments: Non-astringent variety (PCNA) that can be eaten firm like an apple. Very hardy, resistant to -25°C. Well suited to cultivation in northern regions of Europe. Its growth can reach 8-12 meters.
Quick read / the essentials on Persimmon Kaki Jiro
The Persimmon 'Jiro' is an essential reference for arborists looking for performance and reliability. Originally from Japan, this cultivar has established itself as a valuable ally for professional producers thanks to its ability to adapt to the most varied climates, including in the cold areas north of the Loire. At Arboriverse , a specialist wholesale supplier of persimmon plants , we particularly recommend this variety for its exceptional hardiness, high yield and impeccable taste. In an intensive orchard, the Jiro can produce up to 35 tonnes per hectare, with fruit that can be eaten directly after harvest.
Its firm, sweet, and non-astringent flesh makes it a strategic choice for fresh marketing. Orchardists can therefore purchase Jiro persimmon plants with confidence, benefiting from planting advice tailored to their region and management style. Thanks to a honey-producing flowering in May and excellent post-harvest performance, this variety ticks all the boxes for optimizing a modern, resilient, and productive orchard.
Arboriverse , a specialist wholesale supplier of persimmon plants , supports producers wishing to purchase Jiro persimmon plants by providing them with plants grafted onto the best rootstocks, adapted to local agronomic constraints. With our technical expertise and rigorous selection, we make the success of your plantations our priority.
Persimmon 'Jiro' – A robust and productive Japanese variety for fresh persimmon production
The Persimmon 'Jiro' (Diospyros kaki 'Jiro') is a non-astringent variety native to Japan, particularly appreciated for its resistance to cold , its ease of cultivation , and its high taste quality . Its exceptional hardiness and its ability to produce firm fruits that can be eaten immediately after harvest make it a safe bet for professional arborists , particularly in orchards intended for the sale of fresh fruit.
Hardiness and adaptation to the French climate
Jiro is one of the hardiest persimmon varieties , able to withstand temperatures down to -25°C . Its hardiness is superior to that of Fuyu , and comparable to that of American varieties such as Meader. This cold tolerance makes it suitable for both southern and more northern regions , including north of the Loire , provided that good sun exposure is ensured.
Agronomic characteristics and crop management
Jiro is a self-fertile variety, although cross-pollination improves fruiting rates . It develops a shrubby to tree-like habit , with moderate vigor . At maturity, the tree reaches 4 to 8 meters in height , with a spread of 4 to 5 meters , and forms a compact, rounded crown.
Fruiting generally occurs 4 to 5 years after planting , with production possible as early as the 3rd year after grafting. The average yield is 80 to 100 kg per adult tree , and can reach 30 to 35 tonnes per hectare in intensive cultivation.
The recommended spacing depends on the training method: 6 x 6 m in free training , or 2.5 x 5 m in an intensive orchard with fertigation and trellising. Planting is optimal in the fall, outside of periods of frost.
Fruit: quality, harvesting and marketing
The Jiro persimmon produces round, flattened fruits of medium to large size (about 230 g ), with firm, crisp flesh . They are soft, very sweet , and can be eaten hard, like an apple , without astringency. Their orange-yellow color makes them attractive for sale.
Harvesting generally takes place in late October to early November . The fruit has excellent post-harvest stability , facilitating picking, storage and transport , although no precise data is available on the shelf life in cold storage. Jiro is well suited to fresh marketing , but it is also suitable for drying .
Resistances and maintenance
Jiro is distinguished by very good resistance to diseases and parasites , with little need for treatments . It shows good tolerance to anthracnose (25 to 30% less sensitivity), root rot , as well as certain parasites such as Cercospora leaf spot . Its sensitivity to psyllids and the white peach scale insect remains moderate .
It is moderately drought resistant, but once well established, it shows above-average tolerance to water stress . Its root system is superficial , with a high density in the first 30 to 50 centimeters , so it requires regular watering , especially in light soil. Irrigation of 4000 to 7000 m³/ha may be necessary.
Jiro is moderately tolerant of calcareous soils (up to 7-8% active lime), with an optimum pH of 6.0-7.0. It has moderate to good resistance to root asphyxiation , which allows its establishment in heavy soils , especially if grafted onto the more tolerant Diospyros virginiana . This rootstock is also recommended for calcareous soils. D. lotus remains a viable alternative for well-drained soils.
Growing environment and recommendations
Jiro is best grown in full sun , in deep, fertile, well-drained soil with a sandy-loam texture and a pH of 5.5 to 6.5 . It is best to work the soil 50-60 cm deep before planting to encourage rooting. The annual water requirement is estimated at 1000-1200 mm .
The need for staking is moderate , recommended during the first 1 to 2 years after planting, especially when trained. A 2 m stake is recommended.
Honey potential and flowering
The Jiro persimmon is a melliferous tree , with flowering in May which attracts many pollinators. This is an advantage in diversified orchards or in agriculture promoting biodiversity.
Conclusion
The Kaki 'Jiro' Persimmon Tree is distinguished by its exceptional hardiness , its ability to produce quality fruit in intensive cultivation , and its low susceptibility to diseases and parasites . Its immediate consumption after harvest , its resistance to cold , and its adaptability to the French climate , including in the cooler regions, make it a variety of choice for apple growers and professional producers of fresh persimmon .
To summarize: Persimmon Kaki Jiro
The 'Jiro' Persimmon Tree embodies the perfect balance between productivity, hardiness, and quality. Thanks to its tolerance to low temperatures down to -25°C, it adapts to the coldest areas, while guaranteeing rapid fruit set and an impressive yield from the 3rd or 4th year. Its firm and sweet fruits can be eaten without processing, which makes them easy to use fresh. For any arborist wishing to secure their harvests and perpetuate their orchard, buying Jiro persimmon plants is a wise decision.
With a dense root system, good drought tolerance and few requirements for phytosanitary treatments, the Jiro fits perfectly into sustainable agricultural approaches. Grafted onto Diospyros virginiana, it reveals its full potential even in calcareous or clayey soils. By choosing Arboriverse , a specialist wholesale supplier of persimmon plants , you are counting on quality, technical advice and a rigorous selection of plants adapted to intensive cultivation.
Our 'Jiro' plants are available in various sizes and grafts, depending on your specific needs. Whether you're planning a high-density orchard or a traditional plantation, buying Jiro persimmon plants from a specialist persimmon plant wholesaler like Arboriverse is the guarantee of a strong and sustainable start. Take advantage of our expertise to establish a resilient, profitable and high-value orchard.
