Diospyros kaki Costata - Persimmon

The 'Costata' Persimmon is a variety of the Dyospiros kaki, the Chinese Persimmon tree. It is both a fruit tree and an ornamental tree, producing slightly ribbed orange berries without seeds, about the size of a tomato. The flesh becomes tender and melting, losing its astringency when ripe. This vigorous and productive variety is particularly attractive in autumn with its foliage taking on vibrant red hues.

The 'Costata' Persimmon produces fruits that are 8 to 10cm (3 to 4in) in diameter, with a thin skin that is orange tinged with vermilion on some sides, and they have slight reliefs, they are not perfectly round. The tender and melting flesh does not contain any seeds. Be patient: harvesting generally takes place from the 3rd or 4th year. Persimmon fruits are not ready before the end of autumn. In October, harvest them with secateurs. They are harvested when they are soft to the touch and should be consumed quickly. Ideally, they should have undergone a slight frost to lose their astringency. You can also try picking them when they are still firm and ripen them indoors, wrapped in newspaper, with the stem down, near apples. For longer storage, opt for freezing. In terms of cooking, Persimmons can be eaten as is, cut in half and enjoyed with a spoon, or incorporated into a fruit salad, crumble, compote, or sometimes served with a savoury dish. They are rich in vitamin C and provitamin A.

The 'Costata' variety is a vigorous and productive variety. The flowering is late, appearing in May-June, in the form of small insignificant yellow flowers, which will be pollinated by insects. It is a self-fertile and hardy variety with good exposure. In colder regions such as the north of the Loire, choose proximity to a south-facing wall to protect it from the wind and ensure good sunlight.

The Persimmon (Dyospiros kaki) is a tree native to China, with a rounded habit, reaching 6 to 10m (20 to 33ft) in height and 5 to 7m (16 to 23ft) in width. Its growth is rather slow. Belonging to the family Ebenaceae, its wood is very hard. The leaves of the Persimmon are elongated, about fifteen centimetres long, and shiny green in colour. In 'Costata', they take on beautiful red colours in autumn, adding to the ornamental interest of the bush. Once fallen, they reveal the fruits, also very decorative, which will remain on the branches until the first snowfall.