2024 Citrus County, west Florida Persimmon U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Persimmon U-Pick Orchards in Citrus County, west Florida in 2024, by county

Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for persimmons that we know of in this area.

Not all areas of a state have persimmons orchards that are open to the public. If you know of any others, please tell us using the add a farm form!

Remember to always check with the farm's own website or Facebook page before you go - or call or email them if they don't have a website or Facebook page. Conditions at the farms and crops can change literally overnight, so if you want to avoid a wasted trip out there - check with the farm directly before you go! If I cannot reach them, I DON'T GO!

PLEASE report closed farms, broken links and incorrect info using the "Report Corrections" form below.

Citrus County

• Moran Blueberry Farm and Nursery - peaches, nectarines, plums, Muscadines, grapes, persimmons
  Rooks Road, Floral City, FL . Phone: (352) 344-4496. Open: weekdays 8:30 am until noon and 4pm until 7pm. Directions: Located three miles south of Floral City just off highway U. Click here for a map and directions. Saturday 0830 until 5pm and Sunday Noon until 5 pm; Usually available in April to June (peaches, nectarines), May to June (plums); Open every fall for muscadine grapes, pears and sweet persimmons. 10 acres with mostly peaches and nectarines for U-Pick. Also some prepicked fruit: blueberries and cultured blackberries. We are a low spray operation and put bluebird houses all over so they control the insects. We also sell cypress bluebird houses which attract the birds, and grow and sell gourds too, and make birdhouses out of them. The large "Garden of Weed'n" has blooming flowers for all to enjoy and we sell out the potted plants for sale, too. .S. 41 Look for the old blue van with the large U-PICK signage pointing the way. We are one hour north of Tampa but have regulars that come from much farther to enjoy this unique place. We hope to have a bountiful Spring crop of Blueberries, peaches, and a few plums in the April, May, June. Visit this page about mid April to find out when we will open. As with everything here, no sprays are used once the fruit is set. We offer U pick or we can arrange to do it for you. The farm is also known as Moran Blueberry Farm and Linda's Fruit Farm.
  Comments from a visitor on May 08, 2009: "You had to write if we heard anything about this place. I just spoke with the lady that runs it and the frost killed off her whole crop this spring, but is looking at a great fall crop of pears, persimmon and grapes. So, they are still open. She was very sweet and helpful with a lot of extra information!"

 

Persimmons

Persimmon Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

 

Persimmons, are a VERY tart and rare fruit.   More popular in Asia, the Asian varieties have been introduced to North America and become popular. Native North American Fuyu persimmons (shown at top right) are flattened in shape.

 

The Asia hachiya persimmons are more elongated and a bit sweeter.  All persimmons are exceedingly tart until the are dead-ripe and slight mushy in texture.

Uses:

Persimmons are typically made into jelly, but also used for their flavor in baked goods such as muffins, tarts and sauces. Persimmon berries also freeze well.

If you're looking for great, easy to follow recipes to make jelly,  see these pages:

• How to make Persimmon jelly

Harvesting Season:

The exact timing of Persimmon harvest can vary depending on your location and climate, but it generally occurs in the summer months. In most regions, you can expect to start harvesting Persimmons from late July to early August.

Persimmons are an unusual fruit because they actually DO ripen after being harvested. In fact, it is BEST to pick the persimmons while they are hard, and allow them to ripen and soften in a cool basement. This avoid bug and bird danage.

Determining Ripeness:

Ripe Persimmons are soft, almost mushy, and have a bright orange color.

How to pick or harvest:

To harvest Persimmons, simply hold the branch beneath and gently pluck them off with your fingers. It's best to place a container or basket beneath the branch to catch them if they fall.

Handling and Storage:

After harvesting, sort through the fruit and remove any damaged or overripe ones. Store them in a shallow container, preferably in a single layer, to prevent crushing and allow for proper airflow. Refrigerate them when they become ripe and soft; consume them within a few days for optimal freshness. If you have an abundant harvest, consider freezing them for longer-term storage.

 

 

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