The Fruit That Predicts The Weather
It’s sweet, orange, and—according to folklore—can forecast winter.
Image source: Jerry Wang/Unsplash
For generations, farmers across the United States have used persimmon seeds to predict the severity of the coming winter. The tradition goes like this: split a seed from a ripe persimmon fruit, and look closely at the white kernel inside. If it’s shaped like a spoon, expect heavy, wet snow; a fork means a mild winter; and a knife suggests bitter cold that “cuts like a blade.”
While scientists say it’s just a bit of fun (the seed shapes come from random natural variation), the custom remains a favorite bit of folk meteorology, especially in the Midwest and the South. Each autumn, people still post their seed “forecasts” online—and sometimes, they’re surprisingly close to the real thing.
Learn more about the persimmon’s long-running weather legend.Do you know another old-fashioned trick people used to read nature’s signs? Share it in the forum—we’d love to see it!
