It’s a safe bet we have all heard-or even said-a piece of weather-related folklore, such as, “Red in the morning, sailors warning, red at night, sailors delight.”
“A lot of folklore, especially weather-related folklore, began when people were more connected with nature,” Farmer’s Almanac editor Sandi Duncan tells Southern Living. “They looked at signs in nature and they figured out what was being predicted.”
And no one is more concerned about weather than when the winter months start to creep in. Will there be a lot of snow? Will I need to wear extra insulation?
Don’t worry, there is a prediction for that: persimmon seeds. When looking at a cut-open persimmon seed, the shape you see can likely predict the type of winter weather that will occur in your region.
Can Persimmon Seeds Predict Winter Weather?
The singular rule of using persimmon seeds for weather prediction is where they are sourced.
“The persimmons have to be local,” Duncan says. “So you can’t just go to the grocery store and get one that’s sold at the grocery store, because sometimes they come from different countries.”
The good news is that the American persimmon does grow “from Florida up to Connecticut, out to Iowa, and then south to Texas.”
“So there are places that they actually grow and you can use them for prediction,” Duncan says.
How To Predict Winter Weather Using Persimmon Seeds
Ready to predict this winter’s forecast? Duncan says it’s as simple as cutting the persimmon open, then cutting the persimmon seed open.
“And when you cut open a seed, you should see a shape, and you usually see a fork shape, a spoon shape, or a knife shape,” Duncan explains.
Fork Shape: A mild winter
“Fork means winter will be mild, so if you prefer not to be so bundled up this winter, you’re going to hope for a fork,” Duncan says.
Spoon Shape: Lots of snow this winter
“The spoon, it’s kind of like a shovel, so you should expect heavy snow,” Duncan says.
Knife Shape: A cold winter
“It means we better go buy some extra wooly socks and sweaters, because it’s going to be bitterly cold. So the idea is, the weather will be cutting like a knife,” Duncan says.
Are Persimmon Seed Winter Predictions Accurate?
Duncan says for the most part predictions are fairly accurate, because they’re based on what occurs in nature. However, because seed predictions are based on regions, it’s hard to make a blanket statement about what any one place will experience.
“That’s the thing about weather folklore–it usually is very regional,” she says.
Each year, the Farmer’s Almanac uses “The Persimmon Lady” – who is based in North Carolina – to make a weather prediction about the winter ahead.
“She opens ten seeds every year, and then reports on what she sees,” Duncan says, adding that the publication then asks readers to submit what they are seeing across the country.
Other Ways To Predict Winter Weather Using Nature
Persimmon seeds aren’t the only way to guess what type of winter weather is coming. Duncan says there are three other ways to forecast the upcoming season.
Look At A Wooly Worm Caterpillar
“You’re supposed to look at how big the orange section is (on the caterpillar),” Duncan explains. “It’s usually in the middle between the two (black sections). It can’t be an all black one – it has to be an orange black one. So, if the orange section is larger and there’s a little bit of black, that means a mild winter is on tap. If the orange section is kind of more narrow, and the caterpillar is more black, that means it’s going to be a harsh winter.”
Look At The Squirrels
“People say (if you) notice the squirrels gathering a lot of nuts and collecting a lot of nuts that means a bad winter is coming,” Duncan says.
Look At Produce
“If you grow your own onions or corn, again, like I said, you could pick it up in the store, but if it’s not local (it’s not accurate). Check the skin to see if they’re really thick or thin. The thicker obviously means that they’re storing up for harsh winter, the thinner means it might not be so bad,” Duncan says.