First Persimmon Seeds Hint at Snowy Oklahoma Winter Ahead

Persimmon season is barely just getting started in Oklahoma, and that means the annual tradition of splitting open seeds to forecast the coming winter is back. Forget radar, satellites, and long-range models, the true test of winter is hiding inside a fruit that ripens about the same time pumpkin spice takes over the coffee shops.

How It Works

When you slice open a persimmon seed, the little white cotyledon inside will take the shape of a knife, a fork, or a spoon. Each one supposedly predicts what kind of winter we’re in for.

A knife points to bitter, cutting cold. A fork means a mild winter. But the spoon is the one everyone talks about, because it means lots of snow.

As the story goes, the spoon is really a tiny snow shovel.

What Oklahoma Seeds Are Showing This Year

So far, the first few seeds cracked open across Oklahoma this year are showing spoons. It's bound to start making headlines given this big cold front rolling through in August, but you have to keep in mind it's still early.

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It also doesn't line up with the current Farmer's Almanac Winter 2025 prediction.

Looking Back at Last Year’s Forecast

Last year, the seeds also showed spoons, but if you remember how it played out, at least down here in SWOK, winter barely showed up for a weekend or two. We got a couple weeks of cold, two decent three-day snows, and then the state flipped right back into a wonderful cool spring until it finally got hot.

Folklore vs. Forecasting

That’s why most Oklahomans treat the persimmon forecast as more folklore than science. Farmers may swear by it, and city folk will argue about it in the comments section, but at the end of the day it’s mostly a fun seasonal ritual. And since persimmon season is only just beginning, more seeds and maybe more conclusive evidence should be popping up by the end of September.

Whether the seeds are right this time or not, Oklahoma winter has a way of keeping us on our toes. If we do end up buried under snow, you can bet the grandmas will all say, “Told you so.”