Hi
So my first year of growing my Meader and it has 1 fruit, no leaves now but 1 fruit. How do you know when it is ripe, I assume when it is soft? It is now an orange color, kind of nice.
thanks Frank

Frank
The Meader is astringent so you want to let it ripen until it is soft. When fully ripe it will have the feel of a zip lock bag filled with water. If you have only one be aware that mocking birds love persimmons .If it has turned orange, you can pick now and let ripen on the kitchen counter.
Karl

Yes, you can pick it now. You can also store in fridge for about a week, then bring it out to ripen by the table. That way, you would have simulated some "chilling" or stratifying requirement to bring out its flavor.