When the frost is out of the ground and you can dig normally. be thinking April 1 or later. There is an old saying "March comes in like a lamb and out like a lion" So don't be getting too excited the first day it hits 60.

You need to transplant before they leaf out or they could die from transplant shock. You can do that any time you can work the ground. I've transplanted in December and January and plan on moving a couple more this week. It has been an unusually warm winter in my location.

I'm not sure about persimmons as far as the idea of not waiting until early spring to plant and at this point I agree that the best idea is to wait until the ground has thawed for good in early spring to transplant at all. No advantage to going earlier.

Most species can be planted in spring or fall including most common fruit but I've had difficulties with mulberries planted in the fall. Persimmons have similar wood, so may be prone to dessication injury when facing extreme cold after transplanting.

Not likely to actually die completely from transplant shock - too much is made of transplanted deciduous trees and shrubs losing leaves in response to root disturbance - but no need to put them through this when you can simply dig them while still leafless.

If there is a lot of cutting of roots in the process expect some dwarfing of the tops this first summer.