Paw~Paw

Let's hear from folks that grow or know (first hand) about Paw-Paws. I'm growing seedlings from seed provided by eyeckr, many thanks! Eventually, they'll be introduced/naturalized in MO. That's an area where they naturally grow wild but are not currently on that property.

I grew and grafted many types of Pawpaw. Late september is the pawpaw season in pennsylvania. This year I picked so much fruit from a pawpaw tour I took with the Back Yard Fruit Growers, here in Pennsylvania.
Pawpaw likes to grow along creeks. The trees that have been grown by the creeks grow the tallest and the most productive. It can successfully grow in any backyard if given enough watering in the first 3 years. My trees are still young but they're about to flower after 2 years in the ground. I can see the buds already.
They grow easily from seeds that have been placed in a cool storage in over the winter than planted. They develop a long tap root. A pot just like Joe has is perfect. If planted from seed outside, plant in permanent location. They don't like to be transplanted.

Bass

Thanks for the info. Do you have a preferred cultivar? In additon to a moist, fertile site...anything else? Two to pollinate/produce fruit?

Joe,
Pawpaws do need two different plants for fruit production. I've read that sometimes a small stand of pawpaws will actually be part of one parent plant. They can grow up from the roots. If a different cultivar is not near the whole stand will not fruit.
Terry

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Almost all pawpaw need two to cross pollinate. It has been reported that Sunflower is one cultivar that is self-fertile. In fact in Italy this has been planted by itself and have been producing very well. If you plant 2 seedlings they will cross pollinate.
You may hear of a PawPaw patch because pawpaw will develop many sprouts sometimes up to 10 feet away and will be the same cultivar as the rootstock. For example if you plant a grafted tree and you allow the sprout to develop they will cross pollinate since they're different genes.
If you have a short season I recommend an early variety such as Pa Golden. I also like Mango a variety that is very large and has a mellow nice flavor, ripens in October for our area. Sunflower ripens around the end of september for us.
I'm sure you'll be able to grow it in Colorado, I have friends in CA that are successfully growing Sunflower.

Bass

As mentioned at the beginning...these seedlings will be grown for planting/introduction onto the property in MO. I do have a sizable Paw-Paw in my backyard (here in CO) but only one and nothing for it to pollinate with. I did try to (unsuccessfully) air-layer it this summer. I do appreciate the cultivar information.

Here's a photo I took, I believe this is Sunflower.

bass

Nice photo, nice fruit, is it yours?

Mine didn't bear any fruit yet. This is a tree grown by a member of backyard fruit growers group in Lancaster, Pa.

Joe, I'm not sure if you're recieved my private message I've sent you to thank you for the goodies.
Bass




No, I didn't hear anything. Glad that you got it. Have you been able to root the PP Passiflora? CJ

Bass, do you know where in Lancaster, PA? I ask because it may be close to me, I live in Lancaster county. I'm at the eastern edge of the county, a stones throw (literally) from Chester county. That's a nice looking tree. Barbara