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Pawpaw Tree

Pawpaw Tree

A small, deciduous tree that yields the largest fruit native to North America. It’s part of the Annonaceae family, which is the largest family of the magnolia order. Pawpaw trees can grow to a height of about 25 feet and feature maroon-colored blossoms with 6 petals in spring. (When grown in shady and protected areas of established forests, they only get to be 2 to 12 feet (0.6 m to 3.7 m) tall.) The leaves are dark green, shiny, and oval shaped with pointy ends. They can grow up to 1 inches in length. In the fall, foliage turns varying shades of yellow. For fruit production, pawpaw must pollinate each other. However, they are self-incompatible, meaning each tree must be cross-pollinated by another pawpaw that is unrelated to it. Remember to obtain two separate sets of seeds for cross- pollination. Pawpaws have an elusive taste similar to that of vanilla custard or a combination of banana and mango.
Introduction
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Description

Optimal Time/Temperature for Germination:
Pawpaw trees are quite hardy, so they should be able to survive almost anywhere. If you live in a colder climate, just be sure to use thick mulch around your tree. Although transplanting a wild pawpaw rarely works, many people enjoy these delicious fruits by starting with their own seeds. By sowing your seeds in your pot and transplanting your seedlings, they will ultimately produce delicious fruits. Pawpaws are trees best adapted to temperate, humid regions with hardiness zones 5 to 8, with minimum temperatures between −15 to 15°F (-26 to -9°C). Refrigerate the seeds for 70 to 100 days to pull them out of dormancy. Placing seeds in the refrigerator at 32 to 40°F (0 to 4°C) will help pull them out of their dormant state. Specific directions for the particular variety of pawpaw you have purchased will come with the seeds. Store seeds in plastic bags. Cover them with a bit of moist sphagnum moss to suppress bacterial and fungal development. Germination should occur in 2 to 3 weeks, followed by taproot formation. After about 2 months, they will send up a shoot. At this point – when your pawpaw seeds sprout – you can move them into outside soil. Pawpaws grow best in warm to hot summers and mild to cold winters. Regions with a minimum of 32 inches (81 cm) of rainfall across the year are ideal. Remember, young pawpaws may not survive in full sunlight. These trees have a suckering habit and will grow into a stand of paw paw trees. However, If you’re hoping to yield fruit from a paw paw tree, be sure to plant several genetically different trees in close proximity.
Optimal Soil Conditions:
Tree pots (14 to 18 inches (36 to 46 cm)) and root trainers (10 inches (25 cm)) are great choices. They provide enough space for the pawpaw’s long taproot. Avoid materials like unfired clay and terracotta. These materials are porous and have a tendency to absorb water-soluble soil chemicals. Never use containers that carry a risk of containing asbestos or lead. Avoid using containers that have lead-based paint coats, which were common prior to the 1970s. Fill your containers or pots with seed starter potting mix. Use well-drained, loamy starter soil that is ideal for quick root development. Cover the pot with a clear plastic bag after each watering. This will create a high level of humidity, which is ideal for seedling growth. But don’t forget to poke holes in the top for ventilation. Avoid heavy soils that have a tendency to water log. This small tree grows best in slightly acid soil of pH 5.5 to 7.0. Stick your soil pH meter into the soil—if the pH is outside of the recommended range, use limestone to adjust it. If your soil has low levels of magnesium, the addition of dolomitic limestone can raise pH. If it has high levels of magnesium, calcitic limestone can raise pH. The addition of ground oyster shell, crushed eggshells, and wood ashes can also be used to adjust soil pH levels. For best results till in rich organic matter such as compost to the soil when planting. Trees are also fairly drought tolerant but again will produce better and younger when irrigated. The pawpaw can grow in heavy, clay soil but only if there is sufficient drainage. Be sure to protect young trees from too much sun exposure and wind.
Seed Planting Depth, Spacing and Procedure:
Plant your seeds 1.5 inch (3.8 cm) deep into well-aerated soil. Poke small holes into your soil using a pen or pencil for proper aeration. Keep the soil consistently moist, dark, and warm. Soil temperature should be between 75 to 85°F (24 to 29°C). Aeration allows oxygen, water, and nutrients to flow through soil more effectively. Place your pot in a sunny window or outside spot until your seed sprout. Pawpaws are sensitive to full sunlight for the first 1 to 2 years. Place your pot indoors near a window to filter sunlight, or outside in a spot that receives partial sunlight (meaning around 4 to 6 hours of direct sun per day). The best time to transplant your potted pawpaws is right after bud break, which is when growth begins from the bud.Take care not to damage the root system, as they are typically very brittle. If you end up losing a significant amount of roots, prune the top of the plant to balance its size with the amount of remaining roots. In its natural habitat, the pawpaw tree is found in the understory of forests. As a result, these trees flourish in partial shade. Young trees especially benefit from shady conditions, as bright, direct sunlight can scorch the leaves. Upon maturing, pawpaw trees can be grown in full sun conditions, which is often the case when planted in orchards. These trees will have a more pyramid-like shape, while pawpaws in shade have spreading branches and fewer lower limbs. When into the ground, Pawpaw trees should be spaced around 8 feet (2.4 m) apart, while trees in rows should be around 12 feet (3.7 m) apart. Any further and nutrient sharing between plants will be unlikely. If you’re cross-pollinating, using at least 3 varieties of pawpaw is recommended. Always plant into a depth equal to their potting depth. Use your spade to fill the hole back up with the topsoil. Place the soil around the roots and firmly press it down. Create a ring of leftover soil around the hole about 2 inches (5.1 cm) in height. This will help water soak into the soil.
Best Companion Plants and Plants that Hinder:
If not too shady, you might get pole beans or squash to scramble up the tree and some sort of onion or garlic added in seems practical. Perhaps one whose leaves you would use, rather than the bulb, so that you would not have to disturb the tree roots too much so usual suspects for fruit trees like daffodils, mints, annual legumes, bee balm, etc.

Growing Instructions

Crop Maintenance

Pollinate your pawpaws when they start to bloom. You cannot take pollen from one tree and use it on the same tree. Each individual flower will only accept pollen from a flower from a genetically distinct individual tree. If you’re growing pawpaws outdoors, insects will pollinate your trees for you as long as you have 2 unrelated trees growing nearby. Be gentle when gathering pollen, so as not damage the blooms. Details: find the male flowers, which will be wide open and a deep maroon color. The stamen will be visible and should be covered with pollen. Place a small plastic bag underneath the bloom and gently tap the back of the blossom to drop pollen into the bag. Right away, find a female blossom on another paw paw tree. Mature female blossoms will also be maroon, but may still be partly green and will always be only partially open. Gently open the blossom with your fingers enough to reach the paintbrush inside. Then, after dusting the paintbrush with harvested pollen, dab the stigma inside the flower. Consider the pawpaw bloom’s scent, which smell like rotting meat, when planting them outside. It’s best not to plant them too close to the house! Carrion flies will be attracted to the smelly flowers and this will help with pollination. (Growers often put roadkill or rotting meat in their groves to attract the pollinating flies.)
Moisture Requirements & Solutions:
Water your soil daily for a month until seeds sprout. Soil should be watered regularly and kept moist. Keep an eye out for slowed growth and leaves falling off of the plant, which can be signs of dehydration. Don’t overwater, as proper pawpaw growth requires well-drained soil. Brown, wilted leaves are a sign that you’re overwatering. Paw paw trees require adequate irrigation but must be in well-draining soil conditions to prevent root rot and fungus. Cover the pot with a clear plastic bag after each watering. This will create a high level of humidity, which is ideal for seedling growth. But don’t forget to poke holes in the top for ventilation
Weeding Needs & Solutions:
Weed control weed is necessary, especially during the establishment period, which may be as long as a year or more.
Feeding Needs/Optimal Natural Fertilizers:
Nutrient-rich soil is important for healthy growth and fruit production, so it’s generally recommended to fertilize paw paw trees at least twice a year, once in spring and again in early summer. Your best option may be to add organic matter to the soil using compost, fish emulsion, manure, or a combination of all three. Use water or a rake to distribute the fertilizer throughout the soil. Avoid the 2 inch (5.1 cm) area by the tree trunk. Use fertilizer high in potassium. Don’t fertilize after July 1 – this will promote later growth that can lead to freeze damage.
Pests, Diseases & Solutions:
Relatively hardy and pest-free, the occasional fungal diseases like powdery mildew or black spot may affect paw paw trees that experience high humidity or very damp conditions. In the case of black spot, the fruit is still edible and it’s only an aesthetic issue. The pawpaw peduncle borer occasionally invades trees and causes the blossoms to drop prematurely, affecting fruit yield significantly. In addition, the larvae of Zebra Swallowtail butterflies feed on the leaves of the paw paw tree, but it rarely causes a serious threat to the health of the tree.
When to Harvest/Number of days to maturity:
Famous for their fruit, it ripens in autumn. Fruit production typically begins after trees reach 6 feet (1.8 m), which usually occurs after 5 to 7 years.
How to Harvest:
Using your thumb and forefinger, gently squeeze the fruits you believe are ripe. If it’s still hard and doesn’t give in to pressure, it needs more time. When the fruits turn a brownish yellow, they are usually ready to be picked. Picking pawpaws too early will cause unripe fruits to turn dark, but never soft. This prevents them from ever sweetening. The simplest way to test for ripe pawpaws is a gentle shake of the tree. Ripe fruits will fall to the ground, while fruits that need more time will stay attached to the tree. Pawpaws bruise readily, so skip this step if you’re growing your fruits for market.
Optimal Storage temperature and conditions:
Always smell your pawpaw fruits before you eat them. If they are ready, they will give off a strong smell akin to floral perfume. Any fruits that fail this test can be placed on your counter for ripening. Once the pawpaw aroma begins to fill the room, they’re ready to eat. Pawpaws can be placed in the refrigerator for several weeks. If you’re going to be freezing them, they will last for a year or more. To eat the pawpaw fruit, simply cut them in half and scoop out the pulp. Separate the seeds and either eat the fresh pulp as puree or freeze it for later use. You can use it in cakes, desserts, fruit drinks, and even ice cream.
Optimal Preserving Procedures:
Seed Saving:
The suckers will not develop into trees, but “suck” the nutrients out of your trees. If allowed to grow, the suckers may produce fruit but it will not be edible. Pawpaw trees can be propagated by grafting and cuttings. Many nurseries graft scions taken from dormant trees that are at least a few years old. The scions are grafted onto pawpaw rootstock. This method yields good success but is a more advanced method of propagation. Propagation by cuttings is also possible for paw paw trees, but has a high failure rate. It’s not considered the most surefire way to propagate these trees. Generally, propagation by seed is the most successful way to start pawpaw trees. Growing paw paw from seed is typically the easiest way to start these trees. A simple route is to plant an entire paw paw fruit in the ground in fall. It will often send up shoots during the next spring season. But if you want to enjoy the tasty fruit rather than plant it in the ground, you can harvest the seeds from the paw paw fruit and sow them in the ground. Follow these steps to grow paw paw trees from seed: 1) Scoop out the seeds from a ripe paw paw fruit. 2) Next, scarify the seeds. This involves scratching the shell of the seed but not the seed itself. Use sandpaper or a file. 3) In fall, you can direct sow the seeds outside where they’ll naturally stratify over the winter and sprout the following summer. Alternatively, you can stratify the seeds indoors by placing them in a cold location for 90 to 120 days as mentioned above. 4) Plant seeds once the soil temperature is between 75 and 85°F (24 to 29°C.

Harvest and Storage

Notes

Take note that while the fruit is edible, you should never eat the skin or seeds of this fruit. Pawpaw contains annonacin, which is toxic to nerve cells. Pawpaws produce the most fruit in full sun. Plant your seedlings on the north side of a fence. This gives the pawpaws shade during its younger months and sunlight when they are mature and taller than the fence line. Another option is sowing your pawpaw seeds near a nitrogen-fixing tree (to its south). Not only will it provide your young pawpaw shade, it will also provide it with fertility. You can cut it down 2 to 3 years after, when your pawpaw is old enough that sunlight exposure doesn’t cause sunburnt shoots and leaves. To protect flowers or fruit that’s being eaten, try to use bird netting over your trees or other methods of bird deterrents like wind chimes or shiny material hanging from a string. Pawpaw is the host tree for the zebra swallowtail butterfly, and is popular with foxes, feral pigs, opossums, and raccoons. Deer do not feed on the leaves or twigs, but they will eat the ripe fruit.

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