Thanks for the post, Tom quite informative. I started one from a seed I preserved several winters ago from a small grove in north eastern Oklahoma. It’s about five feet tall now. Do I understand correctly that it will not bear fruit.? I do have a sand plum and cherry tree within several meters.
Pawpaws, like many forest trees, is self-infertile. A pawpaw flower contains both male and female organs, but they cannot fertilize themselves. They need insects who can visit other, nearby trees. What is the distance between your tree and other pawpaw trees. Whether your tree bears or not depends on that distance. Pawpaw is native to eastern Oklahoma, so you may be lucky. I think, though, that it is a good idea to plant another tree, preferably a seedling from Oklahoma. I happen to know that Native Plants Nursery in OKC, https://www.nativeplantsokc.comm sells pawpaw seedlings, so you may want to contact them. Good luck and keep us posted!
I’ve only seen one report of any being even partially self-fruitful. You’ll need a second for proper pollination and might need to hand pollinate to set fruit. Spicebush is a good compatriot, as it’s also fly/beetle pollinated.
Thanks for stopping by a couple of my tree-related notes/musings which led me here. I’ve wanted to try a paw paw since about age 3 due to a favorite song on a Burl Ives record. I’ve certainly travelled “yonder” but not way way yonder enough to I guess. You have me most intrigued and I will find one soon I hope!
if I remember correctly, wasn’t Baloo the Bear (a favorite Character) all about paw paw?
Pawpaw is a bit of a confusing name. The pawpaw in the Jungle Book is what Americans call a papaya. Some Portuguese guy applied the name to our fruit, Asimina triloba.
Thanks. I’ve long thought that, and the similarity on name furthered that assumption. Can’t say I love papaya unless when unripe in Vietnamese salad, not that it matters. But it means I’m even more anxious to try Asimina tripods.
In a week or so, I'm going to publish a list of pawpaw festivals, which are usually in late August to September. Depending on where you are on the planet, you may be able to find one near you.
Half local wild stock from 5 areas; half improved stock.
Pawpaws are somewhat true to seed. Sunflower is the one that fruited this year, which is the cultivar I’d read was semi-self-fertile, but I can’t attest to the quality of that source.
I’ve got another 4-5 named cultivars (one is resprouting after a fungal infection):
Another dozen 3rd year from a different improvement program. Grafting will come eventually. I really look forward to quantifying their varying levels of toxicity.
I see that you are serious about this. It is really interesting to watch the domestication of a tree. Most fruit trees were domesticated hundreds or thousands of years ago. I think a priority for pawpaws should be to extend their shelf life. I will discuss more about tree domestication in upcoming stories on Our Trees.
I’ll look forward to that! I also agree about shelf-life/not bruising during transport. As well as fast growth, and fruiting under full-shade conditions (a 50% crop in some cases) to seamlessly integrate them into pecan orchards along the rows down which machines needn’t drive. The Choctaw Nation historically used the entire trunk as a cloth fiber source.
I’m trying to domesticate gum bully, too. Gum bully is about the size and shape of the peach before domestication. It was formerly harvested by Kiowa and Comanche. It tastes like a pear x blueberry. Plus many more trees: aronia, serviceberry, elderberry, et alia.
I think you are on the right track with domesticating native trees. People are increasingly interested in uncommon fruits, especially at farmers markets and CSAs. I have never tried gum bully and look forward to it, though I have to go further south than Kentucky to find it.
My experience with pawpaw (as a scientist, not as a grower) is that though they can be grown in full sun, they do much better and live longer with some shade. I really like the idea of growing pawpaw and pecan together.
I agree, they do seem to grow better not in full shade. Benson, from KYSU, really has had exceptional growth in full shade; I didn’t have much room to plant then and didn’t want to cut the overstory. I think Atwood is nearly as close. Both planted in 21 or 22 and are as big as cultivars planted in 2017. Same soil, slightly less sunlight.
I've never tried the species of pawpaw that you focus on. When I lived in Malawi we had a papaya (Carica papaya) tree (also known as pawpaw by Amiericans) in our garden, which produced delicious fruit.
Good morning, Juliet. Yes, the naming is confusing. The name pawpaw which was originally applied to Carica papaya was used for Asimina by Portuguese explorers. The Algonquin name for this plant is Asimin, hence the Latin genus name. I wish we could use that name. In Malawi, you may have eaten related fruits like soursop.
I have three newly planted pawpaw trees in my backyard, all genetically different. Eagerly awaiting the day when they will be big enough to bear fruit!
The pawpaw was preferred by Baloo, I didnt know it might be in my neighborhood, too. It’s hard to find growing in Massachusetts and now I know why fruits are so rare. Glad to know more tasty products are coming on the market.
Thanks for the post, Tom quite informative. I started one from a seed I preserved several winters ago from a small grove in north eastern Oklahoma. It’s about five feet tall now. Do I understand correctly that it will not bear fruit.? I do have a sand plum and cherry tree within several meters.
Pawpaws, like many forest trees, is self-infertile. A pawpaw flower contains both male and female organs, but they cannot fertilize themselves. They need insects who can visit other, nearby trees. What is the distance between your tree and other pawpaw trees. Whether your tree bears or not depends on that distance. Pawpaw is native to eastern Oklahoma, so you may be lucky. I think, though, that it is a good idea to plant another tree, preferably a seedling from Oklahoma. I happen to know that Native Plants Nursery in OKC, https://www.nativeplantsokc.comm sells pawpaw seedlings, so you may want to contact them. Good luck and keep us posted!
Thanks Tom, you’re a jim-dandy!
I’ve only seen one report of any being even partially self-fruitful. You’ll need a second for proper pollination and might need to hand pollinate to set fruit. Spicebush is a good compatriot, as it’s also fly/beetle pollinated.
Thanks for stopping by a couple of my tree-related notes/musings which led me here. I’ve wanted to try a paw paw since about age 3 due to a favorite song on a Burl Ives record. I’ve certainly travelled “yonder” but not way way yonder enough to I guess. You have me most intrigued and I will find one soon I hope!
if I remember correctly, wasn’t Baloo the Bear (a favorite Character) all about paw paw?
Pawpaw is a bit of a confusing name. The pawpaw in the Jungle Book is what Americans call a papaya. Some Portuguese guy applied the name to our fruit, Asimina triloba.
Thanks. I’ve long thought that, and the similarity on name furthered that assumption. Can’t say I love papaya unless when unripe in Vietnamese salad, not that it matters. But it means I’m even more anxious to try Asimina tripods.
In a week or so, I'm going to publish a list of pawpaw festivals, which are usually in late August to September. Depending on where you are on the planet, you may be able to find one near you.
I’m quite willing to go out of my way. Just retired after 35 years in public school teaching, so I can envision a whole pawpaw tour.
I’ll be selling pawpaw trees soon; I just planted 550. The one I planted in 2017 is bearing fruit this year!
Excellent! Did you plant seedlings or clones (cultivars)?
Half local wild stock from 5 areas; half improved stock.
Pawpaws are somewhat true to seed. Sunflower is the one that fruited this year, which is the cultivar I’d read was semi-self-fertile, but I can’t attest to the quality of that source.
I’ve got another 4-5 named cultivars (one is resprouting after a fungal infection):
Another dozen 3rd year from a different improvement program. Grafting will come eventually. I really look forward to quantifying their varying levels of toxicity.
I see that you are serious about this. It is really interesting to watch the domestication of a tree. Most fruit trees were domesticated hundreds or thousands of years ago. I think a priority for pawpaws should be to extend their shelf life. I will discuss more about tree domestication in upcoming stories on Our Trees.
I’ll look forward to that! I also agree about shelf-life/not bruising during transport. As well as fast growth, and fruiting under full-shade conditions (a 50% crop in some cases) to seamlessly integrate them into pecan orchards along the rows down which machines needn’t drive. The Choctaw Nation historically used the entire trunk as a cloth fiber source.
I’m trying to domesticate gum bully, too. Gum bully is about the size and shape of the peach before domestication. It was formerly harvested by Kiowa and Comanche. It tastes like a pear x blueberry. Plus many more trees: aronia, serviceberry, elderberry, et alia.
I think you are on the right track with domesticating native trees. People are increasingly interested in uncommon fruits, especially at farmers markets and CSAs. I have never tried gum bully and look forward to it, though I have to go further south than Kentucky to find it.
My experience with pawpaw (as a scientist, not as a grower) is that though they can be grown in full sun, they do much better and live longer with some shade. I really like the idea of growing pawpaw and pecan together.
I agree, they do seem to grow better not in full shade. Benson, from KYSU, really has had exceptional growth in full shade; I didn’t have much room to plant then and didn’t want to cut the overstory. I think Atwood is nearly as close. Both planted in 21 or 22 and are as big as cultivars planted in 2017. Same soil, slightly less sunlight.
So interesting. Lovely post. Thank you!
I've never tried the species of pawpaw that you focus on. When I lived in Malawi we had a papaya (Carica papaya) tree (also known as pawpaw by Amiericans) in our garden, which produced delicious fruit.
Good morning, Juliet. Yes, the naming is confusing. The name pawpaw which was originally applied to Carica papaya was used for Asimina by Portuguese explorers. The Algonquin name for this plant is Asimin, hence the Latin genus name. I wish we could use that name. In Malawi, you may have eaten related fruits like soursop.
Thanks Tom. Yes, I did eat soursop in Malawi, but we knew it only as custard apple, it was delicious.
I have three newly planted pawpaw trees in my backyard, all genetically different. Eagerly awaiting the day when they will be big enough to bear fruit!
Good. My pawpaw trees are beautiful and prolific.
The pawpaw was preferred by Baloo, I didnt know it might be in my neighborhood, too. It’s hard to find growing in Massachusetts and now I know why fruits are so rare. Glad to know more tasty products are coming on the market.
I think the pawppaw liked by Baloo was what we call papaya. The names are confusing.
Interesting. Of course, poetic license. Pawpaw is much more fund than papaya, musically.