Experimenting with pawpaws in zone 8b, Tucson

[TucsonKen]

In spring of 2012 I took several pawpaw seeds out of the refrigerator and placed them on moist perlite in a clear plastic container. Once root tips appeared, I planted them directly in the ground. Earlier attempts had failed due to something eating the fresh seedlings, so I protected each seed with a cylinder cut from a plastic bottle. Having been told they grow as understory trees, I planted a couple under other fruit trees and protected the rest with shadecloth once they had sprouted. (I've since realized it's a mistake to plant them beneath trees because things get too crowded, and they want more sun as they get bigger.)

My reason for planting directly in the ground was to avoid transplant shock and allow unimpeded development of the deep tap root, which I figured would help them survive Tucson's hot, dry climate.

I have been surprised at the extremely variable growth rates of individual plants. All seedlings are the same age, but when I measured this morning, the tallest is 67 inches and the smallest (circled), apparently a natural dwarf--but otherwise healthy--is a mere ten inches.

The tall one (on the right, in both composite images) produced its first (and only) flower in May of 2016, but set no fruit. The other composite image of the two largest trees was taken 21 December 2016 to show one season's growth.

[Kelby]

Looks like they are doing well! I have some 4-5+ year old seedlings that haven't fruited yet, so don't worry.

[TucsonKen]

Are yours from wild-collected seed, or from named cultivars? Do you have any other, older pawpaws that are bearing?

[Kelby]

I have 2 to older pawpaws, one a purchased seedling, maybe 5-6 years old and the other I started from seed 6-7 years ago and transplanted. The purchased one has flowered for the last 2 years, but they have no polllinator. I grafted some Sunflower onto it this spring, and see flower buds on it, so hopefully I will finally get fruit off my own next fall.

I also have around 40-50 seedlings from various sources I started this spring.

[npolaske]

I live about 40 miles north of Ken, but about 2000 ft higher in elevation. It's about 5-10 F cooler on average. I planted three pawpaws spring of this year. I had an area that was too shady due to some large oak trees so it seemed like a perfect place to try them. They didn't grow much this first year, but I've read that is normal for them to take some time getting their tap root established before they take off.

The varieties I have are:

Sweet Potato (JFE)
Prolific (Raintree)
Mango (Raintree)

Ken's results give me hope that these might actually do well in desert climates!

[TucsonKen]

Mine started off pretty slowly, too--I think one of the main things any pawpaw grower needs is patience. I should have planted them when I was ten years younger! You may want to try a bunch of seeds in the ground as well, to see how the growth rate compares to nursery stock, and if any of them grow a lot faster than the others, use them as rootstock.

[DBJohnson]

In the next year or two while getting my pawpaw seedlings (currently still seeds) established, I plan to sow sunflowers around them to provide the needed shade/overstory. I ran this plan by Jerry Lehman and several others while at the Ohio Pawpaw Festival in September and was told it should work well.

[TucsonKen]

Good idea! I was recently sent a new batch of seeds, so maybe I'll try growing some kind of temporary shade crop as well. Thanks for sharing the tip.

[don_sanders]

A bottomless 5 gallon bucket is a good option too if curb appeal isn't important.

[TucsonKen]

Don, I'm not sure what you mean here--I think I'm probably missing something. Are you saying to just put the cylindrical wall of a bottomless bucket around the seedling, open to the sky? Or would you cover it with some shadecloth or something? If it's only surrounded by the bucket, I'd be afraid the plant would get cooked at noon, when the sun is directly overhead.

[npolaske]

Ken, hopefully within a few years I can give you some scion wood to graft onto your strong seedlings.

I actually had my first pawpaw this year while foraging through a river bottom around St. Louis in late September. They were amazingly unique and delicious, especially considering they were growing wild. I'm hoping the named varieties are even better! At the very least, it appears they produce bigger fruit.

I've also read they hate to have their roots disturbed, so I bet sprouting a seed and then planting it right away, followed by grafting onto it after a few years would be the fastest route to an established, name-variety tree.

[TucsonKen]

I'm kind of embarrassed to admit that I've never even seen an actual pawpaw fruit, let alone tasted one--so I'm not sure why the notion of growing pawpaws has so captured my imagination. However, there's something quite satisfying about seeing the trees grow from year to year, especially when I was assured they wouldn't survive here. They still may never fruit (although I'm optimistic that they will), but even if they don't, it's been worth it just to grow the trees.

[TucsonKen]

My pawpaws have pretty much finished flowering. I tried a little hand-pollinating, but never seemed to show up with my paintbrush at the right time. However, I saw numerous little flies on the flowers and assumed nature would get the pollen where it needed to go. This morning I noticed a couple of flowers had dropped their petals, but the stalks were still attached. Can any of you pawpaw experts tell me whether that means they've been pollinated?

[Gr8Figs]

It looks like you may have one there,but sometimes they fall off shortly after beginning to develop into a fruit.

[TucsonKen]

Thanks, Barry--I can see much more clearly what's going on in your photos, and what to look for on my trees. I'll hope at least one of these fruit embryos will develop all the way to maturity.

[TucsonKen]

I guess the trees are still too young--six flowers set fruit, but all fell off within a few days. Maybe next year!

[randy/ga]

barry, do you grow any of the peterson series of pawaws? if so what are your impressions/experiences/opinions?? i am in n.e. ga also so was wondering about your success with them. pawpaws and jujubes are on my list to try in the future. randy/ga

[Gr8Figs]

Sorry,but I don't grow any Peterson pawpaws. http://www.petersonpawpaws.com/About.php

I have some unnamed pawpaw trees that my Aunt gave me in the 90's and some wild pawpaws that grow around my property.I did graft a Mango variety on 4 trees last year and ended up with 2 grafts that have leafed out and growing this Spring.I haven't gotten too overly excited about my pawpaws and fruit production,but I do enjoy piddling with them .

Fig trees are a lot more rewarding IMO as long as you grow varieties suited for your area.This year I started a row of raspberries that will ripen in late Summer and fall to extend my berry picking.My wild dewberries and blackberries are blooming now and should be ripe in June. I planted a patch of assorted gooseberries and currants in a semi shaded spot about a month ago ; I'm hoping that they can survive the Summer heat in Georgia.