pawpaw trees

[thatonedude]

ive collected some seeds of pawpaw trees from the wild. I germed some last year but the last winter killed them. it was COLD an the pots were above ground unprotected.

this year im going to do it right. my question is, do I need to collect new seed or will last yearsa work? they have been in the fridg stratifying this whole time. they are in moist peat.

im thinking to germ them now and grow them inside. then I can move them out in like may or june and then if I have too bring them back in for the winter.

once they are like 3 years old I should be able to plant them in the ground in direct sunlight.

I know the y need shade the first few years

 

[Betterhaff]

If they have been in the fridge since you got them I don’t think there should be a problem (unless they rotted or got moldy). The only way you’ll find out is to give them a go. Why not collect more, it’s that time of year and they’re so good. If you do collect fresh seeds you will have to stratify them (a few months).

A few years ago I wanted to plant some seedlings but never got around to it. From what I know you need to have more than 1 tree for cross pollination to assure good fruit set.

 

[thatonedude]

I plan on planting about 30 or so of them so pollination shouldn't be a problem. I heard they can take up to 15 years to produce fruit. you know if there is any truth to that?

 

[Betterhaff]

Not sure on fruit bearing age but 15 years seems like a long time. I have heard they are rather slow growing.

 

[mia_reddog]

I love pawpaws! Can't find them here in Miami though. Last month I was in KY and found a few ripe ones. Good luck with your grow. 30 trees will give you a real good harvest!

 

[stoned-trout]

never even heard of them...

 

[br26]

where are the paw paw trees? i've been foraging for years and can't find one. they are around . i follow the zebra swallowtail butterflies, but they don't take me to the symbiotic paw paw they live on.

 

[fatsack79]

Got one in my backyard... Some yrs it's produces more then others... Last yr there were 100's n I mean pawpaw's galore... This yr there was only about 20 or so that I found on the ground... It's been there since we bought the property...

 

[thatonedude]

they grow all throughout the mid west and east coast. pretty much everywhere east of the Mississippi and a little west of it too. well they do need a temperate climate so they wont bee found in the deep south where it never gets cold. they usually grow around running water. they send out very deep taproots (10 inches or more) before any growth is visible above ground.

they are related to the mango, the only temperate species in that family. they taste a lot like a banana, they are even called the Indiana banana as one of its common names.

im giving my old seeds a shot, haven't had a chance to collect any new ones yet. it may take a month to germinate and another before they actually break the surface of the soil.

 

[Gry]

Man those things are good. Have not had one in years. I did have a neighbour share some guava off a tree in his backyard this year that were amazing - until the squirrels found out about them !

 

[thatonedude]

so 2 of the 4 seeds I planted germinated.

the 2 that didn't germinate came from a different fruit that was already fallen and had tuned black like an over ripe banana,

the good seeds came from a very mature fruit that was beginning to become over ripe while still attached to the tree.

 

[Betterhaff]

Congratulations, were these fresh seeds or the ones you had? I recently read that paw paws reach fruit bearing age when trees are about 6 feet which usually takes 5 to 6 years. Also said that grafted trees can bear fruit after 3 years from planting probably due to the maturity of the grafted stock.

 

[thatonedude]

yes they are the ones that I had in storage. I plan on starting all that I have soon. which isn't many so I am either going to have to collect more or buy a name variety tree, from a nursery. or both so I can get some genetic variation and have something to try some grafts with

 

[Betterhaff]

Even with seedlings from the same source you should be fine as far as enough variation for fruit set, you just need cross pollination between 2 plants. Another cultivar may add some diversity to the pool but that wouldn’t be realized until you grew the next generation of cross pollinated plants from the different lines.

 

[monkey5]

thatonedude, You might want to keep those pots with you pawpaw seeds that have germed for you inside a garage or heated basement! Any time temps drop below the freezing mark..even near to freezing can kill pawpaw trees in pots! My brother has a yard full of pawpaw trees! My take is you would be father ahead by buying grafted trees grafted on to root stock for your area! I hope this helps you! monkey5

 

[monkey5]

Trees like shade not full sun too!

Trees like shade not full sun too!

Pawpaw trees take from 7 to 8 or more years to produce fruit! From seed it may take ten years! I never saw my brothers trees fruit any time! Search the nursury's for pawpaw trees! https://www.willisorchards.com/product/eastern-seedling-pawpaw-tree#.VIecU9LF-So ~~ After about 4 years you can move your trees to full sun at that point in time! They do taste great though! monkey5

 

[budman678]

they all over my property...we call em redneck bananas...

ky

 

[thatonedude]

thatonedude, You might want to keep those pots with you pawpaw seeds that have germed for you inside a garage or heated basement! Any time temps drop below the freezing mark..even near to freezing can kill pawpaw trees in pots! My brother has a yard full of pawpaw trees! My take is you would be father ahead by buying grafted trees grafted on to root stock for your area! I hope this helps you! monkey5

I currently have them in my heated basement under cfls. hoping to get a jump on the outdoor growing season. I figure in may or so I will move them outside on the back deck which is covered. and after 3 years in the pot which are deep tree pots they will go into the ground in full sun for most of the midday.