Paw paws in Northwest New York

Welcome Michael, I'm new to this topic, and forums in general so I hope I won't be repeating questions that have been answered elsewhere.

I will be starting to farm again in NW (upstate) NY this summer (zone 6A) I have two overgrown hillsides that I plan to convert to fruit & nut permaculture orchards. Will paw-paws work in this area? If so, should they be planned as understory, or primary trees.

I have checked with the neighbors and nobody has ever seen paw-paws growing in this region so I am wondering if I should include them in my planning

Thank you for your inputs
-Rene

Rene Gobeyn wrote:Welcome Michael, I'm new to this topic, and forums in general so I hope I won't be repeating questions that have been answered elsewhere.

I will be starting to farm again in NW (upstate) NY this summer (zone 6A) I have two overgrown hillsides that I plan to convert to fruit & nut permaculture orchards. Will paw-paws work in this area? If so, should they be planned as understory, or primary trees.

I have checked with the neighbors and nobody has ever seen paw-paws growing in this region so I am wondering if I should include them in my planning

Thank you for your inputs
-Rene

6A sounds doable as long as they are in sheltered/microclimated sites, ie not windy, south facing. I would talk with Akiva Silver of twisted tree nursery there in NY for the most regionally adapted seed stock.
Full sun is ideal for fruiting and needed summer warmth.