Are You Growing Your Own Paw-Paws? How Are They Doing?

I have a pair of paw paw trees that I bought a couple years ago as seedlings. I put them in pots because I don't have room for them in my yard and want to take them with me when we move. They are about four feet tall now and I got my first bloom this summer. I don't imagine they will ever fruit while they are in the pots, but maybe. I bought them after reading about them and becoming intrigued. I just tasted my first paw paw last weekend and can't wait to get fruit off of mine. The flavor of the one I tried was like pineapple with a touch of banana.

I have two pawpaws I planted 4 years ago in my yard.  Just got the first two fruit this year, hoping for more next year.  I have one generic seedling and one "Shanandoah" named cultivar.  The seedling has grown much taller that the Shanandoah, it might be twice as tall.  But the Shanandoah gets a lot more flowers, and it was the one to set fruit this year.

Pawpaws have a long taproot, they might not survive many years in a pot, but maybe if you are moving soon you can just keep them alive long enough to get them in the ground.

I have a few pawpaw trees. When I remember to manually pollinate them, I get a lot of fruit.  When I don't, like this year, I get some fruit but not a whole lot.
John S
PDX OR

I have two Pawpaws that I bought from Raintree two years ago. So far they only manage to put out a little new growth each year, but at least they are surviving. I'm planning on getting some more this next year and I just ordered some seeds to see if I cant get a few to sprout over the winter. I've only ever eaten a single pawpaw in my life and can't wait for my own.

I received 4 small bare root plants from a kick starter but they were quite black when I received them and none of them grew.

Is there anyone willing to send me seed?
Every one I have asked only wants to send plants.

we have 26 pawpaw trees along the creek that runs through the middle of our property. they're still young - no flowering yet - i think they've been in the ground for three growing seasons?. i've been fertilizing/mulching with black walnut hulls for the last couple years, which has really sped up growth (at least in those cases where they're not in too much shade). a few of the trees put on 3 or 3.5 feet of growth this year. interestingly, the grafted tress are struggling the most - barely growing, losing most of their leaves earlier. it looks like 6 will be ready for grafting in the spring (have to remember to bank some scion wood over the winter!). 2 came pre-grafted (peterson varieties). most of the trees are seedlings from an orchard of only cultivars, so the plan is to train them to double-leader and only graft one side over to known cultivars, so we can see what the fruit is like on the seedlings/rootstock.

i probably will have seed available. i have a big bed of seedlings, too, and am nearly maxed out for places to plant them here. i think i'll probably top out at 30.

i grow all my pawpaws in pots. they do fruit when they reach 5-6 ft in height they are slow grower in comparison when planted in ground.

I've bought some seedlings every year for years. Loads of dead pawpaws. I'm hoping the ones I planted last year survive the winter. We shall see.

I will trade 3 pounds of winter hardy kale seed for a few fresh paw paw seeds.

I planted about 50 in the last two years. Most are still alive. I just ringed them all with paper leaf bags and shredded leaves. Hopefully that will help them survive through the winter. Most are only about 2-3' tall. I think I ordered them from a Missouri forestry program.

greg mosser wrote:we have 26 pawpaw trees along the creek that runs through the middle of our property. they're still young - no flowering yet - i think they've been in the ground for three growing seasons?. i've been fertilizing/mulching with black walnut hulls for the last couple years, which has really sped up growth (at least in those cases where they're not in too much shade). a few of the trees put on 3 or 3.5 feet of growth this year. interestingly, the grafted tress are struggling the most - barely growing, losing most of their leaves earlier. it looks like 6 will be ready for grafting in the spring (have to remember to bank some scion wood over the winter!). 2 came pre-grafted (peterson varieties). most of the trees are seedlings from an orchard of only cultivars, so the plan is to train them to double-leader and only graft one side over to known cultivars, so we can see what the fruit is like on the seedlings/rootstock.

i probably will have seed available. i have a big bed of seedlings, too, and am nearly maxed out for places to plant them here. i think i'll probably top out at 30.

Hey Neighbor, Lemme know if you'd like to do any trading.

Hans et al,
Be careful with pawpaw seed. It is like citrus seed, in that, if it dries out, it is useless.  The best time to get pawpaw seed is in the fall, when the fruit is being harvested.  Hans, pm me if you are ever planning to be in the Portland area. I believe that I will be able to give you a pawpaw seedling tree.
John S
PDX OR

I grew pawpaw trees from seeds last year. A few seeds were purchased online at almost $1 each. They arrived in June 2019 packaged like regular seeds, dry in a plastic bag. Other seeds were from fresh fruit from local market and thus have never been dried.

I stratified them all in fridge till April 2020 and planted in pot outdoor. All seeds germinated in July, they are really slow grower from the start. I guess if I leave the seeds overwinter outside maybe they will come up a bit early in spring.

I planted the seedlings in three different locations in my yard and they all grew to 5 to 6 inches tall the first season. Now they are all waking up with new growth. I am curious how much bigger they will get this year.