I've been growing paw paw off and on over the past 15 years. Most often new growers try to start with seed. There are things that simply must be done to successfully grow this most northern of the ebony-family understorey tree. Never store seed dry (or frozen). The right place for paw paw seed is in moist soil and out of doors where you can minimally protect it. A cold frame is ideal. Simply seed stuck in a pot of very sandy soil and allowed to cold-stratify out of doors, with the pot bermed into a garden will do just fine. I usually set a plank on top of the pot when winter sets in. Once seed germinates in the spring transfer each seedling to its own one gallon or bigger pot with sandy soil. Grow out for the whole first year in nursery pot, plant to field spring # 2. Use this year to find a spot where this understorey tree can have some afternoon shade. Paw paw will happily grow in both sand and clay. I would dig out a largish hole in clay and leave rough edges in clay (it can become root bound in a smooth hole). Amend soil in planting hole with no more than 20% bark mulch. NO no none fertilizer. Stake your tree with barrier stakes. Lawn mowers and sapling paw paw do not mix. Mulch yearly out to trees drip edge with a top dressing of bark mulch. Water every three days it does not rain for the first summer in field. This tree will out grow the fragility of of its largish tender leaves after a few years. I have heard of people who built shade hats for saplings (but never tried that).
Thanks for the info, Coppice, but what do you do with the fruit when you have some? My tree will produce some fruit once my pollinator gets larger( my other one had to be moved when we expanded th septic system and didn't survive the experience). How far apart can the two be planted and still have good pollination? Does the tree bear both male and female flowers or only one of the other?
I believe they are insect pollinated. Within 100 feet should do for pollination. I don't know if this tree can be cloned. Or, for that matter if there is really any substative botanical difference between named and collected cultivars. You bring up one reason why this tree never became a bonsai candidate for me. It simply does not tolerate root pruning or transplant once planted to field. Paw paw are yummy fresh, jams, sorbet. baked into pies, puddings, salsa... Paw paw like prunes, will in very large servings get things moving... Very short people should have portions served to them vs free-forage off the tree. Paw paw has a distinctly penetrating banana-strawberry perfume. Little Suzy followed her nose to the paw paw patch...
Thanks for the info on growing pawpaws. There used to be a very huge pawpaw tree here in town, no idea of where the polinator is or was. The house was sold, and the new family cut it down! Awful, but what can you do? The previous owner was going to give me a few starts off of it, but it never happened. Maybe someday I will have a pawpaw tree around here.
Based on the few existing mature trees I saw in new england. Most were selected for bigger fruit size. I got the current batch of seed I'm growing out now from local seed. Bought fruit at the local farmers market. I simply set seed into pot after eating fruit (I like it fresh). Roots are just erupting when I peeked today. I expect baby seedlings to peek out of the pot in a week or so.
I have been looking for pawpaw fruit, but havent seen any in years. When I find some, I will try growing some trees.
