Pawpaws

Tropical

Combining the essence of a tropical paradise with the resilience of its temperate origins, the pawpaw bridges the gap between two worlds and invites you to indulge in a rich,  tropical experience from the comfort of your own backyard.

Custardy

Delight in the pawpaw’s luscious, custardy texture as you savor each bite of its sweet, aromatic pulp. Whether blended into smoothies, transformed into creamy desserts, baked into breads, or enjoyed fresh off the tree, the pawpaw offers a unique, one-of-a-kind fruit experience. 

Alluring

Embrace the allure of the pawpaw as it allows you to escape the ordinary through its fleeting season, evasive nature, and exotic flavor, offering a taste journey that transcends boundaries and exceeds expectations. 

Historic

An invaluable guide and interpreter for Lewis and Clark during their expedition from 1804 to 1806, Sacagawea played a crucial role in helping the crew survive in unfamiliar environments. She taught them about the importance of the pawpaw, which the crew, at one point, relied heavily on for sustenance.

FAQ
  • What does a pawpaw taste like?   
  • Pawpaws have a unique flavor profile often described as a mix            of banana and mango with hints of vanilla or caramel. Some cultivars may also exhibit mild cantaloupe, melon or berry undertones. Besides it unusual tropical flavor and luscious custard-like texture, the pawpaw is also known for its amazing aromatic quality which is like a mix of tropical fruits balanced with a faint earthiness. Combining all these qualities, pawpaw is a wonderfully engaging sense experience of taste, touch and smell. 

  • How do you eat a pawpaw?

              Pawpaws are typically eaten fresh when ripe. To eat, simply                cut the fruit in half, scoop out the creamy flesh with a spoon                and enjoy! For the more adventurous fruit experience, discard            the spoon altogether and enjoy directly out-of-hand. In baking, pawpaw makes an excellent substitute in any recipe that calls for banana (including bread, pudding, and pie). However, It’s best culinary application may be as homemade ice cream!

              *NOTE:  The seeds ARE NOT edible and the skin can give a                bitter “off” flavor and is best if not eaten.

  • Where can I find pawpaws?

             Pawpaw trees grow in the wild across much of the eastern                   United States, particularly in moist, fertile areas. Most often,               wild patches are clonal colonies (ie: every tree has identical                 genetics) that have grown from root suckers and will not have             fruit, despite their expansiveness within the understory. This is due to, a lack of cross-pollination.  As a result of its increasing                 popularity, the pawpaw can now be purchased from specialty             nurseries and cultivated in home gardens. It is still uncommon,           however, to find the fruit for sale but it is finding its way into               local farmer’s markets and specialty stores. In addition, there             is also a growing niche for pawpaw orchards where fruit can               be purchased on-site and in-season.

Growing Tips for Success

 Choose the Right Location:

    • When choosing a tree to plant, one of the most important questions to ask yourself first is, “Is this specific tree suited to my specific climate?” If you can answer, “yes”, the next step is to consider your specific site conditions. Pawpaw trees prefer well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. Our rule of thumb is, “the more sun, the more fruit.” While pawpaws native habitat is as an understory tree, the grafted varieties thrive in full-sun and produce more abundant and full-size fruit in that type of location. The pawpaw also needs to be planted much closer together (8-10 feet) than most other fruit trees, making it a great choice for those with limited space.
    • Plant in Groups:
      • Pawpaw trees are not self-pollinating and require cross-pollination between different varieties for optimal fruit production. Planting a minimum of three different varieties ensures successful pollination and also provides continued pollination should something happen to one of the trees.   Pawpaws are pollinated by flies and other beetle-type insects and receive the best pollination when planted 8-10 feet apart from one another.
        • Provide Adequate Water and Mulch:
        • Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during the tree’s first few years of growth, to promote healthy root development.  When the pawpaw is young (1-3 years), water deeply and regularly (2-3 times per week), particularly during dry periods. Once the tree is older (3+ years), they only need watered during dry spells or drought conditions.  It is extremely helpful to apply a layer (2-3 inches) of organic mulch around the base of the tree (without touching the tree) to help retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and provide nutrients. Avoid overwatering, as pawpaw trees are susceptible to root rot in waterlogged soil.
        • Signs of Underwatering and Overwatering
          Underwatering:
          • Wilting or curling leaves
          • Browning or drying of leaf edges
          • Stunted growth or fruit drop
          • Overwatering
          • Yellowing leaves
          • Root rot symptoms (mushy roots or foul odor)
          • Poor growth due to oxygen-deprived roots

Pawpaws Grow Great Here!

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