Cantaloupe Pawpaw
Cantaloupe: Big, Early & Free
With its sweet cantaloupe flavor, good fruit size, freestone seeds and cold hardiness and early ripening, Cantaloupe has a lot to offer those wanting a great pawpaw experience.
Price range: $54.99 through $124.99
Cantaloupe: Big, Early & Free
Part of the popular trio of freestone pawpaws found on a historic estate in Kentucky and introduced to the pawpaw world by Woody Walker, “Cantaloupe” is a great addition to any pawpaw planting.
As the name suggests, the flavor is reminiscent of ripe cantaloupe but much sweeter and with a wonderfully smooth and buttery texture.
When paired with its excellent flavor, the freestone quality makes it a favorite among those processing pawpaws because of the ease in removing the seeds. Trees reliably produce good to heavy crops of fruit that are the largest of the three freestone cultivars in the series.
The tree is especially cold-hardy and fruits are early-ripening. Some have suggested its usefulness in breeding efforts for new higher-quality, colder hardy, earlier ripening cultivars. Ripens August-September.
Key Features of Cantaloupe Pawpaw:
- Released by Woody Walker
- Found in historic orchard in central KY
- Smooth, buttery texture
- Exceptionally sweet cantaloupe flavor
- Freestone seeds
- A favorite among processors
- Reliable, heavy crops
- Largest fruit size of the 3 freestone released by Woody Walker
- Especially cold-hardy
- Early ripening
- Recommended for Northern growers
USDA Zones: 5-8
Spacing: 8-10 foot centers (Requires closer spacing for better pollination.)
Pollination Requirements: Pawpaws require more than 1 cultivar for cross-pollination (This means you need at least two trees with different names. We recommend planting 3 to ensure excellent pollination.)
Grown & Shipped In: 4x4x9 tree pots with advanced root systems
Shipping Season: Spring (dormant) & Autumn (not dormant) – Subject to tree availability
Beautiful Beginnings Pawpaws have highly-developed and extensive root systems that set your tree up for success from the very beginning by helping it to anchor well and grow vigorously with proper care. Trees are also grown and shipped in a way to help them handle transplant stress better and to be able to uptake nutrients more effectively.
