Very yummy - had not had one in years. Picked myself at a local museum.

Now I have a new project - growing paw paw from seed. Never tried it. 5 - 10 years from seed to fruit - big deal (Hey - I do bonsai)

So when asked, "Ever grow paw pw from seed?" I can say - Of course!

It took my two trees 7 years to bloom.

I think these like moist soil and do they need another tree to pollinate?

Should also note that as you know the fruit is soft and ripens very quickly. I am not aware of a way to store it for very long. I don't know if they are good frozen or canned but it doesn't seem likely. It would just be eating fresh and a short season, I think?

Frillylily said:I think these like moist soil and do they need another tree to pollinate?

They are an understory and grow best in very fertile soil. In the wild, they grow under oaks, etc in heavily wooded areas. Yes - they love soil on the moist side and seeds will not germinate unless kept moist. Seeds must be moist/cold stratified - keep in fridge for 3 months in peat or plant out over winter.

You will do best with at lest two trees, but the can self polinate. For the species, they can be same type. For those highly hybridized, you need two different varieties.

I sell two year old seedlings secured elsewhere. My first attemp at growing myself. Huge seeds and ~ 50 % of the fruit is seeds.

It was very yummy. Missouri banana.

Frillylily said:Should also note that as you know the fruit is soft and ripens very quickly. I am not aware of a way to store it for very long. I don't know if they are good frozen or canned but it doesn't seem likely. It would just be eating fresh and a short season, I think?

Virtually zero shelf life. The best fruit is secured on a tree a day or so before they fall. They bruise easily. It is possible to let ripen after picked, but that does not produce the best taste. Mine were fully ripened - I picked them up off the ground.

Doanno about canning, but some peeps use them in frozen things.

George Washington and Thomas Jefferson liked the fruit for deserts.
The flowers are quite unique.
Homebase for the Zebra Swallowtail BF.
Once fruiting size they can be pretty aggressive sending up shoots from underground trying to establish a colony.

Cold stratified, as far as seed goes means cold and damp. Never dried and in freezer. I tried pawpaw as bonsai over several years. Seedling and sapling trees to not tolerate root pruning.

Some shade helps seedling trees. Adequate watering helps more. Always plant two or more.

My best luck with transplanting seedling trees is to only slip them out of pot, while dormant.

Had one for an afternoon delight!

WooHoo .... yum I think I will go get some more tomorrow. Gonna winter sow some seeds as I have > 20 from 3 fruits.