PawPaw

Site & soil

Pawpaw grows best in partial sun, such as dappled light under a taller canopy or a spot with morning sun and afternoon shade. It prefers moist, slightly acidic, well-drained soil that holds water without staying saturated (NC State Extension). It is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 8, needs 400 to 1,000 chill hours, and has moderate water needs once established.

Spacing

Mature trees reach about 25 ft tall with a 15 to 20 ft spread. We recommend spacing trees 30 ft apart. Pawpaw produces root suckers and will gradually form a colony if they are left in place.

Pollination

Pawpaw flowers cannot pollinate themselves. Plant at least two genetically different trees, either two named cultivars or two seedlings. Two grafted trees of the same cultivar will not pollinate each other. Flowers open in mid spring and are pollinated mainly by flies and beetles rather than bees.

Planting

Pawpaw roots are fleshy and brittle, with few fine root hairs, which makes the tree sensitive to transplanting (Kentucky State University). Handle the roots gently, keep them from drying out, and plant in spring as new growth begins.

• Dig a hole wide enough for the roots to spread without curling.
• Set the tree at the depth it was growing, with the root collar level with the soil surface.
• Backfill with native soil, firm it gently, and water immediately.

First-year care

Young pawpaws are sensitive to full sun. Kentucky State University recommends shading trees for the first year, and sometimes the second, using shade cloth or a site where a taller tree provides afternoon shade.

Consistent soil moisture matters most during the first two years. Mulch a few inches deep, keeping mulch off the trunk, and keep grass and weeds out of the root zone. Growth above ground is slow in the first season while the root system establishes.

Pruning

Prune in late winter to remove dead, damaged, or rubbing branches. Decide early how to manage root suckers: leave them to form a colony, or cut them at the base each year to keep a single-trunk tree.

Harvest

Grafted trees can begin flowering 2 to 3 years after planting, and seedlings generally take 4 to 8 years (Kentucky State University). Fruit ripens from August to October (NC State Extension).

Color is not a reliable indicator of ripeness. A ripe pawpaw yields to gentle pressure like a ripe peach, separates from the branch with a light tug, and has a strong fruity aroma. Ripe fruit keeps only a few days at room temperature, so refrigerate it, or freeze the pulp for baking and desserts.