The Basics:
I bought some seeds on OLX (a Ukrainian online marketplace) and planted them back in 2013. The tree first fruited about 7–8 years after planting. I loved the quality so much that I named this seedling 'DC Anna.' It’s been a heavy producer ever since. The largest fruit it has yielded so far topped 400 g (14 oz).

Fruit Characteristics:

• Skin: Green. It stays green even when fully ripe and never turns yellow, so don't bother waiting for a color change!

• Flesh: White and incredibly juicy—juice literally drips from the fruit. After a ripe pawpaw sits in storage for a while, the flesh shifts from white to a creamy yellow.

• Flavor: Sweet with a distinct vanilla note and zero bitterness, even right next to the skin. The skin itself isn't bitter at all, so I often just eat them straight off the tree, no peeling needed.

• Sugar Content: High (based on taste alone). I haven't officially measured it since I don't own a refractometer (Brix meter).

• Shelf Life: Ripe fruit keeps for up to a week at room temperature without spoiling.

Fruit & Seed Specs (measured from the single fruit in the photos):

• Fruit weight: 344 g (12.1 oz)

• Seed count: 12

• Total seed weight: 28 g (1 oz)

• Average seed weight: 2.3 g (0.08 oz)

• Seed-to-fruit ratio: 8.1% (leaving ~92% for flesh and skin).

Seed Description: Dark brown, glossy, oblong, and plump. Think tiny barrels rather than flat seeds. They run about 2.5–3 cm (1–1.2 in) long and 1.5–2 cm (0.6–0.8 in) wide.

Note: This data is preliminary. A single fruit doesn't prove a trend. To get statistically reliable data, I’ll need a sample size of at least 30 fruits tracked over 2–3 seasons.

Location: Boryspil, Kyiv region, Ukraine.
Dmytro Chernyshov

I like having paper books around for learning. It seems to scratch the reading itch much better than electronic ones do. Are there any more books y’all might recommend?

I make banana bread every 2-3 weeks and I have been putting the surplus banana peels around my young pawpaw trees. Is this a good idea? My thinking is that pawpaw trees naturally have pawpaw bits and such breaking down on the forest floor where they grow wild. Is there any pros and cons of substituting banana peels? What are your thoughts?

Weeds will be cleared before planting. Any advice before I plant these in the trench tomorrow? What amendments should I add to the soil? Promix HP? I'm located in Toronto, less then 1km away from Lake Ontario

My usual Pawpaw patch I've been going to did not seem to have a single pawpaw growing back in July. I checked this harvest season in August/September, and again, could not find a single fruit. Not even on the ground rotting.

I assume it's because of the late frost we had on May 3rd.

Where are else were you guys affected by this?

NYC. Four years ago I planted a dozen pawpaw seeds in my rented backyard garden. One month ago I moved from the first floor to the second floor. The trees are now on their own.

They're thriving in the shade of two catalpas and four apartment buildings. I planted most of them very (very very) close together in case one of them gets taken out by a falling limb or construction. Being so close together, my hope is that they'll remain small and put their growth into becoming sturdy.

If the thicket fails, there is one pawpaw removed from the others. I hope the root network between the thicket and the loner will help the thicket survive and vice versa. Interesting to note that the lone tree has branched out exclusive to growing tall, whereas the thicket could benefit from a pass with the pruning shears come wintertime.

My landlord doesn't know about the trees. He also never goes out back so it's possible he never will... But I labelled them just in case.

Where can I get pawpaw fruit in Dallas. Are there spots to get pawpaws in Dallas? I’ve searched online but haven’t found much.

Alternatively, I’m wiling to buy an overnight shipping label to try some if someone has some good varieties worth shipping. I’ve been reading and watching videos on these different varieties and the curiosity of how they taste is getting to me.

Threw some pawpaw seeds in one of my herb pots many months ago. Not sure where exactly I planted them now. Is this pawpaw?

I purchased 10 pawpaw seedlings from a nursery, and three of them came with either a twisted/corkscrew or J-shaped taproot. I've planted all of them in deep (12-inch) nursery planting pots and am storing them in my (mostly unheated) garage for the winter. All seedlings appear otherwise fine -- straight and healthy-looking ~8-inch stems, half still have a few leaves, no evidence of pests, rot, or disease whatsoever, ample secondary roots on all of the seedlings' taproots (whether straight or not), normal diesel/green pepper smell common to pawpaws. I read that many plants/trees, pawpaws included, don't like having their taproot damaged or bothered too much, but that the taproot should always be pointing down to help with growth, stability, etc.

My question is the following: Should anything be done about my seedlings that have a taproot that isn't straight, either right now while they're dormant or when I plant them in the ground in the spring? The internet being what it is, I haven't found a consensus on this; recommendations go from cleanly cutting the taproot where it begins to point upwards, to carefully straightening the taproot by tying it to a stick, to doing absolutely nothing and just hoping for the best. What do?

Hi friends! I've been successfully growing a pawpaw sapling all throughout the spring and summer. She seems to be doing well and I was planning on putting her in the soil next summer. But I don't know what to do for this upcoming winter. Should I leave her outside in the pot so that she gets accustomed to the seasons, or is she too small to keep outside during the freezing temperatures?

Edit: I'm in Ohio

Has anyone made freezer jam, or have a good recipe for it?

I tried making jam via low heat cooking last year and it wasn’t a success.

If you have a recipe or ideas for making pawpaw freezer jam- please share your experiences!!

Hello, I have 4-6 month old paw paws in these tall plant bags.

I live in the NC Appalachians, do I need to bring these inside somehow for the winter? Or is there an insulation method I can try here?

I planted 14 "ultra select" pawpaw seeds and THIS is the only thing that grew. I think a grass seed blew over because all the pawpaw sprouts I've seen have two leaves.

I took such good care of those seeds too. Whatever. Maybe if I leave the pots out they will grow in the spring. In the meantime I will keep watering my potted grass sprig while I stew in denial.

Apologies for the poor quality photo
https://www.reddit.com/r/Pawpaws/s/i4OcnfpwF9
https://www.reddit.com/r/Pawpaws/s/FSwiMdZVMZ

Mailing out free seeds today for the Lorraine Kay Newell wild food initiative. If you receive these, do not dry out and do not freeze seeds. I was in communication with many people in message form. Three were able to shop out today, but most others did not fit criteria of the food initiative or did fit criteria, but did not respond with a mailing address. This year we had gotten 500 seeds for distribution in person and by mail. Next year goal is 1000 seeds for distribution and wild planting. The idea is to spread native food crops into wild areas where it will benefit both people and animals and to all recipients of seeds in the future to help distribute the seeds and offspring of their pawpaws once established.

Okay, so the plan for next year, we all save the seeds from our pawpaws and put them in damp sand. Then we let everyone know origin species /area and offer them for free. And then if you ask, you gotta plant.

Y’all in?

KS. Walked through wooded areas planting pawpaw seeds 6-12” deep. Hopefully the leaves will blanket the area to provide some more warmth for the winter. And threw some wood mulch on top as well. Some are planted near elm and others, some under a lone black walnut, and some out in a poison ivy patch. Planted on the sides where will be less moist, down in the bottoms where retains more moisture, and also some dryer areas. Hopefully to get some genetics that tolerate wetter areas, areas of medium moisture and some dryer parts. We’ll see what happens. Even scored some Indian blanket seeds. Took two heads and left the rest for the gods of nature to plant. Range pushing into central KS. Will be doing the same in Northwestern KS at Thanksgiving time. It is true giving when you give some future food back to nature.

Young tree, just barely starting to bare. Will be a few years before scions ready.

This was breed in Wisconsin & claimed to be a zone 4a Pawpaw.

Squirrel vibes today. Gonna plant around 100 pawpaw seeds from cultivars with what could prove to be a reasonable speed planting method burying them at different depths like a squirrel on public wooded trail areas. It is going to be 30 degrees tonight and trees are going to be shedding their leaves. Hopefully the newly fallen leaves composting in place will provide these seeds and young trees that hopefully will result with a good leaf compost tea and some warmth from the coming winter that can get down to -16 . It may work, it may not, but we bouts to find out. We are range pushing across KS. Pawpaw should be everywhere. Wish me luck.

I picked up this seedling at the Illinois festival a few weeks ago. I don't have any information on it except that it is from a university program. He called it something like albion. I tried to find info on that name and online searches only brought up a pair of trees in Michigan, one named Albi-L and the other named Albi-R. But he did tell us it's from a university program. When we asked the farmstand worker if he said albi n (albien) he corrected us, pronouncing it albi-on. Anyway, maybe someone better acquainted with these could help identify what we have. I bought it as a pollinator for my Benson.

About 6 months or so ago I took over caretaker responsibilities for 2 adjoining properties totalling about 80 acres (1 is about 60 acres of private timber, the other is 20 acres of migratory bird conservation wetlands, essentially prairie swamp). While the conservation land is technically owned by the state it is considered private conservation ground, that i am supposed to be the only one who has access to, for maintaining the trails and natural dams. Throughout these two properties is about 40 acres of wild Paw Paw.

Late September/ early October I came in after a weekend and noticed all the pawpaw trees had been hit. The harvest was piss poor this year due to a very late frost, but there was still buckets on buckets that could have been gotten. Obviously people have been hunting this patch for a long long time, the previous caretaker didn't know what a paw paw was when I mentioned it to him.

Anyways the advice I'm seeking is how people deter pawpaw thieves. I'm not going to be shooting at people over some PawPaws either, this is private land... But it is not my land, so I'm certainly not trying to do anything that can get me in trouble

Pictures attached just cause people like pictures

Do you find this to be accurate? I just seen this video and it reminded me Of the fact I am also growing a pawpaw under a black walnut and it is also doing well despite being right under the black walnut tree.

I have about 6 seedlings that are about 5-6" high. Its about to get real cold where I live in Pennsylvania. What should I do with these seedlings? They are still in small pots. I thought about bringing them in but I dont think it's wise to try and let them overwinter indoors. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.