I was hoping to get some insight as to what to do in regards to my pawpaws. I planted 2 two year old trees last late spring/early summer in zone 5a. They stayed green all season into October and one even had some new growth. All of my other trees and bushes in my yard have already budded, but my pawpaw babies still haven’t shown any life. I’ve got two new plants ready to plant so I was just wondering when I should call it for these trees?

Who culls their clusters, and to what extent? And WHEN do you usually do it? I have read some people using nail clippers. Of course you could only do this on trees where you can reach the fruit easily. I have never tried it, but on some of my trees I get clusters of 4-6 that would prob be better as a 2-4 cluster. Thought I may give it a try this year!

I know that drying ripened pawpaws can cause nausea when eaten, however the native Americans had a method to dry pawpaws that worked. I’m wondering if drying them unripe prevents whatever bad component that causes nausea from coming out in the drying process. It may be worth a try?

I have 4 young pawpaws (2 years old) do I need to cover them with shade cloth again this summer? Thanks for any help.

I woke up yesterday morning to find both of my recently planted pawpaw seedlings had their tips broken off. It was windy out so not sure if that's what did it or something else. They were both starting to bud out at the time of the break. I was able to find one of the tips, which was about 1/3 of the tree. I decided to try grafting it back on by making the tip into a wedge and the rooted end into a V and then wrapping with teflon tape.

Pic of the graft

Should I keep the graft on or should I just accept the loss and let it try and regrow?

Since pawpaws often have issues with low pollination, has anyone had any success in planting other plants to attract pollinators? I'd think the plants would either have to provide habitat for the pollinators or flower around the same time as pawpaws to provide an additional food source.

So my two young trees are both filled with these weird flies. I have never seen any flies like them. They are kind of small. The have black and white stripes on their back. But almost every branch has these flies on the end of it. Was wondering if you guys knew what they are. I will try to add a picture when I get home.

Anyone GROWING* Would love to chat with someone for some advice and possibly some pollen if you have any to spare. My young trees just got their first blooms but don't seen to be very in sync with each other. Do the blooms keep coming or do they grow buds once and that's it?

Can a paw paw produce fruit if you hand pollinate the female flowers with pollen from the same tree?

Part of my land is the bottom of a floodplain that slowly forms into a creek. I'm considering planting pawpaws on the edge of the flooded forest. I know that they typically grow on riverbanks but I've read that they need well drained soil. I'm curious if you all think they would survive with some soil ammendments or perhaps on a hugelkultur mound. The soil is a dense clay that drains very slowly. Thanks

Has anyone tried a pawpaw frozen yogurt? I've made a couple icecreams, and was curious about a frozen yogurt, but wanted to see if anyone tried it first

I’ve ordered 5 cultivated varieties and about 7 seedlings. May order more later in the season, but for starters I have questions for experts on here! I live in zone 8a. I’ve seen pretty cold drops -10 degrees once in the past 15 years. We have a wash through the property that has a creek running through it 80% of the year above ground. But there’s tons of water under the ground there. It’s about 20 feet across flat with willow trees and lots of open space for planting, then gradually goes up hill about another 60-100 feet of space along the creek side and for planting. I’ve heard paw paws can grow along creeks, but from what I’ve heard is to plant where there’s more drainage. I was thinking of planting a row of banana trees, then a row of paw paws and trifoliate oranges following. This would be approximately 20-30 feet away from where the flood zone is. I would plant in that flood zone but I’m not sure because I’ve seen 15 feet of water run across here like 3 feet high before during thunderstorms. Thanks for any advice. Maybe I plant more along the edge of where it’s flat and up the hill?

If I only have space in my yard for two pawpaw trees, what cultivars would you suggest for zone 7b? I think I would prioritize taste (obviously), but also different ripening times, and fruit output.

Planning my future quasi-tropical permaculture-ish food-forest.

I've got room for four pawpaw trees if I keep them pruned to a good size. (Also getting a persimmon or two, a couple hardy figs, some reachables apples, and a few other fun things, including some ferns planted underneath for fiddleheads, some dolce Itália passiflora caerulea and maypop, hardy kiwi and thornless blackberry, maybe some mayapple and voodoo lily and wintergreen/winterberry).

Thinking about the varieties of pawpaw I'll want.

I'm thinking Shenandoah for a milder banana/custard flavor one, especially since it'll fruit longer and help cross pollinate, and as one that I can give away to people if they want to try it for the first time.

I'm thinking Susquehanna, because as another good Peterson variety it's won a ton of awards and does a lot of good size fruit, with a flavor profile that's reportedly one of the more "Moya" tropical flavors. But I've heard KSU Chappell is a more vigorous seedling of Susquehanna, and that it’s said to have even better flavor supposedly even by Peterson himself, so I'd be willing to go towards that or a tropical treat or green river belle if convinced that there’s a particular variety that’s the most “moya”/tropical flavor.

Thinking of what else I'd like to try. I think I'd like to do some non-Petersens for the others, just to expand out and try some new ones. I've looked at Kentucky Giant (but heard it flowers so early it won't reliably give fruit if not paired well or I’d have to learn how to graft to do a pollinator graft), Kentucky Legend (newer one, heard good things but not a lot of info), IXL (not much info online), the freestone varieties, IXL, and white-fleshed varieties including Al Horn and a Garage West that tastes like coconut. I'd love some advice.

Maybe something that gives more of a melon flavor or coconut flavor? Or something that has a unique flavor/quality compared to the ones I've mentioned already? Or something that will extend the fruiting season a bit in either direction? I'm originally from a latin american country so tropical fruit flavors are a plus for me.

I'm in the ozarks, border of zone 6/7.