Found a pawpaw patch

[Telemark]

I've read what I could find on here, and it seems like it's a good idea to plant some other trees near the grove in order to ensure good pollination down the road. Some sources warn that bare root trees can be difficult to establish. Kansas Forest service has a good price on a bundle of 25, but I'm not sure if they ship to Ohio. Some sources also say it's best to plant known varieties, but that seems to be too expensive.

Anyone here have good luck planting pawpaw seedlings? Should I just buy seeds and start them myself?

 

[356]

I tried planting pawpaws through the state nursery about 10 years ago, with little luck. I am looking at planting some next year using seeds from a friends tree. He said the deer and turkey really love them, and come to them even in daylight. Pawpaws are one of natures natural dewormers for the critters we love.

 

[T-Max]

I've read what I could find on here, and it seems like it's a good idea to plant some other trees near the grove in order to ensure good pollination down the road. Some sources warn that bare root trees can be difficult to establish. Kansas Forest service has a good price on a bundle of 25, but I'm not sure if they ship to Ohio. Some sources also say it's best to plant known varieties, but that seems to be too expensive.

Anyone here have good luck planting pawpaw seedlings? Should I just buy seeds and start them myself?

I have no experience with paw paw, but KFS will ship them out of state.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[fishin coyote]

The Mrs grew some from seed. They take forever to germinate and are slow growers the 1st year or 2 at least for us.This was year 3 for them and I think the biggest was about 16” tall. I’d buy seedlings if I was going to do it again.

 

[SwampCat]

A pawpaw here will never hit the ground. The coons and possums eat them all

 

[The Fishman]

I have planted some that I have grown from seed and seedlings that were given away at an Arbor Day event. I lost seedlings from both. Try seedlings first and see if you can get them to grow. They like shade for the first year after being transplanted. If you want named varieties for personal consumption, you can always graft later. They are a long term investment since they do not grow very quickly for me.

 

[RGrizzzz]

The Mrs grew some from seed. They take forever to germinate and are slow growers the 1st year or 2 at least for us.This was year 3 for them and I think the biggest was about 16” tall. I’d buy seedlings if I was going to do it again.

This++

 

[Telemark]

If you want named varieties for personal consumption, you can always graft later.

Do they graft easily? There's a bajillion little shoots that popped up everywhere, but most sources say these are root suckers rather than seedlings. Would it make sense to graft some of these?

 

[The Fishman]

Do they graft easily? There's a bajillion little shoots that popped up everywhere, but most sources say these are root suckers rather than seedlings. Would it make sense to graft some of these?

While I have not grafted my trees, I think grafting root suckers would be ideal as pawpaws are not self pollinating. They need a genetically different tree for pollination and it needs to be close by. I have heard of people finding a large grove of pawpaws, but none produce fruit because they are all suckers from the same tree.

Tips for grafting

 

[j-bird]

I have a bunch of the native ones in my creek bottom. They are not deer food.....the other critters get to them well before they ever hit the ground. The native ones I have are also a little picky. Full shade of full sun and they won't produce fruit, its like they need just the right mix of broken sun and like certain soil conditions as well. I would argue that at least in my area native paw-paw would be very low on my planting list for deer/wildlife. I actually planted apples/crabapples because I could pick (within reason) the rough time when the fruit would be of interest to the deer and spread that food availability out over a longer duration of time. Coons. possum and even squirrels eat them just as they start to ripen, so they very, very rarely ever hit the ground.

If you ever decide you want some to grow from seed let me know and I can send you some (maybe some from a different area may help - I don't know). They are gone for the year now.....but in late summer, if I know you want some, I should be able to get some for you.

I have never messed with propagating them or even planting more....because I see zero deer use of them.

 

[Telemark]

While I have not grafted my trees, I think grafting root suckers would be ideal as pawpaws are not self pollinating. They need a genetically different tree for pollination and it needs to be close by. I have heard of people finding a large grove of pawpaws, but none produce fruit because they are all suckers from the same tree.

Tips for grafting

That's my understanding as well. I just can't find much information on grafting pawpaws or good sources of scions.

 

[Telemark]

I have a bunch of the native ones in my creek bottom. They are not deer food.....the other critters get to them well before they ever hit the ground. The native ones I have are also a little picky. Full shade of full sun and they won't produce fruit, its like they need just the right mix of broken sun and like certain soil conditions as well. I would argue that at least in my area native paw-paw would be very low on my planting list for deer/wildlife. I actually planted apples/crabapples because I could pick (within reason) the rough time when the fruit would be of interest to the deer and spread that food availability out over a longer duration of time. Coons. possum and even squirrels eat them just as they start to ripen, so they very, very rarely ever hit the ground.

If you ever decide you want some to grow from seed let me know and I can send you some (maybe some from a different area may help - I don't know). They are gone for the year now.....but in late summer, if I know you want some, I should be able to get some for you.

I have never messed with propagating them or even planting more....because I see zero deer use of them.

I'd love some seeds. Would you be able to cut me some scions this winter?

 

[j-bird]

I'd love some seeds. Would you be able to cut me some scions this winter?

Seeds won't be an issue - just remind me....because I suffer from CRS..... Can't Remember $h!t!

Scions might be possible......as well. I will see what I can do about that as well. I don't do the grafting thing....so when would I cut those?? I will be honest, I'm gonna use my tree pruners and try to lop off the bud ends and hopefully that will work for you. I'll try to get them 6"+ in length so you can cut them down if needed to fit your rooting stock better and or get a cleaner cut for your graft joint.

 

[Telemark]

Seeds won't be an issue - just remind me....because I suffer from CRS..... Can't Remember $h!t!

Scions might be possible......as well. I will see what I can do about that as well. I don't do the grafting thing....so when would I cut those?? I will be honest, I'm gonna use my tree pruners and try to lop off the bud ends and hopefully that will work for you. I'll try to get them 6"+ in length so you can cut them down if needed to fit your rooting stock better and or get a cleaner cut for your graft joint.

This pawpaw thing is totally new to me. I found the trees a few days ago. I guess probably early March would be a good time to cut scions. I'll read up on it and let you know what I find out.

 

[b116757]

Pawpaw are an understory plant and do poorly in full sun when young but latter after established need more sun to fruit well. I’m no pawpaw guru but I’ve got several groves of them on the one farm down along the river mine taste terrible and I’d not waste my time with them but the critters I’m sure do utilize them they ripen very early and are of no hunting value other than nutrition.