![]() ![]() In addition, the pawpaw has genetic variability that can be used to improve the plant.Ī major research effort centered at Kentucky State University and involving a few other universities (including Cornell, Clemson, Purdue, Ohio State, Iowa State, and Oregon State) should contribute significantly to the commercial development of this crop (Pomper et al., 1999). It is hardy and relatively pest-free, and its tolerance to shade makes it suitable for intercropping with certain other trees. The pawpaw grows best in areas with hot summers and cold winters (USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 5 to 8). Though the pawpaw’s only near relatives are tropical, and pawpaws look like mangos and taste like bananas, they are not tropical but are native to most of the eastern United States and even parts of Canada. ![]() These include recent improvements in available cultivars (with even better flavor and fewer seeds), production research at Kentucky State University, breeding programs both private and public, international interest, a renewed interest in America’s food system and diet, and a nascent effort by growers and aficionados to publicize the virtues of the pawpaw. However, several factors seem to be coming together to bring the pawpaw to the attention of the American public-at least, to the “foodie” segment of the public. It has always been a delicious and nutritious native American fruit, but history, cultural prejudices, and difficulty in storing and shipping have relegated it to the obscure backwoods of American cuisine. It’s best to take several cuttings, as the success rate of rooting is usually very low.The pawpaw ( Asimina triloba) has great potential for commercial development. If you want to attempt it, take softwood cuttings of 6 to 8 inches (15-20 cm.) in late summer.ĭip the cuttings in rooting hormone and sink them in rich, moist growing medium. Propagating pawpaw trees through cuttings is possible, but it does not have a particularly high success rate. Take scions in the winter from dormant trees that are two to three years old and graft them onto other pawpaw rootstocks. Pawpaws can generally be grafted with success using multiple grafting and budding techniques. ![]() Alternatively, you can sow them directly outdoors in late autumn after scarification. Let the fruit sit in an airy spot until the flesh softens, then remove the seeds.Īllow the seeds to dry, scarify them, and then store them in a cold spot for two to three months. If you do wish to harvest seeds from the fruit, however, it’s important to let the fruit ripen to maturity first, as it tends to drop from the tree while still green. In fact, the harvest step isn’t even entirely necessary, as the entire pawpaw fruit can be planted in the ground the autumn, with very good likelihood that it will put up shoots in the spring. The most common and successful way of propagating pawpaws is the harvest and planting of seed. What if you want one in your own backyard? Keep reading to learn more about pawpaw tree reproduction methods and how to propagate a pawpaw at home. Reportedly Thomas Jefferson’s favorite fruit, this North American native is something like a pulpy banana with seeds that sprout up in groves in the wild. The pawpaw is a strange fruit that deserves more attention. ![]()
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