Growing Paw Paw Tree Tips

Photo: Miller Nurseries

Fossil evidence has shown that the American Paw Paw tree is indigenous to the United States. It is believed that the American Indians were responsible for spreading the trees from north to south by planting the lima bean-like seeds wherever they lived. The tree can survive in hardiness zones 4-15, with -25 degree winters.

 
There are several varieties of American Paw Paw on the market. To find varieties available in your area check out local nurseries or home and garden centers. If you can’t find any paw paw trees locally, do an online search for other nurseries. For example, Miller Nurseries offers seedlings and grafted varieties which can be shipped anywhere in the United States, with the exception of California.

• Grafted paw paw trees will need two different varieties for proper pollination.

• For potted seedlings, you’ll need to plant two (they can be the same variety) for proper pollination.
• Watch for suckers which will come up at the base of the tree. Unless you want a stand of paw paw clones, cut these suckers back when they appear in the spring.

Photo: Miller Nurseries

Paw Paw Resources:

• PAWPAW Fruit Facts
• Kentucky State University - Pawpaw Information WebsiteIncludes recipes for the American paw paw fruit
• The Native American Paw Paw Tree
• Welcome to MillerNurseries.comMiller Nurseries brings you one of the largest selections of fruit and nut trees, berries, grapes and much more.
  
  
  

Growing the American Paw Paw

Do you enjoy the taste of tropical fruit? You can get a taste of the tropics right here in the United States with the American Paw Paw. This often over-looked fruit tree produces clusters of up to 9 fruits from a single flower. The oval-shaped fruits are thin-skinned and range in size from 3 to 6 inches in length. The fruit tastes like vanilla custard before it is fully ripe, and then takes on a distinctive banana custard flavor when fully ripe. If you’re looking to create an edible landscape for your home, the paw paw tree should be on your list of plants to add.

How to Grow Paw Paws

Paw Paws require a lot of care their first year, but can survive almost carefree from their second year on. There are two types that can be purchased – seedlings and grafted trees. Grafted trees are a little easier to grow because they usually have a well-developed root system. Seedlings are usually sold in 3 or 4-inch pots, and because of their size they will need a lot of attention at first. It is important to keep the ground around the new trees moist, but not soaking wet, especially during extended periods of heat or drought. Some nurseries provide a light filter for their youngest paw paw trees so they aren’t subject to the heat of direct sunlight during the first year.

During the second year you may use a liquid or granular fertilizer in the spring, then provide full, unfiltered sunlight to the trees and water as needed. Again, be careful to not let the young trees dry out during periods of high heat or drought while they're becoming established.

Depending upon maturity, the tree will begin to flower and produce fruit between the third and fourth years. The fruit will ripen between late August and October, depending upon your hardiness zone.

Generally, grafted trees will fruit between 3 and 5 years, while potted seedlings take 4 to 8 years to reach maturity.

Frost on the Pumpkins

You know it is fall when there is frost on the pumpkins! I woke up this morning (very early) to see that there was indeed, frost on the pumpkins and unfortunately, on my flowers. I don't think it was expected because even my weather alerts didn't warn me of the frost.  Alas, all good things must come to an end, and at the end of September in the northeast, it is expected.  Summer is officially over.

There are good things about fall though, beginning with the spectacular colors when the sugar maple leaves turn color, to the abscence of stinging insects buzzing about. It is also time to harvest apples and some varieties of grapes to make cider and ice wines.  All good things, according to this writer!

The frost is also a signal to begin harvesting certain squash in the fields, from the pumpkins to those fabulous hubbard squashes.  After the harvest, it is also time to plow the fields under in preparation for next year's garden.

If you normally wait until next year to prepare your garden, you're missing out on some interesting gardening methods, namely lasagna gardening, which can be done in the fall.  Interested in learning about this gardening method?  Check out my article on SmallFarms4You.com:  Lasagna Gardening.

Difference Between Pasteurized, Homogenized and Raw Milk

In this day and age, many people are interested in how their food products are processed, especially something commonly used like milk.  If you've ever wanted to learn about the homogenization, pasteurization processes, as well as what is raw milk, check out this article I wrote on HubPages:

The Difference Between Pasteurized, Homogenized and Raw Milk

Hope to see you there!

~Charlotte

Delicious Summer Blueberries

Thinking of growing blueberries where you live?  I've found them to be very easy to care for with an excellent return on my investment.  I've written an article about growing them on HubPages, and I invite you to read it for tips on growing your own blueberries:

Grow Great Blueberries

Hope to see you there!

~Charlotte

Changes In Dairy Farming

Spring has arrived, and my water is finally thawed out in our barn.  No more carrying water in buckets to take care of the chickens in the morning!  Ah, such is life in New York!

Now that I have a little more time on my hands (before I have to start the planting season), I've added a few more articles to the website, SmallFarms4You.com.  Check out the following, which includes an article written by Joy J. Fine on the various changes in dairy farming that have occurred over the past few decades.  From hand milking to milking en masse with electric milkers to the use of bovine hormone therapy, Joy talkes about it all.  In addition, Joy has written a few other articles for us on raising goats and the benefits of goat milk.

Check out these recent article additions:
Changes in Dairy Farming
Goat Milk Soap

And don't forget to check out our article Three Methods of Raising Chickens if you're contemplating raising a few chicks this spring!

~Charlotte
SmallFarms4You.com

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