A couple dozen is pretty easily achievable if the tree is growing on its own in full sun, as opposed to in the woods like the wild ones will do. My Sunflower is in its fourth year and still smaller than me, but it gave over 2 dozen fruit this past year, which was its first real crop. I think wild ones would do the same.
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I usually fertilize fruit trees moderately. However, since last year, pawpaws get more fertilizer and will get more from this year on.
We have wet spring but summer can be dry. Before last year, I did not water much, Shanandoahās leaves turned yellow by Aug. Mango has stronger growth so it was handling a drought better.
Last year, I made sure I watered them really well and often. No extended dry period for them. They responded very well esp. Shanandoah.
Yup, lessons learned. Fertilizing and watering my pawpaws.
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Lots of wild pawpaws around here but the bulk of them like to hang out on the river banks. I have seen the river flood 10 feet higher and completely submerge some for a day or two. Not only did they live they fruited. Pawpaw love water and fertilizer. Fertilizer replicates the rich nutrients of the river water. Might be able to over fertilize, but I doubt you can over water.
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The only wild pawpaws I ever found were on a steep, rocky mountainside in the Ouachitas. It was deep in the woods, so there was lots of organic matter. Iām trying to remember if that was in the wetter or dryer part of the range, as some parts get 50" and some get 35". Either way, it was in a spot that definitely dried out over the summer, so I think theyāre pretty adaptable. Either that, or the Ouachita pawpaws have some different genetics.
Itās the tap root. All the tap rooted trees are able to reach down and find their own water. Have to agree they are pretty adaptable though. Curious as to what flavor profile wilds have there. Tj-westpa was saying his are like banana. Mine are more mango. I bought a few wilds from around the country a few years ago to get different flavors. None have fruited though.
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Iād buy that. Unfortunately, I never got to taste them, as I was at least a month too early. I think it was in the Kiamichi range, probably the Oklahoma end of things. If you feel like looking for a needle in a steep, bouldery, poison ivy covered haystack.
Anyone know if two in a hole would work with pawpaw?
I have two really close (not in 1 hole, but within 1.5 feet of each other.)
The biggest problem I have is that it is tough to keep them from growing into each other and shading the other oneā¦
Pollenation definitely isnāt a problemā¦
Scott
Yes I have heard of planting two in a hole altho I have not done it. I believe you prune them to not interfere with each other.
Everything I have has to be pruned out of deer height. Mine will not be as bushy as some of the members picts. Deer usually are not interested in pawpaw but if they find out I paid for it the tender new growth might taste better.
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Thatās about what I was going to do, just one big hole. Pollination is the purpose. Plus space. Iām not going to worry about them growing into each other. Just thin the branches some so they donāt touch. As I just learned the grafted ones take about the same amount of time to fruit as apples and pears. Iām thinking about stuffing pawpaw in every little space I have.
Unlikely that deer will eat the plants themselves - Iāve seen reports on areas of the Northeast where the deer population is out of control, and the only thing remaining in the forest understory is pawpawsā¦ theyāve browsed or grazed everything else out of existence. But, like you said, if they find out youāve paid for themā¦ all bets are off.
Bucks will, however, gladly demolish them with their antlers just prior to and during the rut, unless you cage them.
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Your right. Problem is they like to sample to see that they donāt like it. A one foot pawpaw only takes one bite to finish it.
I lose two or three trees every year to bucks. Went with cages this year.
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They trimmed a couple of mine last February. I didnāt fence them off. They donāt bother them normally though.
Iām surprised deer take more than just a nibble or two.
I know that when I prune them the smell of something akin to kerosine is slightly nauseating.
Scott
iām also interested in any vanilla flavor varieties. never heard of them.
Shenandoah is the only one anyone said was vanilla. Wish there were more.
Deer will absolutely eat some leaves if they are encountering pawpaws for the first time, but they learn after that that they are nauseating and unpalatable. I had my first trees enclosed in rabbit fencing and once the leaves started poking outside the fencing the deer ate some for a day or 2 and then stopped. They learned and havenāt touched the pawpaws since then.
Buck rub is a bigger issue for pawpaws. I noticed that they tend to rub trunks here between 2 and 4ft off the ground.
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I can say that deer in Ohio donāt bother Pawpaws. I can almost for sure say that almost nothing bothers them hereā¦ even the fruit get very little attention from the critters. I can have drops laying around the trees and nothing bothers them. Maybe because all the critters are enjoying my other fruit trees. Deer love to eat and rack the other tree for sure.
Mine were only two foot tall maybe 30" so a couple nibbles tops the tree.