Here is a new interview of Neal Peterson, it contains some stuff I did not know yet.
21 Likes
Interesting little article, I enjoyed the read. I smiled at the likeness of this part of Mr. Peterson’s story to that of another pioneer. From the linked article:
“…he was aware of pawpaws growing up but never thought the fruit was good for much besides throwing at other kids”
I am reading Paul Stamets’ “Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms” (3rd edition) and part of the introduction reads (this is in reference to Mr. Stamets):
“When we were seven, my twin brother and I made a startling mycological discovery – Puffballs! We were told that they were not poisonous but if the spores got into our eyes, we would be instantly blinded! This information was quickly put to good use. We would viciously assault each other with mature puffballs, which would burst upon impact and emit a cloud of brown spores.”
It’s funny how, as children, the very thing that they thought of as nothing better than an object to throw around in jest, became the object of their passion and expertise.
6 Likes
Thanks for sharing!
2 Likes
Great share!
I haven’t read it yet but eager to.
For me, Neal’s story is so exciting and romantic. Swashbuckling thru abandoned woods to find the long lost pawpaws…Indiana Jones and David Fairchild. Fun stuff.
Plus, he’s such a hilarious guy…could listen to him for hours.
2 Likes
The best line so far: “A pawpaw tastes like a pawpaw.”
Touche.
2 Likes
A little too late for me to start with PawPaws.
7 years before the tree fruits!
It’s interesting that they are pollinated by carrion flies.
I remember hearing about that.
2 Likes
If you can track down KSU Chapell and Mango you might be looking at 3-4 years for fruit!
1 Like
Or buy big!
1 Like
Another precocious cultivar to consider: Nyomi’s Delicious. Planted mine (from Peaceful Heritage Nursery) in 2018. It was a wee fellow then, but did it ever have vigor! It is now 8’+ and has set a surprising number of flower buds for next season’s bloom.
Sunflower is also precocious. And its offspring Prima 1216 is reportedly early to bear.
2 Likes
Wabash and Potomac were pretty precocious for me. They were planted as freshly made grafts on 1 year old seedlings, and fruited in 2 full years. YMMV as I’ve seen others report longer.
3 Likes
My Mango is going on year 6, I just saw a few flower buds on this vigorously growing tree, definitely not early fruiting for me.
Shenandoah has flowered since year 3. Sunflower grafted two years ago and now is showing flower buds.
2 Likes
Good to hear these reports on precocity.
I agree that 7 years is probably a worst case, even for a seedling. I have seedlings set to fruit in their 5th year.
EDIT - remains to be seen if these will hold fruit, but lots of plump flower buds plus good vigor seem to suggest they will.
1 Like
Don’t bet on that. Cross pollination is the key. I have tried for two years to cross pollinate my Shenandoah with my friend’s Sunflowers. Not working yet. A male to female stage of the same pawpaw flower makes it more challenging to time cross pollination than other “normal” fruit flowers.
2 Likes
No, i hear ya.
I have 40 trees with only a couple of duplicates - plenty of cross pollination potential.
Though for these first-time flowering trees I will hand-pollinate.
As you say, it is a little tricky due to the stages of the flowers, but I’ve had success previously. 
Sorry you’ve had a hard time. The hardest part to me is knowing when the flowers are in the female/pollen-receptive stage. But after some practice I think I’ve got it reasonably down.
2 Likes
I am already overwhelmed with Grapes and Figs.
Someone else can deal with the Papas.
1 Like