Are you sure it was deer? Pawpaws are one of 2 fruits in my yard deer have never touched (the other being figs). There are 2-3 that visit my yard nearly every day.
Unless rabbits browse at 3 foot, itās deer. Plus rabbits have a distinctive secateur-type cut, deer have a rougher cut. Deer in different places have different tastes. Plus there are different deer species. They also browse my persimmon leaves.
Bear- Where did you buy those pawpaws? Takes me twice as long to get mine up that tall. What is your fertilizer?
@Hambone, the first 3 pawpaw trees were from a local nursery, Portland nursery. The last one was form Raintree. I think they were equal in size.
Iāll private message you about my fertilizig regime
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I"m growing some also.Can I get the info.Thanks,Brady
Iād be interested in hearing about this too, perhaps a new thread?
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Please, Bear with me, do tell. I have some jujubes and other trees which could use a better fertilizing process than I currently use.
Scott
OK Scott, I think I stepped in it, and now have to figure out the best approach. Itās difficult to discuss how I garden without discussing how I garden, but this topic has proven itself to lead to a lot of discomfort on the forum. I also donāt want to derail this topic, which is about growing pawpaw trees and keeping them alive when planted. So, this is what I have been doing, growing my pawpaw trees.
I use diluted urine, about 1 liter urine diluted with 3 liters well water. I use a watering can to water it into the soil in a wide circle around the pawpaw trees. For the smallest trees, I use a smaller amount, and the larger trees get a larger amount, I donāt measure closely. Something like 1/2 watering can for the smaller trees, and a whole can for the larger ones. Then water in an equal amount of water, so none is left on the surface. I apply about once monthly during growing season. I never let the pawpaw trees dry out during the summer. I also have a thick grass clipping mulch around each tree, to keep the soil evenly moist. Doing this, I got about 18 inches of growth annually on NC-1, a little less on Sunflower. Iāve had them 3 summers, and NC-1 is now a bit above my head, Iām 5ā10, while Sunflower is a bit less, maybe 5 foot. Once they are bearing, I plan to stop fertilizing, or cut it back significantly, because I read for some other fruits, high nitrogen is known to promote fruit drop. I think NC-1 and Sunflower are known to be vigorous anyway, so that may have a role too.
Im in the countryside and we are on a typical rural septic tank with drainage field, so it goes back to nature either way but going through the drainage field likely sends the nitrogen in a plume into the subsoil, while pouring some diluted product around my pawpaw trees probably has no adverse effect. . If you are in town, you might not be able to do that. You could probably use diluted fish emulsion or blood meal for a similar effect. it just costs more. Actually, fish emulsion is also pretty stinky - maybe it would deter deer or rabbits? You could also use diluted urea fertilizer in similar concentration and frequency, but I donāt know the calculation.
I think the important thing is not specifically what is used, but rather a steady, low level dose of nitrogen supplement through the growing season. My soil has been tested, does not need any potassium or phosphate, iron is very high, calcium is low so I added lime based on the test recommendations. Organic matter is high. My soil is acidic, 5.05 to 5.3 as I recall, so the lime is for that as well.
I wasnāt meaning to be coy about it, but rereading my post I understand the curiosity. I hope this doesnāt lead to another discussion on the topic, I wonāt participate in it after the last time.
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This important.
My pawpaws start growth in the spring and will continue to grow the whole season if conditions are right, if they stop growing even in late spring they wonāt start growing again. Fertilizer and plenty of water are the key, donāt let the soil dry out.
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Everything Iāve ever seen says @derby42 is right about the moisture problem. In Missouri where Derby is talking about those are called lowland pawpaw according to my family and they need that micro climate. The hilltop or hillside pawpaw are smaller like walnuts and called upland papaw. The upland will grow anywhere a pawpaw will grow but the lowland need constant water, shade, and high nutrient old growth woods bottom ground. Lowland pawpaw are bigger, sweeter etc. My family taught me about them when I was young. Tame papaw are something I know nothing about. The wild pawpaw seedlings will fall into the two categories I described one with small leaves and fruit the other with large leaves and fruit.
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