@Blake As a paw-paw professional, what are your thoughts on the most phylosticta-resistant varieties?
@swincher I give mine an enormous mulch ring- a foot deep and at least 8 feet wide. A small trunk cage of hardware cloth holds the mulch away from the bark. Then N March through June. And weekly water first five years.
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That sure is big! Iāve left the grass lean over my mulch ring, which you can make out there, but the grass isnāt growing in it. Itās only about a foot out from the trunk though, not 4 feet!
Phylosticta resistance is important, especially on large groves where it can become problematic. In backyards itās probably not quite as important. The more resistant varieties I have tried were all high quality fruit producers (Prima, NC-1, KSU Atwood etc.)
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Heavy mulch and hardware cloth rings should be a required prerequisite for all pawpaw growers!
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Thanks!
So, I have a full-sun SAA-Overleese (my favorite) and KSU-Atwood, and a shady NC-1. I also have a mature rootstock in part-shade that I want to graft over to a phylosticta-resistant variety, because the other SAA-Overleese was in that shady spot got sooty-black splotches on many of the fruit, and those fruit would drop early before ripening (not on all the fruit, but on enough that I want to try something better). There were no phylosticta splotches on the leaves though.
Given that I already have NC-1 and Atwood (that you listed), what would you recommend as the best variety in that shady spot? You mention Prima here, and your website also mentions sri vishnu as being resistant. Which one is your favorite? Any others worth considering?
As an FYI, I am in Paw Paw country, which is probably why my trees are susceptible, even though Iām a back-yard grower with only a few trees. Thereās a train station about a block away from my house (in the Philadelphia suburbs), with a creek and a big wooded area that go along the train tracks for miles and miles. The traintrack/creekside-woods are FILLED with wild Paw Paws. None that were so great that I wanted to propagate them, but that was the impetus for me wanting to grow some in my yard.
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Yes, on the outskirts of large pawpaw groves (and not in urban backyards in the middle of a city), pawpaw pests and diseases are more problematic for sure. Prima ripens very late, as in early-mid October. So if it frosts before that date in your area itās likely not the best choice. Sri Vishnu is a new variety we will be grafting and selling in summer 2023. I have seen no Phylosticta on it at all. Humidity favors Phylosticta, and so this shady spot is likely encouraging fungal growth also.
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I just checked my photos from last year and Susquehanna turned fall colors about 3 weeks earlier than the other ones that time too. I wonder if itās partially variety-specific? Either way Iāll add a bunch of mulch in late winter and see if they do better next year.
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Are you sure the micro-climate differences dont account for the variations in coloring time?
I am not noticing any difference in my pawpaws. I donāt have Susquehanna but have Susquehanna seedlings.
I visited another grower here late Sep last year. His pawpaws were all going yellow too! I also noticed that he didnāt use a lot of mulch and had turf growing right upto the tree!
Pawpaws should grow steadily 2-3 feet each year in our climate after a year of getting established.
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All the branches on mine are new growth this year, last year it was planted as a little stick in spring and only grew slightly. I probably should have watered more this summer, I waited for it to droop then watered deeply, which was only about once every three weeks.
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I think they cannot be overwatered, especially in our summer climate.
I would also use a large amount of fertilizer ā urea 45-0-0 is ideal. Pawpaws are voracious feeders.
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In my limited experience, when my pawpaw leaves turned yellow sooner than they should have, it has been an issue of not enough water.
After I realized that, I watered them often and deeply through the summer. The issue went away.
Donāt underestimate pawpaws re. their need of water esp. the first 3-4 years of planting. Like @ramv said, it is hard to overwater pawpaws if you donāt plant them close to a creek or other water source.
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I have 20+ pound still on the tree probably ready to fall in about the next few weeks. Also found a brewery here that buys pawpaws. 
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My horns looks amazing in Florida!
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True. The 'Mango" cultivar was discovered in the Okefenokee wetlands Ga. Water baby.
Please say more about Sri Vishnu Mr. Cothron. Any connection to your great introduction āGolden Moonā, the pawpaw tree you named in honor of the Bengali Bhakta saint Chaitanya Mahaprabhu?
The Pawpaw Gods favor you. I shall sing praise to Lord Vishnu. Perhaps I shall also be blessed with seeds from KSU 1-4 and 3-10.
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Sri Vishnu is named in honor of the transcendental maintainer of this manifested universe. Dressed in golden yellow dhoti, holding the conch, lotus, mace, and spinning chakra, He is resplendent in Supreme knowledge-consciouness and bliss. This bright yellow pawpaw just reminded me of Him somehow. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu of course was a great saint (some say Krishna Himself). Known as the āGolden Moonā I thought it nice to name it after him.
The Sri Vishnu pawpaw is the first release from our Ultra Select line, planted from seed in 2015. It was a real standout and compares favorably to the KSU selections Iāve been evaluating.
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I now have to get this pawpaw just because of the name! My name is an avatar of Vishnu .
Hope it is early enough to ripen in the cool PNW.
Woody Walker has claimed that both Kentucky Champion & Kentucky Legend are far more disease resistant than Atwood.
Cliff England claims that Kentucky Champion is one of the absolute best tasting pawpaw with very unique flavor profile.
I recommend pruning back what ever is causing shade during the beginning & ending of the growing season.
Sunlight on the bark especially the nodes is what stimulates pre-blossom development in fall & blooming in spring.
Also reduce whatever is acting as a wind break for the area.