"Starter" Pawpaw variety recommendations?

[Bigmike1116]

@Mtncj

They are generally self incompatible, so aim for two distinct genelines - two different cultivars, two different seedlings, etc. Two clones from the same parent are unlikely to give you much fruit.

hopefully Shenandoah, KSU-Chappell, Tropical Treat, and Nyomi’s Delicious cover the spread.

I’ve heard that having more than 2 cultivars is also a good idea to ensure bloom times overlap.

@Mtncj

The younger trees need some shade. You’ll find some exceptions, but generally you should aim to allow it to be effectively an understory tree until it gets to be at least 2-3 feet tall. Use shade cloth, plant it under a tree you plan to remove in a couple years, put a large potted plant next to it, etc. It’ll fruit better if it gets sun when taller.

I saw a lot of mixed information about shading, so to be on the safe side, I decided to shade my trees for their first season in ground, and that’s it. I used some shade cloth wrapped around a ring or hardware cloth that I use to keep the deer/pests away. pictured here

This is the surviving Shenandoah pictured today. It is a bit more than 3 feet tall now.

My Fall Planted KSU-Chappell got shade cloth in the fall but I decided against it this season since it had been in the ground for a while already. it is only about a foot tall, but looking healthy and happy.

For the Tropical Treat tree, I wrapped it’s cage in shade cloth after it was planted, despite it being a very large specimen at about 2-3 feet already. it lost over half its leaves in transit, so be on the safe side, I thought year 1 shading would be best to reduce stress.