we live on a farm and have what im assuming are wild pawpaw trees everywhere. Thousands literally. The fruit is really good except for a slght bitter aftertaste. Do people buy wild pawpaw trees that are cultivated from seed?
3 Likes
Some nurseries sell random seedling trees, though I would think most are from seeds of named varieties, not wild trees.
Of course an uneducated person might buy a wild seedling not realizing the implications.
However, there is nothing wrong with using wild seedlings as rootstocks for grafting named varieties.
Are you sitting on a wild seedling gold mine? In my opinion, no.
If the wild fruit is good, however, you could conceivably sell it at a market or to a restaurant, etc.
2 Likes
I’ll add that it’s really great that you discovered all those pawpaw trees. How cool is that?
What would be really slick is to graft named varieties onto those wild trees.
Whereabouts are u located?
You have fruit and you like it…so enjoy!
Pawpaws seem to reproduce more nearly true to the parent than, say, apples.
So, saving seeds from a tree you really love (if it tastes better than others you’ve tried) isn’t something I’d discourage.
But TrilobaTracker makes a good suggestion…to introduce some ‘tame’ or ‘patented’ or ‘selected’ varieties…by planting nearby, by grafting, etc.
This also raises the odds that future seedlings will be ‘improved’ if you cull out bitter or less desirable ones…or graft them over to some other pawpaw with a name that you like.
Try some. Maybe attend a pawpaw ‘festival’ sometime. (All cancelled this year I presume). (Virus).
2 Likes
I have named varieties, but before I bought them I bought several wilds from around the country. They taste different every where they grow and I wanted to try different ones. I have tons of wild ones around the house as well. Some of the wild ones do not have the bitter after taste.
3 Likes
I believe the Pawpaw fest in Frederick, Maryland is still gonna happen.
2 Likes
Correct!
And today is a virtual event on pawpaws at KSU. Check out the KSU Pawpaw Facebook page.
Saturday is National Pawpaw Day!
2 Likes
very interesting that you’ve had that experience!
I’ve never heard of cats being attracted to them and have had no issues here.
In my experience, the trees don’t give off a smell unless you break or tear the leaves.
Sorry
I was confusing Paw Paws with Kiwi.
Disregard my earlier comment.
2 Likes