Paw Paw from seed - Simple Notes

[@carolforsythe6316]

I live in Kentucky and a friend gave me a pawpaw I ate some then threw the rest in my ravine and 10 years later my entire hillside was covered in Pawpaw’s everywhere. Wonderful permaculture!

[@edibleacres]

Wow!

[@flatsville1]

I'm in MO & regularly hunted Paw Paws as a kid. Deep ravines leading to an intermittent stream was always the best place to look.

[@sincereivan8538]

InstaBlaster.

[@mdjordjevic08]

The colors in the fall are just plan gorgeous. One of my favorite native American small tree. Great way video by the way!

[@CairnOfDunnCroftPermaculture]

Great video as always. Here in Scotland it's impossible to get truly fresh seed, but we have some in pots that we were about to give up on. It's good to know it's still too soon to give up!

[@edibleacres]

Don't give up on em!

[@CairnOfDunnCroftPermaculture]

@@edibleacres I'm keeping everything crossed!

[@wolfebilt]

Bought some grafted paw paws and a couple seedlings to get our paw paw experience started a few years ago. We've learned that no matter what a nursery says about sunlight, for the first 2yrs or so, never put the trees in full sun. I experimented some with ours. They will actually grow bigger in the shade when young if soil is moist, rich. Ours did anyway. Another cool thing happened because of a grafted paw paw that went bad this spring. The top died and dried out and the graft split. Underneath, new leaf shoots started pushing up through the ground around the small trunk a few weeks later. Cool, it wont be the grafted variety but it's alive so I consider it a win. Great video thanks!

[@edibleacres]

Paw Paws are amazing at resprouting even when you think they may be dead. I've seen it MANY times and it's a lovely attribute.

[@EgyptianQueenTiye]

In the shaded area, did you also use shade cloth or just let nature take care of it?

[@wolfebilt]

@@EgyptianQueenTiye anything that shades and won't blow away works. Some of my pawpaws are shaded by trees that are close, and other paw paws that are more exposed, have fallen tree branches covering them. All of my paw paws have a 4ft deer fence around to prevent animal browse, so I use that like a scaffolding to build in shade. Go heavy on shading for paw paws when they are young.

[@EgyptianQueenTiye]

@@wolfebilt Thanks

[@rickytorres9089]

That so much interesting, even your air pruned bed is so simple yet brilliant. It's seems like you can NEVER go wrong with chicken wire and some scrap woods indeed.

[@matthewmiller4209]

Thanks for this video. I had given up on my pawpaw seeds this year and after watching I went out to check on them. Sure enough, they just broke the surface!

[@edibleacres]

This is exactly what I was hoping to read for putting out this video!

[@simmonds6063]

Mine have done well planted along a creek at the edge of a tree canopy so they get a decent amount of shade and plenty of water.

[@richardsimpson5152]

Missed your paws paws and persimmons this year, but did get chestnuts and hazel nut seconds which are all doing great. Next year I'm ordering early. Great content.

[@aron8949]

Does he sell out of most things annually?

[@gelwood99]

@@aron8949 Yes, look early and often!

[@edibleacres]

We plan to update our inventory for fall 2020 dormant shipping on September 1st. We'll make an update video about it in advance. Sorry we sell out so fast, we're a tiny nursery and lots of folks are excited to grow these wonderful plants!

[@landrylee6207]

@@edibleacres paw paw seed can ship to China Zone 9？

[@tinle6865]

Rotten fruit planting is a great idea.

[@DrZazzoo]

Awesome info. I have about 200 seeds from last fall that just started top growth. They grow so slow. Something did dig up some of the seeds. Just enough to dry them out.

[@edibleacres]

Add more mulch, give a deep water and hope for the best! Probably a chipmunk or the like hoping to find something other than paw paws! :)

[@eldonelder7254]

Thanks for this post. I'm currently growing seeds in pots but I know almost nothing about growing Pawpaws and I really want these to succeed for future generations to enjoy as well as myself. My plan is to create small communities of them all around my family's 800 acre farm and in the surrounding community. I live in Eastern Ontario, Canada, zone 5. I bought 12 Pawpaw seeds online last winter and put them all in a plastic baggy of moist soil to sprout. So far 10 have sprouted some months apart from each other. The guy I bought them from kept telling me not to give up on them and I was ready to throw out the remaining three as duds when one of them sprouted long after the first ones to sprout were already growing 3 or 4 leaves. So, I still have 2 seeds left in the baggy but I think I'll just move them into the pots I already have prepared for them (sitting in the cellar since last spring) and set them out in the shaded, protected area I've already place the others. Thanks again for posting this.

[@simmonds6063]

Make sure to get them in the ground soon as they have a long tap root.

[@edibleacres]

Definitely try to plant them this fall. They hate being in pots for a long time... Glad you are trying to grow them!

[@billastell3753]

Hi Eldon, I live in Peterborough and was wondering what city you are near? I bought some Ontario grown paw paws this past weekend at the farmers market and plan to plant the seeds. I was wondering how your project has progressed as you posted this 1 year ago.

[@Ursaminor31]

Just ate my first in Toronto. They grow in Niagara Region apparently. I’m going to try planting the seeds

[@Tsuchimursu]

Getting the seeds in Europe is a pain so I'll probably start mine indoors. Good to know they take a long time, I'll take them out the fridge early!

[@CliffsidePermaculture]

Thank you! I still hope to succeed with paw paw eventually.

[@edibleacres]

Worth trying over and over :)

[@CliffsidePermaculture]

@@edibleacres most definitely!!

[@pyramydseven]

Grow quite well in Missouri. Haven't taken the plunge yet though.

[@alexriddles492]

MDC sells seedlings. I have a few started from seed. But, I plant to buy seedlings also.

[@beaujangles8468]

I've just planted 2 of these in Melbourne,Australia. Quite a rare plant here. Hope they grow.

[@cfaz6763]

Hey, update on this? 😊

[@gabrielg.2401]

Fantastic Video! Very helpful. Thanks Sean!

[@saronnpov2687]

Amazing technique !

[@PermacultureStorytelling]

brilliant content, thank you Sean

[@edibleacres]

Glad you think so!

[@PermacultureHomestead]

ive had better luck pulling up runners in the early spring to sell before they break dormancy. thx for the tips

[@perfectworldpat7053]

Great vid thanks.

[@russlee650]

great info. thanks for sharing! going to plant some in the woods near me.

[@TOPMOSTPOP]

Very good

[@eCoArise]

Great advice, I was worried about my seeds but they started showing at the end of June. I don't have a ton of shade so will have to plan carefully where I'm going to put thse in the ground. Thanks!

[@edibleacres]

They don't need deep shade for their whole life, just as kids.

[@XoroksComment]

You can use shade cloth for the first few years until they can take full sun

[@henrycastro-miller252]

my question is will there be an issue with their tap roots when you dig them up? i heard they have very long sensitive tap roots

[@alexkerpe930]

oh i thought they need cold for a few month before germinating, so i put them in the fridge (plastic back and soil) and waiting for spring before i put them into the warm soil. didn t know they germinate without that as well.

[@adiposerex5150]

Japanese walnut is a weed too.

[@roachant]

I’m currently stratifying some paw paw seeds in the fridge. The seller I got them from kept them moist in a bag of peat so I’m confident they will sprout, but my zone may be too cold for them, in in zone 4 in Canada. I’m still going to try though!

[@edibleacres]

Worth a try! Good luck :)

[@justinclark4829]

I'm in Canada too - got some seed a couple years ago but had no success. How did yours work out? If they worked well could you share your supplier?

[@ericnyamu9981]

Is the nursery still there

[@CannabinatedFantasy]

dried pawpaw sounds like a good idea

[@edibleacres]

NO! Sounds like a great idea, but will make you sick... NEVER dehydrate paw paw fruit... Take it from me

[@mikecf1]

Question about not freezing them: don't they freeze outdoors in nature?

[@michaelripperger5674]

(3:47) squirrel 🐿... no, no chipmunk

[@wildedibles819]

Im hoping to get pawpaw seed i would love to grow them in my food forest hedge :)

[@stonedapefarmer]

Funny seeing you here! Kentucky State University actually sends out free pawpaw seeds. Just make sure you have a spot for them, because they ship pre-stratified. They also run out fairly quickly, but they accept more requests at the beginning of each month.

[@wildedibles819]

@@stonedapefarmer thats cool thanks :) im trying to grow them in Ontario i hear they can handle my winters :)

[@edibleacres]

I hope you have success!

[@wildedibles819]

@@edibleacres thanks :)

[@Dirt-Fermer]

Anyone know any high heat tolerant varieties?

[@christineortmann359]

Our Paw Paws sucker. We have hundreds coming up. I tried transplanting. Problem is that the root is almost a foot down. I have been unsuccessful in transplanting. I will try planting a paw paw in a container and see how that goes.

[@edibleacres]

Suckers of paw paw do not want to transplant at all... Strong encouragement to try growing from seed in a nursery bed and moving them after 1 year. You'll have great success.

[@gangofgreenhorns2672]

Seen KSU recommend severing the sucker's root then waiting a year and digging it up when dormant again.

[@barneygimble8984]

Make sure the squirrels and chipmunks don't eat your seeds while germinating . The hardware cloth in the video is a must to protect the seeds from rodents

[@edibleacres]

Personally we have never seen them eat Paw Paw seed, but perhaps that is different in different areas

[@barneygimble8984]

@@edibleacres Take that hardware cloth down and then you will sing the blues

[@EgyptianQueenTiye]

@@edibleacres They smell them, dig them up, then find out they don't like them. But now there on top of the soil where they dry out. Spreading the rotten fruit is an added attraction. I no longer do this with my seeds. I do spread rotten fruit around my pawpaw seedlings. I hope it helps.

[@taheraomar9210]

Where can I get the seeds from ? Thanks

[@DavidS-qp6zp]

I know that this video is about PawPaws, but do you folks grow JuJuBe bushes/trees too?

[@edibleacres]

We don't. Too cold in the winters for them I think

[@cre8iveconnexionz]

If you plant them in late fall do you have to water them during the winter?

[@edibleacres]

I have never had to water them when planted in the fall, but you want to be liberal with mulch to keep the ground from freezing around them

[@cre8iveconnexionz]

​@@edibleacres thank you!!! I put yalls website on my calendar for march and sept 1st ❤

[@cre8iveconnexionz]

Sorry one more question. Once it starts to warm up do you start to water regularly then? If you had seeds right now would you plant them now or late fall?

[@tcotroneo]

Curious how your pawpaws do In An air pruned bed. They like to send a deep taproot first, before they emerge from the soil.. The paw paw growers out here use deep narrow tree pots to start pawpaw seedlings

[@edibleacres]

I had amazingly good success with pawpaws in air prune beds last year so I am trying it again... They grew so nicely.

[@davidsimpson2635]

Will those air prune bed seedlings size up to be saleable after this season? If not, what would be the plan? Pot up for a 2nd year? Thanks sean!

[@edibleacres]

We'd move them into a bed in teh fall to grow on if we wanted, or if they size up nicely they'll be available as first year plants.

[@BombaclaatGatofish]

Is there any chance of pawpaws growing in less than ideal soil? I have a lot of clay content in mine, but I've read that amending the soil can likely cause more problems and eventually kill them

[@edibleacres]

We have paw paws growing in pretty clay soil and in pretty not ideal spots... You can plant them and add lots of mulch and organic matter around them... Shredded leaves, aged woodchips, etc., and let that slowly ammend the soil. I wouldn't till in a ton of compost or something, just plant into what you have and add more niceness on top

[@BombaclaatGatofish]

@@edibleacres wonderful, thank you!

[@johnbranconi9053]

Do you find that if the seeds freeze for a short while they become not viable? Thanks

[@edibleacres]

It really seems like it... THey aren't comfortable with freezing

[@johnbranconi9053]

@@edibleacres Thank You! I have a bunch that were frozen, I’ll give them a try you never know. Thanks again for your reply!

[@jeffskinner1226]

I had planted a bunch of wild PawPaw seeds for the first time last fall in a moist shaded woodland understory environment and was wondering what the heck happened to them. I'll have to go out and check again for those little sprouts. Do you think scarification would be beneficial prior to sowing?

[@edibleacres]

No scarification necessary... Would probably be bad for them. Just sow nice and deep in rich soil and be patient!

[@jeffskinner1226]

@@edibleacres Thanks

[@MistressOP]

do you do any paw paw breeding?

[@edibleacres]

Nothing formal at all, but we hope to select seed from nicer trees as our main plants come more into bearing age.

[@acsoul1]

@1:31 what is that seedling to the right of the screen with the red under the leaf? I’m sure it’s a “weed” but I have that growing all over a new space I just cleared for a bed.

[@edibleacres]

That could have been a poke root seedling, not quite sure.

[@acsoul1]

EdibleAcres that’s what I thought but couldn’t confidently identify it. I have so much of that in my garden. Any suggestions on eliminating it? Or alternatively, good uses for it?

[@davidkehr4730]

What are the roots like? Can they be transplanted at 2 or 3 or 4 years without cutting roots off?

[@simmonds6063]

They have a long tap root so i would get them in the ground asap.

[@edibleacres]

Year 1 is ideal for moving them, year 2 is the oldest I'd suggest, and only if they were growing in really rich and deep/loose soil.

[@EgyptianQueenTiye]

If you plant the seeds, are rodents a concern or do they leave the seeds alone?

[@edibleacres]

We have had very good success without any stresses from rodents with Paw Paw, just our experience so take it as you will!

[@EgyptianQueenTiye]

@@edibleacres Thank you for the response. Unfortunately, the rodents dug mine up and let the seeds dry on top of the soil. Now, I start them in pots and transfer them into the ground. I'm hoping that spreading the rotten fruit helps as I am doing so around my seedlings.

[@EgyptianQueenTiye]

@@edibleacres Something that works well thanks to you. I put the rotting fruit in the bottom of the hole, then some dirt, then transfer pawpaws into the ground. Some of the newborns are as large as some of the yearlings.

[@aron8949]

Paw paw grow naturally in the shade, especially seedlings. I think I will try spreading rotten fruit in the garden

[@marlenepisani9887]

I have never heard the word smeared for use in gardening,, what do you mean??

[@edibleacres]

Just what the word means, like smearing out the rotten fruit, spreading it, so the seeds are spread out...

[@hemansr3893]

Great info!!! How long does it take to get big enough to produce fruit? Do kiwi grow in your area? Thanks for video!!! :>)>>

[@mindmatters9515]

Hardy kiwi up to zone 3- a male and a female - are required to make fruit.

[@edibleacres]

6-8 years from seed... Hardy Kiwi is good to zone 4, Arctic Kiwi even colder...

[@hemansr3893]

@@edibleacres THANK YOU! :>)>>

[@OldTimerGarden]

They have a very long tap root so you may not be successful transplanting a two year old plant.