The Pawpaw Tree - A Complete Profile

[@tomphillips612]

Excellent I have a paw paw Farm. I viewed this video with a critical eye. I found no errors

[@growitbuildit]

I don't know if there is any better compliment I could receive. Thank you very much for your honest opinion and critical eye.

[@terresanharu7107]

Good evening...are you able to sell paw paw seeds and courier to South africa.i really need these

[@lessummers5738]

@@growitbuildit I really like videos man you explain very well👍

[@lessummers5738]

@@growitbuildit I dont remember if you said or not can I get non ripe ones and just let them riping on own or do they have to stay on tree until rip?thanks

[@growitbuildit]

@@lessummers5738 It depends how close it is to being ripe. If it is a month before natural ripening, then probably not. If it is a couple weeks - then yes, you can pick early.

[@benjaminbrown1179]

Growing up my dad would sing a little jingle every once in a while. It would end with "Way down yonder in the paw paw patch." I never knew they were an actual tree that produced paw paws until a year after he passed away. I was in my early 30s. I had visited a friend and one of his sons came walking up from the creek with a bag. He started eating this fruit and asked if id like a paw paw. All i could think was REALLY!!!! THIS WHOLE TIME DAD!!!!....... Great video

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you Benjamin - that is a great story

[@mr-vet]

I have hundreds of Paw Paw trees on my 3 acre Loudoun County, Virginia property. I’ve only found about a half dozen that produce fruit, though. Picked one just the other day and ate it. The fruit was very sweet and the aroma was quite strong. The fruit was pale yellow inside and very creamy. The taste was a combo of mango, vanilla, and banana. The aroma was similar to trim or fruit loops cereal.

[@growitbuildit]

Nice - maybe try hand-pollinating the fruits next Spring,. You might get more yield.

[@wood4life]

A pawpaw tree has to be pollenated with pollen from a different unrelated pawpaw tree. For short term results, you could try self pollination on a couple specific trees and see what happens. Long term, if you plan on living on that property for a long time, you could go get seeds from pawpaws somewhere away from your property, sprout them and plant those trees throughout your property. That way you’ll have a diversity of trees for better pollination rates in the long run. Down here in SE Virginia we have a lot of paw paws. You have to go out and look for spots where there’s a bunch of trees. I’ve got some spots I’ve found in the Dismal Swamp that I go to every year and there’s always a lot of fruits. Some years are better than others depending on the weather. The bears like them as much as I do.

[@chk3700]

Naahhh cap Mine are nowhere ready yet

[@thetrumpnewsnetwork7503]

I'm in Wood County and they are across the street from me at the edge of the forest.

[@anasazirose]

​@77thTrombone paw paw sed up shoots from the roots. If the patch is large, it could be genetically one tree.

[@haroldjames8057]

This long video kept my wife and me hooked for its entirety. We learned of Asimina Triloba about 4 years ago and are hooked and hooking others. We've germinated very many from seed and share the seedlings. We've also had success this year with cross pollinating wild pawpaws with a domesticated cultivar. We check on the 33 fruits progression biweekly.

[@growitbuildit]

That is cool - I'm really glad you enjoyed it. That is cool you are trying to breed new varieties too.

[@av1421]

where do you live?

[@haroldjames8057]

@@av1421 Zone 6b.

[@bro.tomwendorf5093]

Thank you! Very helpful video. I have three young pawpaw trees-different grafted varieties-that produced their first fruit this fall here in southwest Ohio. The fruit was amazingly delicious, and the trees are lovely. I’m glad I planted these native wonders.

[@growitbuildit]

I absolutely love eating pawpaws! Congrats on your first fruits!

[@sueknee8813]

Loved this video.I went with my grandpa every year to pick paw paws.He knew the woods and where they grew.I wish I had paid more attention to all he tried to teach my sister and I.I haven’t tasted one in 60 years but have wonderful memories of them.Loved the big seeds .

[@growitbuildit]

That is awesome Sue - thank you for sharing. I feel like I missed out on learning from my grandparents too.

[@joeyank2451]

Me And My Grandpa Did That To, I Was Just Young Little Feller. It Was So Exciting To Me And I Loved The Paw Paw. That Why I’ve Planted Them On My Property,And There Finally Fruiting YA!

[@taylormallory8705]

The video alone was good enough for a sub. Your map with native tree nurseries is more than enough for a little cash on the side. I'll be tracking down and starting pawpaws myself, but it's always nice to know where a native focused nursery is and your map is an invaluable resource. Keep up the great work!!!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you Taylor! I'm happy you are enjoying the resources/video. And thank you so much for the tip!

[@tarawatterson4188]

Another fabulous, thorough resource. Appreciate your content!

[@growitbuildit]

WOW - Thank you SO MUCH Tara! That was very generous of you!

[@aprilwest3752]

​@@growitbuilditI think so but w you have to

[@Ma1ingo]

Quality video as always, thank you. I have 3 pawpaw that we bought and planted 2 years ago. I saw a talk by one of the University of Kentucky growers that said they are fine in full sun once they get to the size of a sapling that the nurserys sell. So we planted ours in full sun, but I grew beans round their base to give them a little shade as insurance. One is struggling due to being ran over by a landscaper :/ but the other 2 have grown quickly. I understand it can be 7 years before you get any fruit, but we got our first flower this year which was magical to see!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you! Congrats on getting your first flower. It is exciting. I will probably be trying to hand-pollinate my trees once I have the opportunity.

[@GreatestEver-f6g]

Nobody cares jack

[@gwmattos]

❤😊 when I was an elementary school around the age of eight to 10 years of age we sang a song call where oh where is dear little Mary? Way Down Yonder in the Paw Paw Patch picking up pawpaws putting them in a basket. The school I attended was located in Charleston California. We had 2000 English walnut trees, 10 pecan trees, and fewer than 1000 black walnut trees. The fruit Of the pawpaw tree sounds delicious. You are website is fantastic. Thank you for sharing.😊

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you! I'm very happy you are enjoying our videos.

[@wordsofaction-christianfic4102]

A note about the pawpaws you have that are about 2 years old - you have them surrounded by Japanese stilt grass, which employs toxins that targets surrounding trees from growing well. It may be affecting the growth rate of your pawpaws.

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - I actually pull all of that stilt grass every year. Hopefully it will be gone in another 3 years or so.... But the stilt grass is only around those two shown, and one of those was the 4' tall one. But I take your point. Japanese Stilt Grass is a never ending battle in PA, and everywhere else too.

[@GrownByHand]

Thank you for that, I will have to look up some research on them as it is my primary weed here in Central Pa.

[@jeaniewelch9198]

LOVE YOUR VIDEO!!? I found a group of Paw Paws once in Louisiana. They are absolutely DELICIOUS!!! I am now in Missouri, where they SHOULD be ABUNDANT, however I have never been able to find any! I am still looking.....now I know a GREAT DEAL more, hopefully I will be able to identify some!!

[@growitbuildit]

Excellent - good luck Jeanie! Now is the time to find them too.

[@evaborho2554]

I appreciate the quality and depth of your Papaw Pawpaw information! Thanks!

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome Eva!

[@tacticalnuke8233]

Love the content Joe! Great resource for anyone interested in ecological landscaping. I'm in northeast Ohio so it's great to see someone who is also in zone 6. Native food webs are critical for my small organic no till farm structure. Appreciate the work on your channel and mission for education about native ecology.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you! I'm glad I can help you out. Good luck!

[@Yhoshua_B]

Hey, I really want to say, thank you for all of the content you've put out and continue to put out. I've learned a lot from you all and I appreciate you sharing your time and experience with me so I don't have to go through the same trials you went through 😅 Seriously! Thank you both for the information you share so freely.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you so much Yhoshua - I'm very happy to hear that you find them helpful!

[@kiwigarden2024]

22:40 34 out of 36 seeds germinated! That’s an amazing success rate, it seems like you’ve definitely mastered the process!

[@growitbuildit]

I have to agree with you! Thank you!

[@KimblesTheBrave]

Here in southern Ontario, pawpaw trees are very rare to find growing in the wild, but they are around. I just planted some bare root grafted trees this year and I'm looking forward to seeing how they do! If they survive long enough to produce fruit, I'm hoping to "accidentally" spread the seeds to some local park spaces, hehehe.

[@growitbuildit]

Awesome Kimberly. I hope you can spread some

[@gioknows]

I'm going to do that, too up here in Ottawa😀

[@archur111]

I have a bunch of them in southern ontario. I don't know anyone else who has some. This year the fruit is so heavy I need to prop up the trees.

[@poochie49]

@@archur111 Fantastic. Any chance you can harvest some seeds and send them to me? I would really appreciate that. Of course I will pay any expenses. I live in Stouffville, Ontario

[@kippiie]

@@poochie49I also have saplings and seeds if you need any in Niagara

[@jimmyfreeze3782]

This is the best pawpaw tree video on youtube.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you Jimmy. I appreciate that

[@AncientHippie]

As a long time paw paw owner (3 trees are more than enough fruit for us) I always throw my overripe fruit in my mulch bin and each spring pull handful of saplings out as they sprout.

[@growitbuildit]

Sounds like a great way to germinate seeds!

[@sqwrrl]

Did you mean compost bin?

[@AncientHippie]

@@sqwrrl yes but I use my compost as my mulch so I often interchange them....sure incorrectly but I'm ok with that.

[@tanyadekowski336]

Soursops are said to have cancer curing properties. Do pawpaw's also have this property?

[@AncientHippie]

@@tanyadekowski336 I'd highlight your question, right mouse click it and go to the third selection that says "Search Google for....."

[@TrickleCreekFarm]

I heard that sweet voice and I was just as excited when I had my first paw paws this year! I was happily able to clean up a gal’s yard and that included many wasted fruit and later hours worth of black walnut harvesting! I have planted many paw paw seeds, but could not find anywhere the reference to keep them moist, so glad I found your video. Likely many will not germinate, but hopefully I’ll get some! It was quite a treat for me and I appreciate gleaning more from this thorough video, I am now a new subscriber and it looks like I have so much more to learn from your videos and blogging! Thank you kindly for all your efforts…

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you so much! It was really special gathering Pawpaws with her that day. I'm glad I could help you out regarding germinating the seeds - good luck!

[@moirahaarhoff5286]

South African pawpaws are completely different. The leaves are palmate, the trunks are hollow and rot if the top of the tree is lopped off. The fruit is like a large papaya and very yellow when ripe. The birds love them, so it's quite a feat to harvest a ripe one unscathed. It is the only tropical fruit I know which is low in sugar, thus ideal for diabetics. The seeds are very small and one only has to grab a spoonful from the centre of the fruit and plant them very close to the surface to be able to choose between plants within weeks and keep the strongest only. We used to liquidise the fruit with the pulp and juice of two oranges and have wonderful smoothies.

[@bryanguest2807]

You are referring to a different species of plant c. papaya. PawPaw are in the anona family. There are anona family of fruits that grow in South Africa referred to as African Custard Apple.

[@OsirusHandle]

papaya is also called pawpaw in some places

[@DeserieDrew]

Moving to North Carolina on 5 acres. Looking into types of edible tree I can grow. This popped up on a google search. Thank for this informational stream. I found it very helpful.

[@growitbuildit]

Excellent - I'm very happy you found it helpful. Congrats and good luck!

[@2.7petabytes]

Just went on a hike today with my wife and we found several excellent examples of its fruit. Just now getting home and can’t wait to dig in. Great video and I subbed. I’m in Missouri where paw paws are everywhere!

[@growitbuildit]

Awesome! Congrats on finding some, and I hope you enjoy them.

[@amythurman7604]

We have about a half dozen pawpaw trees (SW Ohio residents) and want to propagate them more than they've produced over the years. Glad we came across this video. Thank you for sharing and posting!

[@growitbuildit]

Excellent - I'm glad I could help you out Amy!

[@christiridley1009]

I heard that sweet voice at the end 😊 Thank you so much for sharing your thorough research and the wisdom from your experience! I have about 8 seedlings from seeds that i kept in the fridge over the winter. I lucked out having them germinate from the sparse info that i found on the internet about them. Your videos are soooooo helpful to native plant enthusiasts!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you Christi - good job getting the seeds to germinate. And yes, that is a sweet voice at the end.

[@traceykinsman7727]

A great place in Canada to buy Pawpaw trees for colder temps is called Green Barn Farm. You buy them over the winter for Spring and their trees are rated for -40C. We plan to buy some this year and plant them. Your video just reminded me! Thx for all the info too.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you for sharing that place in Canada. That is incredible that they are rated for -40C

[@truetexan2011]

I watch a TON of KZbin videos to learn about plants/gardening, and I can honestly say that this is such an incredible video!! It answers so many questions that I didn’t even think I’d have!! Plz keep making videos!! And I appreciate all the work you did to put this together 🥳🥳🥳

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you! I will keep making videos. I just do it at a slower pace, as it is quite the time commitment. But thank you so much for the kind words!

[@c.j.taylor7325]

I've planted 7 pawpaw trees on my property in Western NY near the Niagara river. Hopefully ill have some fruit in a few years. I also managed to grow 21 from seeds using the winternsowong method this past winter. I'm sharing thr sapplings with local organizations and native plant stores. As always, great video and i really appreciate the work you put into them!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you CJ - and nice work germinating them and for sharing them.

[@HenhousetheRed]

If you like curd jam, especially lemon curd, adding pawpaw pulp makes it taste so nice and tropical. In our area, there's pawpaws all over the place, at just about every stream bank. It's like a local tradition to go out and hunt during pawpaw season.

[@growitbuildit]

Thanks for the tip - I've not tried curd jam. I mainly just eat them plain, as I like the taste. I have heard of people using them in bread and have seen Pawpaw salsa too.

[@jeffphillips2270]

Great profile, I purchase 2 bare root trees this spring and both are doing well. I live in the Niagara Region in Canada and we are the northern most region for the Paw Paw to grow naturally. With your information I hope to grow a few more from seed. Thanks Tara & Joe for the great work you both do! Jeff

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you Jeff! Very happy you are enjoying our work. Good luck starting some from seed!

[@watskilug]

I'm north of you in line with Ottawa, and mine are surviving up here, got the seeds from around your area so they are the northern variety, looking forward to the fruit......

[@joemccall8991]

I heard that. Longtime gardener but new subscriber, always learning and your topics hit close to home (being just South of you). Going back through your catalog and looking forward to new videos. Best!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you so much! Hope you enjoy the older videos!

[@GrowCookPreserveWithKellyDawn]

I was gifted a dozen or so small saplings and some just started to flower after about 5 years. I'm hoping next year is the year for fruit!

[@growitbuildit]

You are getting close! I would try hand pollinating them if you get flowers on multiple trees. I've done it with Squash plants plenty of times, but never tried it on Pawpaws yet.

[@GrowCookPreserveWithKellyDawn]

@@growitbuildit I will definitely try that next year!

[@marymathis9299]

Wow! Who would'a thought!!! Nice video, excellent info and photography. You, Sir, have done a very good job in getting the Pawpaw tree out to all of us primary students! Thank you so much!!!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you Mary! I'm very happy you enjoyed it and found it informative, as that was my goal.

[@purpleangeltrumpet1]

Lol

[@gypsywoman6369]

What a fantastic video! Not only do you present rich content, you also are a well organized speaker. I am a retired teacher and recognize a very professional, clear presentation.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you so much - your words mean a lot!

[@fayprivate7975]

Thank you for this info. I was recently given some Pawpaw seeds but didn’t know anything about growing them. Your video is very detailed and will help me.

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome - good luck starting your seeds

[@SS-wz8po]

Excellent video to watch! I’d recommend to anyone who wants to know everything about paw paw. A lot of times and efforts spent to produce this video, I could imagine. Most of all the knowledge about the topic. Thank you for the video ❤🙏

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you so much for the kind words! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@holzlastname1976]

Thanks you! You were super thorough. My husband can spot paw paws very easily but I always have a hard time

[@growitbuildit]

You're very welcome. Glad you enjoyed it. You'll get fast at spotting them in no time

[@gangofgreenhorns2672]

5:40 KSU has good info on pawpaws and I've heard them say that if you want a good chance at transplanting a sucker you should cut it in the ground with a shovel then leave it a whole year before digging it up. I have several pawpaws I transplanted as seedlings and I am suspicious that two were suckers because they had a really long, eventually severed tap root. They've both been very productive the one has put on nearly 4 foot in its first year.

[@growitbuildit]

That sounds like good advice if one were to transplant a sucker...cutting then leaving in the ground for a year.

[@Davids3DProjects]

I found a wild patch below our cabin near the river. Sadly I couldn't find any pawpaw fruit this season. Good video full of interesting details.

[@growitbuildit]

Your wild patch could be the same tree - just clonal offsets! But if you found one patch, they are most likely more in the area.

[@ramblin660]

We have a couple dozen pawpaw trees on our property, but in the 30some years we've been here, we've never used them, but the animals have always enjoyed them. We've collected a few this year and plan to use them in bread. Thank you for the great video, sharing your knowledge and experience with pawpaw trees and their fruit it's greatly appreciated!

[@growitbuildit]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video - and good luck making your pawpaw bread!

[@shelleyhender8537]

Thank you for including us CANCUCKS/Canadians in your video! Pawpaws have become popular throughout Canada! I live in Western Canada in zone 4b/5a, and they do great! The scientific info (jargon) - I especislly appreciate - along with cautions and encouragement to delve further, and conduct a “personal” investigation into ANY plant/food you intend to eat or share with others - including your darling Fido! Hope you are having a great summer! Currently, my homes province, British Columbia, and the Northwest Territories are in a State of Emergency due to forest fires burning down homes, towns, and now it’s trying to rip through the capital city of Yellowknife, as fire fighter and volunteers alike are doing their utmost to save the city! We sent many Canadian fire fighters and First Responders south to the US, to help with California, and other fires, floods, massive mudslides, etc. Hopefully, we will receive some American help in kind. Let’s HOPE and pray that you will NOT experience anything on the scale of what we are coping with! Just trying to find temporary homes for the animals/pets belonging to the TENS of THOUSANDS of evacuees is a challenge ! Then we hav3 all the wildlife running scared into communities. Bears, moose, cougars, deer, elk, every kind of creature is fleeing the fires and have to go somewhere! Finallly, I feel for the farmers that tried to evacuate their animals, and those who had too many to relocate,, took turns as neighbours to feed, water, and provide shelter for every farm animal they could! I hope the majority made it, and somehow, this CRISIS and the others we have had in North America this year will wake up those who choose put their blinders on and pretend the world will be a much better place for the dear little ones, both human and animal! Not to be political, but I hope no one endures what we Canadians are enduring…AGAIN! In the meantime, I wish you a fantastic summer - may You and your daughter get your fill of PawPaws! Cheers🇨🇦😊🇺🇸

[@growitbuildit]

It has been a terrible year for wildfires everywhere. And I hope Canada gets some relief soon. And thank you - my daughter and I will be hunting pawpaws soon enough!

[@shelleyhender8537]

@@growitbuildit Thank you! I wish you and your daughter an enjoyable feast! Cheers🇨🇦😊🇺🇸

[@kylemarkwardt529]

You’ve done it again Joe. If I had a channel it would have all of the EXACT content you produce. Thanks

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you Kyle!

[@briansimmons7141]

Great video, thanks. Regarding your comment at 22:09 “they can’t be frozen solid, which is similar to other tree nuts like acorns”. Maybe that depends on the kind of oak tree. The wide distribution of northern red oaks in zones 5, 4, etc. would not occur if their acorns could not survive freezing temps. Every spring, our dirt road in southern NH has hundreds to thousands of acorn seedlings along the shoulder in just a very short distance. The acorns from which they sprout are typically 1/2” to 1” below the surface. Ditto for seedlings in the woods. Winter temps here are often below 0 deg F and sometimes as low as -20 to -25. I wonder whether any of the pawpaws would have germinated if you had sunk the pots into the ground with maybe a couple of inches of mulch on top. Leaving the pots completely exposed is pretty extreme. For the seeds that germinated so well, what was the temp in your unheated garage? 50 deg? 40? 36? And what were the temps in March when you put them outside?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Brian - it doesn't really depend on the type of Oak, it matters more so if the acorn is covered in enough leaf litter, or manages to get buried by a squirrel. So, Red Oaks will not germinate until Spring, and must sit either in leaf litter or underground until April-May. While White Oaks germinate right away in Fall, and can get their root to go down 6-12" before they go dormant for the winter. And if their root is down deep enough, it will not completely freeze, and the tree will survive. For Pawpaws, you are correct, that the 'frozen year' would have probably germinated had I buried the pots in the ground. Or, had I just placed them somewhere that the sun could get them with some mulch. But the main point is that you cannot let them freeze solid! My garage will fluctuate between 38-50F for most of the Winter. In March, we can still have freezing temperatures for a day or two, but that shouldn't be enough to 'freeze' the pot/soil solid. When it comes to cold stratification, you really don't need to overthink anything. Just make sure they are somewhat cold, in contact with moisture, but not freezing, and stratify them long enough. The only real problems that happen (besides freezing) is if you do it in the fridge you can get mold on the seeds.

[@eyephpmyadmin6988]

The Nashville 2 River Park right in the Tennessee River has a spot with these next to a water fall, right before the bridge go down the trail on the right

[@growitbuildit]

That is awesome - but now you've given away the location!

[@okboomer6201]

I have two fruit producing trees, and three smaller ones on my property. Now that you have reminded me I will go and check them today.

[@growitbuildit]

It's time right now!

[@bythepiece]

Excellent information and you have not left anything out. Thank you.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you! I'm glad you found it helpful.

[@yaddahaysmarmalite4059]

this video is an excellent resource to learn about pawpaws. well done. my local county cooperative extension did a seminar on pawpaws. they invited local tree nursery growers to sell some pawpaws they've been propogating. of course i bougth a few trees.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you! And I think you made a good decision buying a few trees

[@grammadonutsquashdog431]

As a child my Dad worked putting in pipelines in Southern Michigan. On a visit with him ,he brought home Michigan Bananas, I later learned these were Pawpaws. And yes it was in Pawpaw, Michigan. :)

[@growitbuildit]

That is awesome - I've heard them called Appalachian bananas before, but not Michigan Bananas.

[@midwestribeye7820]

This was fascinating! It's on my Bucket List to see a real Pawpaw and eat the fruit.

[@growitbuildit]

Now you are closer to being able to find them! I was in the same boat as you 4 years ago.

[@tazzyslady]

Great video that has given me the confidence to go out to identify and hopefully harvest some Paw Paws!

[@growitbuildit]

Excellent - that is exactly what I like to hear. Good luck!

[@Timmy70]

I substitute banna with paw paws in my banana bread recipe...Its Amazing!! I'm in Southeast Ohio and have a "Honey Hole" I visit every year!!! Great video

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you Tim! I just stopped at one of my hidden-in-plain-sight groves and grabbed about 8-10. That is cool with the bread. That would be really good.

[@Timmy70]

It's crazy how so many people never even heard of paw paws! Definitely a late summer treat for those that know👍🙏

[@growitbuildit]

EXACTLY!

[@mryan1836]

That's a great idea. I'm going to try it.

[@robgilbert4556]

I taught my son what the look like and he went on a field trip and said there was a huge grove . Every year I can pick 30 lbs or more here in va. It is fairly popular hiking trail and most don’t know what they are. Probaly 300lbs or more rot every year when they fall to the ground

[@growitbuildit]

Wow - that sounds like an awesome patch!

[@scotthudson3654]

Excellent information. Thank you! I am growing 6 from seed right now in Western NY.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you - good luck getting your trees started

[@christopherlaws3077]

This was a GREAT video, I'm in Prince William co Va and in wooded areas near streams ,ponds etc,this is very common.The Zebra swallowtail is seen alot in the spring in my area due to the abundence of this small tree and is s very BEAUTIFUL butterfly.I encourage people to plant this native fruit tree more.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you! That is awesome - you'll notice I didn't get a single shot of the Zebra Swallowtail. They are in the area...but I've never been able to capture one on film.

[@haroldjames8057]

I've found that damp sand is great for cold stratification in the refrigerator without mold.

[@growitbuildit]

Sand works well too. I find that a good sterilization pretty much keeps everything away. But good tip nonetheless.

[@robgilbert4556]

Green moss has tannins in it that keep mold from growing on seed when stratified in the fridge. Also scarifying the seed coat around the seed helps it start faster. You can sand or take a knife and trim the border around edge of seeds. The seed inside looks wrinkly like a grub worm

[@katiekane5247]

I'm convinced there's several near me in north Georgia. I purchased a small tree but it hasn't done very well. Hard for me to find any flowers & I never see fruit. My forbe ID is much better than my tree ID skills. Thanks for this! Edit: the homeowner practices of removing understory trees to "decrease the competition with canopy trees" has done tons of damage IMO. The purpose of understory trees isn't taught, it should be!

[@HenhousetheRed]

You need at least two genetically different pawpaw trees to produce fruit. Seems like they need to be in the ground for 5 years to begin fruiting.

[@growitbuildit]

Maybe go take a hike and see if you can positively ID the trees. If not, go drive backroads and keep your eyes peeled. Most people don't even know what they are. I'm a big fan of understory shrubs and trees. They never grow thick enough to make an area impassable - it is the Buckthorn/Bush Honeysuckle that does that. I love the Spicebush, native brambles, and viburnums. I've been trying to get an easy, repeatable method for growing Virburnums for a couple years now - very difficult in containers.

[@barrybri]

On my property in North GA,there are a couple of smaller bush pawpaw varieties that grow wild.The pawpaws on them are about a whole peanut to thumb size and mostly seeds.Early Spring is a good time to spot their flowers to locate them in the woods.The leaves are smaller than other varieties.I started growing pawpaws from 2 seedlings about 1996 and started new patches by transplanting the suckers when they are dormant,the end of Winter.I started grafting other varieties onto my trees to get better pollination and better sized fruit a few years ago.The fruit on my Mango variety grafted tree started getting ripe about 3 days ago. There are wild Viburnam trees, Carolina Buckthorn,Carolina Spicebush(that I transplanted from my homeplace about 30 miles away),and plenty of wild blackberries.

[@timcross2510]

I just saw how many people you took your time to respond to. You are special. And doing something rarely seen these days. When my ri erfront home is finished being remodeled, you and as many friends and family fit in a three bedroom,2 1/2 bath place can vacation for free. I only need (and prefer )a yurt

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you Tim! I try to help people out when I can.

[@timcross2510]

You have just inspired me to try to start a "paw paw patrol". Dedicated to knowing and restoring subsistence type activities. I was writing the letter to the editor in my town when you responded. I hope to use my lapsed "Information abilities" to make your brilliant work reach more people. Everyone on every side will love the paw paw movement. I also tend to be dramatic!

[@growitbuildit]

That sounds awesome - what is the news paper?

[@timcross2510]

@@growitbuildit , The Examiner in Tunkhannock, Pa

[@AmericanMike815]

Great video! We are getting two of these trees next week!

[@growitbuildit]

Congrats and good luck! And thank you for the kind words.

[@NotGoddess]

I heard that! I have two paw paw trees and while I hope for fruit in a few years, I find they pretty unusual landscape trees as well.

[@growitbuildit]

Patience is a virtue when waiting for trees to grow

[@flgardener1155]

What an incredible video. This is a masterclass on pawpaws.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you!

[@timcross2510]

BRILLIANT! I have spent two years trying to learn the things you covered. I live on the bank of the Susquehanna River, in a place native American people had large paw paw patches. I believe an invasive disease attacked the species when no one knew about things like that. I think that is why they dont fruit often and are stunted like chestnut in the past and now ash.

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Tim - that is great you live near the Susquehanna. If they aren't fruiting, then they are probably clonal offsets. I would expand the area you are searching in, and if you find fruit.....save those seeds! Then you can plant new ones and eventually get the ones on the river to fruit.

[@timcross2510]

@@growitbuildit ,can I buy seedlings this winter or spring from diverse providers? I'm on my way out and want to leave a legacy

[@growitbuildit]

I purchased bare roots from Cold Stream Farm. They had something like $15 shipping, but you could purchase a lot of trees for little money (6" saplings). There are some other mail-order places. But also, if you're on Facebook you may find some in the market place.

[@timcross2510]

@@growitbuildit , THANK YOU!. I have three hickory trees I nurtured next to house. They are from the giant that rains nuts down. I'm hoping the root telegraph will make the paw paw prosper. I'll be ordering soon. Bless you. It's something important to leave a legacy of life that transcends our short active existence.

[@timcross2510]

@@growitbuildit, I have almost no social media footprints. And I would a d will never use Facebook or their purchased minions.

[@davidturner2358]

Very professional. Thank you very much. Please do one on persimmon native to the US😊

[@growitbuildit]

I can do that at some point. I actually located my first patch of trees last Fall. I was able to collect some fruit, and germinate the seed. They really do taste good once they get very soft! I probably won't be making any video on Persimmon until next year at the earliest, as I just don't have that much footage. But I did write a thorough article on the tree. Hopefully you find it helpful. growitbuildit.com/american-persimmon-diospyros-virginiana-l/

[@odimarbatista3976]

Great video!! I’m thinking of growing a couple trees in Massachusetts.

[@growitbuildit]

You absolutely should!

[@TheGratefulGarden]

Spreading knowledge of the pawpaw is so important!!!!

[@growitbuildit]

I fully agree!

[@gioknows]

Outstanding. I currently have 5 saplings which are all under 9 inches tall so I have a long way to go. I've grown a lot of tropical fruits from seed including mango, avocado, orange, lemon, passion fruit, lulu and a few others and Pawpaw's are as difficult as I have seen LOL. I'm in Eastern Ontario which may be too north for them to grow but I'm going to try. Great information. Cheers from Ottawa, Canada🍁

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you - good job getting some to germinate. Lord knows I had some trouble. But I bet you will be ok - maybe just place a bit of mulch in Winter

[@LuminousTurtle2029]

I heard that comment. Thank you for this very detailed video. I learned a great deal.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you - glad you found it informative. Happy Pawpaw hunting

[@davidturner2358]

Thanks!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you so much David! Very generous of you.

[@wendywilliams2669]

Terrific information!!! Thanks so very much!

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome Wendy - good luck!

[@joan1218]

Thank you for all the information about native plants. I notice that in many cases when talking about growing from seed you indicate that, although literature indicated that a particular plant’s seed need stratification, you find that it is not necessary. Pawpaw seeds, in my experience, and I have grown them for 10 years, do not need stratification. I am writing to tell you this because I know that, because of your experience, you will do the research to prove it. I have never actually intended to plant seeds but I do put the seeds back into the pawpaw skin and bury them in my garden in September/October, when I am eating them, as I do with most of my other food scraps. These seeds germinate in 2 to 4 weeks and I have many new pawpaw seedlings at that time. Last year I had about 200 plants and donated them to a community gardens and a native plant nursery. This year I am donating to a historic home’s garden and was able to pot 20 more seedling pawpaws I found in the garden (about 4 weeks ago). I examined them and they showed evidence of having germinated last fall. I could see where the old growth ended and where the new growth began. These plants had a more advanced tap root. The pawpaw seed are able to grow up from quite a depth as some of them were buried quite deep. This plant is amazing in so many ways. I hope this information will be useful to you.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you for sharing that info. I may test it out sometime. But perhaps wait until the Spring to plant the seed.

[@mpc72367]

Fantastic job with the info in this video. Thank you.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you!

[@thisolesignguy2733]

Seriously, thank you for this! I grew up on Pawpaws, I would go out in the woods by my grandma's house and harvest them so she could make Pawpaw butter and bread. mmmm takes better than banana bread. To make pawpaw butter, puree it then add a little molasses, cinnamon, and a dash of apple cider. mix in the other stuff little by little until it's nice & thick. Then add in a bit of sugar to sweeten it to your tastes. Tastes great with fried biscuits or oatmeal! Give it a try and let us know how you like it.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it. In regards to butter, I assume you then pressure can it? How long does it last once opened?

[@ronnywest3797]

Thanks for the video and the one on October planting, just extra info but the fruit starts dropping mid October here in Kentucky and we are covered up with them.

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome Ronny - I'm surprised to hear they don't fall until October there. I know of one tree that is still holding fruit out here. Everything else dropped in the last two months.

[@donnavorce8856]

Thanks for an informative post. Very good information. There are paw paw jungles about 2 hours south east of me. It' would be a good field trip to head over in late August and see if any fruit was ready. That is the area by the Missouri river at the border of Nebraska and Missouri. Look at Brownville Neb. Meanwhile I've got two 5 year trees in my food forest that are doing pretty well. One had a dozen flowers last year. I hope both flower this year and maybe I get a couple of fruits.

[@growitbuildit]

That is awesome to have a Pawpaw jungle! I've got little colonies that I know of, and that is where I go hunting. But cool you have a couple trees that are beginning to flower.

[@ZeroCarbDaddy]

One of the best videos an Paw Paw trees. Thanks

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you!

[@mdcampbell7360]

There are a number of uses for pawoaws. I made pawpaw muffins this year & have made frozen custard & quickbread in the past.

[@growitbuildit]

I have some friends who make pie and breads from them, I just never have done so. And, since this video was already so long....But you are absolutely correct.

[@JerryCochran-hi7mz]

Learned about these from my stepdad while fishing. Good stuff

[@growitbuildit]

Absolutely good stuff

[@bigg368]

I am so thankful i found your video. I have filled my Arlington, VA home backyard with dozens of fruit bearing paw paw. Ive been eating them for years but after watching your video im going to stop eating them. You see, my partner of 37 years was diagnosed with a parkinsonism. He has MSA-P. Im his caregiver now. Im watching him slowly being tortured to death. To think i may have caused his illness by feeding him paw paws i grew is inbearable. I will never eat another as long as live. If people could see how my partner is suffering then i wonder if they believe its worth the risk no matter how small. I feel morally obligated to tell him and to share this with my neighbors. Thank you.

[@growitbuildit]

I'm terribly sorry to hear about your partner.

[@marjieestivill]

I heard that!!! I’ve started s small paw paw grove, for zebra swallowtails rather than fruit. But if I get fruit, will be delighted! Am close to the Mississippi in the Quad Cities area of Iowa. There are some small paw paw areas about 50 miles east, because zebra swallowtails have been found there, a bit south of Iowa City.

[@growitbuildit]

Oh that is awesome! That is a neat stretch of the river there. You are about at the limit for the range (cold) but it should be fine. I wish you absolutely the best of luck!

[@marjieestivill]

@growitbuildit Didn’t expect a reply do long after the original video! There’s an article about a paw paw orchard being decimated by Ambrosia beetles, published by the Athens newspaper. They create a fungus under the bark that clogs the tree trunk vasculature. Have you heard of any other people’s trees being affected specifically by Ambrosia beetles? The orchard owner said the drought-weakened trees on his property were affected but not others that hadn’t been stressed the year before by drought.

[@growitbuildit]

@marjieestivill not specifically for pawpaws, but I have for redbuds. stopab.org/ I haven't heard of anything attacking pawpaws, but if the tree was pruned when insects were active, that could be the pathway. I doubt that the orchard had poor drainage.

[@marjieestivill]

@ hey thanks for added info re redbud! The disparity of tree condition in the orchard due to drought and different water conditions was a call the orchard owner made. He said he saw the unique sawdust exudate made by ambrosia beetles on the trunk, nothing to do with foliage or branch tips. Just trying to find out if there is a spreading issue of ambrosia beetles…never heard of them before. Great (hilarious) images of the sawdust exudate from the trunk online.

[@marjieestivill]

@ Now after looking at an entomology journal article I see they go after trees that had a really wet year, and the orchard owner did say his orchard had a super wet year.

[@fayepreuss5180]

This was absolutely excellent!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you so much Faye!

[@Gruin]

SO WELL EXECUTED, As The Saying in New England is Spoken: "The Finest Kind" ~♡~ Thank You

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you! I really appreciate it!

[@wordsofaction-christianfic4102]

Amazing presentation/narration

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you!

[@fugueine]

amazing amount of information, very well presented. Thank you so much!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@SandraSElam]

So thorough! Thank you.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you Sandra

[@kristeetrisler4942]

I haven't been on your channel in a while. Me slacking. Three years ago I received permission to use my neighbors property to plant a garden. We just received permission to plant trees on his property. The ailing tree line is in need of rejuvenation. There is a yearly tree and shrub sale put in by the Chautauqua county soil conservancy. We decided on getting a few Pawpaw trees. I'm a life long resident of here I really want trees to grow well. I have all of the trees less sycamore trees. I'm prerty sure we have the perfect growing area. Thanks for the video

[@growitbuildit]

If you have all those other trees growing - you should definitely have the right habitat. I just checked my two more 'mature' trees, and I think they both have flower buds. So I may get Pawpaws in my backyard for the first time this year.

[@kristeetrisler4942]

@@growitbuildit I live about 14 or so miles from the PA line we have 2 creeks running on either side of my village. We are trying to restart trees in the main tree line in our village. It is About 7 acres in length. We are planning for our 111th town picnic as our town turns 200 I have managed to transplant scarlet bee balm all over my tiny lot and am planning to transplant more on my neighbors property as well. We are in a protective Holler here. Strange things survive like a southern magnolia. I finally managed to grow a firecracker vine from seed after 3 years of trying. Yes I have fail after fail I keep trying. Planting Partridge pea and maxamillion sunflowers on our property and sunchokes in the back garden. If you have the space 100% recommended by my family. We started with red. This year we are adding white

[@growitbuildit]

Sounds like a great spot. Good choice of plants too. I bet Button bush would do well.

[@kristeetrisler4942]

@@growitbuildit how about persimmons. Nine Barkley is also an option to possiblity pick up eventually. Have to do more research on them We are going to ask the best planting place for the pawpaw. We will also be scouting on public land for them.

[@growitbuildit]

@@kristeetrisler4942 Persimmons like similar growing conditions but definitely need sunlight. I know of one patch of them growing near me next to a body of water. For pawpaw, the more sun they get, the more fruit you will get.

[@staceydillon602]

I loved the video! I'm wondering if you can provide some information about how long it takes before they start fruiting?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - it takes at least 5 years in my experience. That is coming from a 6" bare root.

[@harleytrumbo633]

Thanks for your quick response. I'll check GM out. That was not an auto correct in my first comment. It was my intention to say marcot.... not market.... ha. Others call the propagating technique of marcotting... air layering. I've had much difficulty trying to marcot pawpaw plants. Zero success so far. I wish I knew someone that has succeeded with that process on pawpaws. I do well on apples and pears so far. Experimenting with plums and persimmons right now. To early to tell on them.

[@growitbuildit]

Ah - ok. I am not familiar with marcot! I cannot offer you any advice for that method, but can only wish you good luck.

[@Pawpawlogan]

Goody day! I am just about to plant my pawpaw's. I know it's a ten year investment but I am looking forward to recording the journey. Keep up the great work!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you - good luck getting your trees off to a good start! I'm in the same boat!

[@Pawpawlogan]

@@growitbuildit cheers. I will blog about it on my channel. I will keep an eye on yours as well.

[@FURST420]

I live in southern York county PA and have a bunch of these growing on my 5 acres.

[@growitbuildit]

Nice! Got any Persimmons?

[@evanm91]

What about planting the seeds in a prepared site in the ground instead of pots? They could be protected by leaf mulch for temperature and maybe an upside down wire basket for marking the spot, preventing digging by squirrels, etc. Just trying to maximize space for seed starting this winter :) Thanks for another great video! I love all of your stuff.

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - yes, you could do that. The only risk would be predation, and the Pawpaw tree being able to compete against other vegetation that may be present. If there is really thick undergrowth I would be concerned. But if the undergrowth is somewhat sparse then it should be fine.

[@markleasure3243]

Question @growitbuildit I gathered a plastic shopping bag full to grow on my forested 17 acres. I did not remove the seeds and simply used a spade to scallop the leaves, dirt and shallow plant the whole fruit to keep the seeds moist I also planted them in groups of three about ten feet apart. Do you think this process will germinate? I’m in Western Maryland

[@glenayers3876]

Attention: You failed to mention that dehydrating ripe pawpaw fruit turns them into a fast-acting emetic, and eating a small piece of dried pawpaw flesh will result in profuse vomiting and diarrhea within 15-20 minutes. Because they tend to ripen all at once, I dried about 20 lbs of ripe flesh in my dehydrator, thinking they would be like dried mango slices. The result tasted great, but both my wife and I were stuck in the bathroom for a few hours afterward. The dried fruit is very toxic, so don't make my mistake.

[@growitbuildit]

Wow - that is the first I've heard of that happening. I had never tried, or heard of anyone dehydrating pawpaws, and hence never heard of that effect from eating them. Thank you for getting the word out.

[@owlislike]

Hi there. First Nations peoples have been documented as drying Paw Paw for food storage and there is also documented evidence from European colonists that it was included in stews among other dishes. Unfortunately how it was done has been lost due to forced migration etc. It is assumed that it was treated in some way to leech out the toxins. There is a really great book "PawPaw: In Search of America's Forgotten Fruit"by Andrew Moore that discusses the history of use in North America. It is a fantastic read!

[@n.bicalcarata4147]

I have two pawpaw trees I planted on my property and hope to get fruit from them in a few years. Thank you for posting this, we have a dehydrator and probably would've attempted it, you just made sure we won't.

[@Omglolwut]

I’ll have some this year on my trees I’ll try it anyway

[@whogavehimafork]

Oh wow I've never heard of that but that's good to know now!

[@janegarner3101]

I live in Portland, Oregon, and have 3 pawpaw trees. They are 5 years old and have not produced fruit yet. One tree is tiny and struggling but the other two are really big with lots of leaves and look healthy. When do they start producing fruit? I haven't seen any blossoms yet.

[@growitbuildit]

You should see flowers within a year or two. Most references say they produce flowers at year seven. If you get flowers on both trees, I would suggest trying to hand pollinate to make sure you get some fruit. Good luck next year!

[@isaaco5679]

I planted 3 store bought ones in my Eastern Iowa yard. Two are growing well, but the top of one died back for a season. It now has a one foot sucker, which I guess is probably a different variety. We live in a flood plane and I'm sure the trees will do really well once the taproot reaches the fairly shallow watertable. I plant to spread seedlings all over my local area.

[@growitbuildit]

That is great that you are having success. And I love your goal of spreading this around, as it is the limit of it's native range anyway. I actually planted two trees at a relatives farm in Eastern Iowa tow years ago. The trees are doing ok, which I was concerned they wouldn't survive the winter.

[@isaaco5679]

@growitbuildit I first encountered the pawpaw at this elderly couples house. They only had two, but still got a decent crop. It was right on the Mississippi. I personally think that the blossoms smell more like rotten fruit than flesh. Mine are swarmed by fruit flies in the spring. They dropped partially grown fruit last year, which I think was a lack of calcium and other minerals, but I don't know for certain.

[@growitbuildit]

Did the trees suffer extreme weather such as drought? Usually when a plant aborts it's seed it is some lack of normal resource. But perhaps it was a mineral.

[@isaaco5679]

@growitbuildit I don't think so. I wet the ground most days in the spring. It seems to help get rid of the Japanese beetles while they are still in larvae form.

[@kangtani_indonesia]

Thank you for sharing information about mango farming which is very useful

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - this is a different type of fruit. It is native to North America.

[@gartengeflugel924]

That was very interesting to watch, lots of good information. As you described the pawpaw's native growing conditions I kept thinking that they'd feel right at home in parts of Germany. The forest right outside our village contains many of the genera you mentioned, though some of course are not native here. Downhill the forest also gets progressively wetter, ultimately ending in a moist, shallow valley. It's nice to think what could grow there. Thanks for sharing this detailed video, cheers

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you - it is fun to imagine what plants could be used in a given area. I do that all the time, contemplating the best choices to replace the current invasive species in my back yard.

[@Lareinadelas]

Thank you for wonderful video. I will watch it all later tonight after work. We have two pawpaws we planted several years ago in Maryland. We finally had fruit this past August after self-pollinating. The fruit was great, but too few of them. We'll keep trying to improve on our pollination. Once question I do have is how to prune them, especially the "mother" tree with all its offshoots. Is it bad for the mother tree to remove the offshoots?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - glad you are enjoying the video. I don't think it harms the mother tree to kill the off-shoots. I mow my own ones down, and it has not seemed to harm the mother. I mean, there really isn't much you can do about it. Either mow them, let them grow, or cut at the base and wrap some gauze around it w/ rubber band. I just mow my own.

[@Lareinadelas]

@@growitbuildit thank you for the reply. Yes, we have been mowing offshoots that have come up in the grass area of our yard, but the original tree is in the middle of a natural area of our yard and there are numerous offshoots adjacent to it. In fact some are very tall already and very close to the original. I'm wondering if we've waited too long to remove and have the potential to do damage to the mother tree. We are also planning to do some pruning this winter and wonder if we should just wait until them to remove the offshoots. The other pawpaw in our yard that did bear fruit doesn't have any offshoots.

[@growitbuildit]

@Lareinadelas I really can't share any direct experience other than mowing my own.

[@thehuntingmedic4546]

Good video. Looks like I am close to you in Adams Co. Guess I'll go check out woods for pawpaws.

[@growitbuildit]

Adams county should definitely be a good location

[@eQui253]

Greetings from Germany. Our climate will do fine for the Paw paw. I will plant a Prima 1216 tomorrow....and will look forward to the next 20 years..I never tasted a paw paw.. so this is a long term gamble :) Thx for the Infos

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome - you will love the flavor!

[@ramishrambarran3998]

When I saw the thumbnail, and the word "paw-paw", I thought ,"Here is another of those fraud Far East videos where they perform miracles with grafting, propagating, and Krazy-glue causing plants to bear unbelievable amounts of fruits in a few days ! But I decided to watch. Here where I live we call Paw-paw, the fruit Americans know as Papaya ! This was a very detailed comprehensive video on this North American fruit. I know lots of work went into making this video, and I want to say "Thank You". This is invaluable material for the ones who are interested in cultivating paw-paw. Well Done ! Regards. Trinidad & Tobago. West Indies.

[@growitbuildit]

Hello - thank you so much for the kind words. I did put much effort into making this video, as I have a true love for the tree and the fruit. Hello from the snow covered lands of Pennsylvania!

[@gordgardner2393]

Loved your video. I'm on 50 acres in Southern Ontario half of which is bush. I looked for the first time this fall and will try again in 24. In the meantime I would like to plant some and maybe try some seed. Any ideas on ordering? Thanks for all the info. Gord

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Gord - there is a company out of Michigan that sells bare root trees. They are Cold Stream Farm and that is who I bought my first two trees from about 5 years ago. You order now, then in spring they will email you about a week before they ship. Then, just be ready to plant them within a day or so. Very easy, and cost effective if you are buying multiple trees as they had a flat rate for shipping.

[@vnDannyPhung]

I got a grafted pawpaw tree in April 20th from a nursery. 2 to 3 feet tall. I already planted in the ground, full sun. My question is: Should I give it some shade or leave it in the full sun ? Thanks in advance.

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - I would check with the nursery. If they were already growing it in full sun, then it is probably ok. Just ask them in what conditions it was grown, and then explain how many hours of sun it will get where you planted it.