If anyone grows or knows about paw paw trees, I would like some input.  I want to put them in ground in coastal North Carolina, zone 8A.  I've read that they need to be shaded their first 2 years, then full sun for fruit production.  I was thinking of buying 3 named cultivars (NC-1, PA Golden, Shenandoah) and keeping them in pots for a year (assuming they are already 1 year old), then in ground Spring 2016, about 18 months from now.  They would get full sun, all day long.

Any thoughts?  I see many nurseries sell them in the tall tree sleeves (10"-14") due to the tap root, can I transplant into say a 5 or 6 gallon bucket/pot, or do the roots need more confinement with additional depth?  Any other input greatly appreciated as well!

Thanks for any replies!

I put 2 in the ground ny zone 7 full sun and got fruit in 2 years. I think I posted this before but 2 others were put in mostly shade and another 2 in half a days sun.  The only ones that ever fruited were the ones in the full sun.  I didn't want to disturb the roots so I put them right in the ground.  Don't mess with transplanting paw paws is my advice.

How old or how big were the seedlings you planted?  Or did you plant seeds?

Mine were grafted small plants.

First, you need to be on the ball and pretty much pre-order your varieties.

Second, go ahead and plant them in the ground.  Use a frame and shade cloth to protect them the first two years.  You shouldn't put them in pots and transplant if you can help it.

Ordering pawpaw plants is on my list of things to do today.
Myself or my wife have never had one so I'm buying these strictly on what others have written. They sound good.

My plan was to put 3 of them in a row in the 20 wide space that runs north south between our house and the neighbors house.

It seems very sunny and warm there but my sun light meter says it's partial sun in the center.

If you're buying them they should be old enough to not need shade. They do well in part shade as mature plants, that can open up planting options. I don't see a need to keep them in pots.

I've had paw paws  for years.I never shaded them.They have deep tap roots I don't think you should leave them in pots.    http://www.pawpaw.kysu.edu/

Paw Paws are tough trees. Ex. a customer coming to buy fig trees brought me a 5 foot tall paw paw that looked like they'd dug it up quickly without paying much attention to the root(s). I put it in a 5 or 7 gallon bucket (sorry - too lazy to walk upstairs and out on to the deck) and put it out into full sun. I does get water every day and I do feed it -- and it's doing great. I have had a number of Paw paws as I like to eat them, their seeds are great for craft projects, more and more folks are eating them AND my favorite species of butterfly needs them as a host for its eggs -- Zebra Swallowtail.
Ooops - ok - my point; if you need to put in a pot your paw paw should be fine until it out grows said pot (obviously). I have never bothered to worry about the placement in full sun. If they need shade I guess I'm doing something wrong but my trees have always seemed happy to me.

I bought "The Triple Play Paw Paw Collection" in the large size today.

http://www.starkbros.com

I agree with Michael, they are tougher than commonly reported. You could likely pot them up without problems. Just some sun protection until they seem established would be my advice. The Shenanadoah and NC-1 are highly rated for flavor, I have not heard as good of reviews of the PA Golden. I haven't tasted any of mine yet, though I have had them in the ground a couple of years. They produce flowers but they drop. I'm betting they will fruit next year. The plants seem very happy, in the moist area of the yard with mostly full sun.

Mike in Hanover, VA

Papaw article.....

http://old.post-gazette.com/food/20030918pawpaw0918fnp2.asp

Kentucky State's Pawpaw program...repository

http://www.pawpaw.kysu.edu

Thanks for all the input!  I think I will put in an order today for Spring delivery and put right in ground.  I was concerned about the sun down there, its not the deep south but the sun is strong.  Putting up some shade cloth would be easy enough if needed.

I've never tried one, but they sound delicious.  And the trees are so beautiful!

Thanks again!

Can they still ripen in part shade?  I've got plenty of that.  Anyone growing PawPaws in Texas?  

I have these in containers.

PA Gold
Sunflower
Mango
Shenandoah
Taytoo

The reason theses are in containers is they were too small last year to place in the ground. But I will be planting them in the ground next month.

I have these on order.

Davis
NC-1
Sweet Alice
Rebecca's gold

I did not know about the nutrional value of pawpaws were that amazing!

Nice collection Dennis! 

In Virginia you can find lots of Paw paws if you walk along a river. They are pretty much understory trees that can get full sun by being close to the river. They will ripen their fruit in partial shade. You may get a smaller harvest as the commercial cultivars are being grown for taste and size, etc. and their requirements are probably more demanding.

As a heads up the Paws Paws from Stark Brothers are shipping in a couple of days if anyone ordered them for fall delivery. 

Anyone know which varieties have the more tropical mango/pineapple flavors as opposed to the banana custard flavors?

Ok, those of you with Paw Paw trees......I'm getting ready to plant mine near my creek.  Question.....how far from the creek ?   Please advise.

thanks,

I planted four of them in direct sun and they are doing fantastic. Got few pawpaws on 3rd year. This year two trees have loads of flowers on them. Pollinating them with brush.
Lou

I just rely on wild trees for my pawpaw supply. I have noticed that they like hillsides and will be more concentrated near the top and mid section of the hills. However I still see them all the way down the hill and along creeks. Like someone said earlier, you see them all along rivers. Someone else can chime in but I suspect you would be fine planting them pretty close. If your creek tends to flood or anything, maybe give a slight buffer just for your sake?