I had the chance to sample different varieties of Pawpaws. Atwood was my favorite so far. Very pleasant mild flavor and aromatic smell. 

 Pete

Very jealous. I have never eaten one and they sound wonderful.

Nichole, you would enjoy them, very tropical tasting and yet can be grown as far as Canada, the only problem is you have to eat them quickly because they spoil fast.

Maybe next year. We're in the market for more land so maybe in a couple years I can join you in your pawpaw feast.

They have not done well down here :-( . Likely too dry and hot. Could be a pH thing too. I need to try them in pots (at least to see if it's the heat).

Have not tried to grow, but eat some every year I collect from wild thickets in local creek bottoms. A unique flavor that I enjoy for short time they last.

I have never tasted a Paw-Paw.  I would love to try them.  They remind me of creamy, custardy mangoes.  I'm sure they are delicious.

Can they be grown in containers...large containers, like fig trees?  I was thinking of planting two whips in the same container, and twisting the stems together to make one main-stem.  I would use two different varieties for cross pollination.

How fast do they grow into fruit-producing trees?  Are there any precocious fruiters?  Where can I buy good trees?  Any good sites for Paw-Paw?

Frank

Frank, I'm no expert but from what I have read I don't think they can be grown successfully in a container because they have a very long taproot. I have several trees planted but are still young, I believe it takes 3-5 years before they start bearing. The ones in the picture were purchased from a grower. Raintree Nursery and Miller Nursery are a good source for grafted trees.
  Pete

Pete, you like them over ripe? they tend to have bitter after taste when they reach that point...
I've been picking pawpaw for about a week, at least 2 weeks earlier than usual. They are exceptionally delicious this year due to the heat wave. 

Bass, I agree but I didn't have much choice because that is how they arrived. Still they tasted very good and they were not as bitter as I would have thought by looking at them. Shenandoah was a surprise, it was not as good as I thought it would be. Sunflower and Atwood were very good
 
 Pete

I'm growing them in pots, at least until I figure out where to put them. I bought nice grafted Taytoo from Bass . And at last year's NE Fig Meeting, Bass gave us seeds. I planted those in a community pot and transplanted them this past spring into their own pots. You can start them in pots at least, but I suspect unless I get them into the ground in the next year or so, they will begin to suffer. 

Do you think the grafted trees produce better than the native trees?

The named varieties produce larger fruit. Bass can tell you about taste. I did taste one at his house, wow! Excellent. The seeds Bass gave us came from his named varieties and should produce nice sized fruit too, larger than the wild ones. They nedd to cross polinate so I will have to plant at least 2. I have 6 to choose from, plus the grafted Taytoo.

Thanks for the information about the Paw-paws.  Five years, umm........that's a long time to wait for fruit.

I got some readin' to do.

Frank

Pete,
Nice picture - boy are those ripe.

To all,

If you plant seeds of a known cultivar isn't it true they won't be the same as half their genetic material could be from another variety?
Paw Paws are the trees Zebra Swallowtail butterflies lay their eggs on so I always plant them around whenever I can - usually close to a creek or pond. When I was a kid we used the seeds for all kinds of craft products. Great trees. Deserve a lot more attention then they get.

Sounds good. I never tried them. Haven't seen them in stores or farmers markets. So you can grow in Canada? What environment they like? I ask as if I had room for them. Maybe I have to get some more acreage too.

Every day I've been picking ripe pawpaw from my mature trees... This year they were 2 weeks earlier. I got mango, Sunflower, and Taytoo. I've been saving seeds from the larger and sweeter varieties. I might be heading soon to pick some large quantity in southern Pa. 

Hello Bass, Is this place in southern Pa. a secret  spot? Wouldn't mind taking a look see myself.


luke

I go pick from certain farmers and backyard of people I know. However there is a public place in the woods near the susquehana river that has pawpaw patches. Near the town of Holtwood.

Just in case anyone is thinking of looking for pawpaw plants/seeds on ebay, stay away from a seller that goes by PLANT1ONME (Stanley Ostroski). Sold me a package deal of one plant and 5 seeds. Neither turned out to be correct. Think he's passing off mesquite seeds instead and some weed as the plant. Good luck!

Ruben,
I can send you a few seed if you want them. The seeds are not from selected cultivar, as none of my grafted trees are producing yet.

Hey luke
Gonna make pawpaw sorbet this week getting 30lb of local pa pawpaw come by for some

At the restaurant??? I want some!!!!

I know a guy in Louisianna that has a large quantity of PawPaw trees and he says that some of his seedlings are as good as the named cultivars. He started with select seed from LSU and has grown many from seed. I'm not sure how many crosses LSU did before he got his seed so what he obtained MAY be as good as named cultivars.

EDIT 10/21/2013: I HAVE GIVEN UP ON CONTACTING THAT INDIVIDUAL ANYMORE! DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM!

They are sooooooo good!!!