“Where, oh where, is dear little Nellie? Way down yonder in the pawpaw patch.” This traditional American folk song was quite popular once, and fall hunting for pawpaws in the woods is still a cherished tradition for many families in Kentucky. In 1784, John Filson, an early settler of Kentucky, wrote that “the pappa-tree does not grow to a great size, is a soft wood, bears a fine fruit much like a cucumber in shape and size, and tastes sweet.” In 1806, Lewis and Clark recorded in their journal how pawpaws helped save them from starvation. Daniel Boone and Mark Twain were pawpaw fans.
This traditional American folk song was quite popular once, and fall hunting for pawpaws in the woods is still a cherished tradition for many families in Kentucky. In 1784, John Filson, an early settler of Kentucky, wrote that “the pappa-tree does not grow to a great size, is a soft wood, bears a fine fruit much like a cucumber in shape and size, and tastes sweet.” In 1806, Lewis and Clark recorded in their journal how pawpaws helped save them from starvation. Daniel Boone and Mark Twain were pawpaw fans.
Recently, interest in pawpaws has grown significantly. In 1990, Kentucky State University (KSU) began a research program with the aim of developing pawpaws as a new tree-fruit crop for Kentucky. With a unique mango, banana, and pineapple flavor, and a tropical-like aroma, pawpaw fruit has fresh market appeal for farmers' markets and direct sales to restaurants, as well as processing potential for the orange-yellow pulp for use in gourmet items such as ice cream, wine, and pies. tion for animals, erosion control, and enhancing insect biodiversity. The zebra swallowtail butterfly larvae feed exclusively on young pawpaw foliage. If you are a woodland owner in Kentucky, you may want to consider either: 1)
tion for animals, erosion control, and enhancing insect biodiversity. The zebra swallowtail butterfly larvae feed exclusively on young pawpaw foliage.
If you are a woodland owner in Kentucky, you may want to consider either: 1)
planting pawpaw seedlings to assist in erosion control, attract wildlife, and diversify your current woodlands area, or 2) planting grafted pawpaw varieties in an orchard adjoining your current woodland area or timber planting.
For a woodland planting site, pawpaws will thrive in areas with well-drained soils that are often moist, especially near streams, but that are not frequently waterlogged. Pawpaw orchards should be planted in well-drained soils and areas
Pawpaws prefer moist habitats and often grow in patches near coves and streams. Photo courtesy: Kirk Pomper
Pawpaws are found throughout Kentucky’s forests as a native understory tree, often along streams and rivers. Paw-paw trees produce root suckers and can form large patches of over 500 stems. Patches serve an important role in ecosystems around streams and rivers and for fruit produce-east of woodlands or timber plantings that will serve as windbreaks for the orchard. Pawpaws will grow in shaded areas; however, fruit production will be greatest in areas of full sun. Fruit set can be low in native patches due to shading, lack of pollinators (flies), and failure of cross pollination (which requires at least two genetically different pawpaw trees). Low areas in valleys have poor air drainage, and pooling of cold air can lead to spring frost damage to pawpaw flowers in April and May that can cause crop failure. Plant Material and Planting Time Use pawpaw seedlings in woodland areas where they can spread by root suckering. Remember that the seedlings are not identical to their parents, and fruit quality cannot be guaranteed. Fruit may be of high or poor quality. Seedlings must undergo a period of juvenility and will flower four to eight years after and will flower four to eight years after planting. Pawpaw seed can be removed
by Kirk Pomper
east of woodlands or timber plantings that will serve as windbreaks for the orchard. Pawpaws will grow in shaded areas; however, fruit production will be greatest in areas of full sun. Fruit set can be low in native patches due to shading, lack of pollinators (flies), and failure of cross pollination (which requires at least two genetically different pawpaw trees). Low areas in valleys have poor air drainage, and pooling of cold air can lead to spring frost damage to pawpaw flowers in April and May that can cause crop failure.
Plant Material and Planting Time Use pawpaw seedlings in woodland areas where they can spread by root suckering. Remember that the seedlings are not identical cal to their parents, and fruit quality cannot be guaranteed. Fruit may be of high or poor quality. Seedlings must undergo a period of juvenility and will flower four to eight years after
and will flower four to eight years after planting. Pawpaw seed can be removed
The flower of Pawpaw is unusual in that it is pollinated by flies. Photo courtesy: Jeremy Lowe
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