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The planting of bare root trees should be carried out with care. The hole should be twice as large and twice as deep as you think you need, then refilled with good top soil and compost etc... This will give the tree a good start. You need-to water it very faithfully with a five gallon pail of water once a week the first year. This will ensure the tree will grow and be able to root itself in. Also mulch around the tree with leaves and or grass clippings, this helps to keep from drying the ground out!
Planting of Pawpaw Seeds
Pawpaw seeds must be planted in the shade and protected. When they germinate
and come up the sun will burn the small leaves and shoots and kill them.
After the first season the seedling can be transplanted into full sunlight
without harm. Providing it is done while the seedling is still dormant!
Pest and Disease
The Pawpaw seems to have it's own built-in repellent to pest. As of yet
we have not had to spray our pawpaws with herbicides.
Types of Pawpaws
There seems to be two distinct types, probably the most common is the
white fleshed. The other is the yellow fleshed. The yellow fleshed is
the best tasting. It has a fine banana custard flavor. The seed o f the
pawpaw is about the size of a large lima bean and lies in two rows throughout
the length of the fruit. The larger the pawpaw the more edible fruit.
There are sometimes up to seven pawpaws in a cluster.
Pollination of Pawpaw's
The Pollination of the Pawpaw flower is done by the carrion fly. The flower
has a putrid smell so bees stay away from it. To draw flies to the blossom,
pails are tied up into the branches of the trees and old meat, road kill,
etc... is placed in the pails. As it rots it will call the flies and in
turn they will pollinate the blossoms.
Grafted Varieties
Davis - The only named variety to this date, found in Michigan
by Corwin Davis, and formally registered. This variety weights up to one
pound. It is ,yellow fleshed and has a and has a
very good flavor. The fruit is oblong and the skin is green to yellow
when ripe. It ripens the first week in October.
Overleese-Very good flavor and size, up to one
pound. Has yellow flesh, ripens the first week of October.
Prolific-Very good in flavor and size, yellow fleshed.
LXL-Ripens first week of October. Yellow fleshed. A cross made between Overleese and Davis.
Taylor-This variety resembles the Davis in taste
but not in size. It is yellow fleshed.
Taytwo-Ripens second week of October, Weights up to one half pound. Yellow fleshed, good flavor but shy bearer.
Sunflower-Ripens the third to last week of October, Weights up
to ten ounces, has yellow flesh and good flavor. Origin. Southeastern
Kansas. Very hardy in Michigan, but doesn't always get ripe.
Lynn's Favorite-A seedling that is yellow fleshed
and very good flavor. Named after my wife, it was her favorite.
Sunglo-A pawpaw with yellow flesh and skin. Weights
up to twelve ounces.
Convis-A pawpaw of good flavor. Weights up to one
pound. Yellow fleshed. A seedling named after our township.
Tollgate-A seedling pawpaw named after the Nursery.
Have yellow flesh and a very good taste. Weights up to one pound.
Sibley-A possible sport of the Sunglo, Has yellow skin and flesh. Very good in taste. Weights up to twelve ounces.
Sweet Virginia-A seedling growing in Marshall, Michigan. Possibility
Selfpollinating. Yellow fleshed, good taste, weights up to twelve ounces.
Lady-D-A seedling yellow fleshed and good tasting.
Weights up to twelve ounces.
Belle-A seedling yellow fleshed, taste outstanding,
fruit weighs up to one pound.