Did you sing the song "Way Down Yonder in the Paw Paw Patch" as a child? I did and often wondered what a Paw Paw was since they don't so much grow in Alaska.
Turns out, it's a tree fruit native to Eastern, Southern, and Midwestern United States and adjacent southernmost Ontario, Canada, from New York west to southeastern Nebraska, and south to northern Florida and eastern Texas. About six years ago, I saw Asimina triloba (doesn't fit the song as well as Paw Paw, right?) trees at a local nursery and fairly small male and female trees came home with me. Each tree has bloomed but never both of them together until this year.
A few years ago, I ordered some Paw Paws online to see what they tasted like. The fruit doesn't have a long shelf life so, unless you live in a part of the country where they are native, you probably won't see them at your local grocery store. The fruit is delicious with a custard-like consistency and a rich flavor somewhat like ripe banana mixed with pineapple.
The flowers aren't large and probably wouldn't win a beauty contest but the sight of them on both trees at the same time is thrilling to me!
Fingers crossed that this was pollinated and those are baby fruit!
And more fruit forming while the trees have even more blooms! Interesting the little things that excite gardeners isn't it?
Have you grown paw paws? Do you live in a part of the country where there are wild paw paw patches? If so, do you go down yonder and pick the fruit?
Exciting!
ReplyDeleteYes!
DeleteSo you don't have enough plants in the PNW already, you need to start using midwest natives? ;)
ReplyDelete(I don't think I've ever seen a paw paw patch, but if I knew of one nearby I'd definitely head down yonder!)
A few years ago, I had the pleasure of visiting a local garden composed of all midwest natives. The garden had some way cool plants including a couple of large fruiting Paw Paws.
DeleteSome say the foliage looks a little tropical & it would work really well with bamboo. Perhaps you could grown your own patch.
Yes have grown them seed but lost patience and gave them away, oops!
ReplyDeleteGrowing from seed would take patience but, like many trees, once they reach a certain size, they seem to take off and grow fairly quickly.
DeleteI have a native southern Pawpaw, Asimina augustifolia Slimleaf Pawpaw, in my garden. They grow wild here along wood's edge. The flowers are white with dark markings and the fruits are small, eaten by critters, hence the common name, 'Dog Banana.'
ReplyDeleteI seem to be your only reader who has a Paw paw. I made a post about the ones that grow here.
DeletePaw Paw
It links back here.
Thanks for your post and for linking back. Fascinating plant. 'Dog Banana' is a new name to me.
DeleteMy favorite part of this post was learning that you ordered the fruit online to see how it tasted! Ain't the internet grand?
ReplyDeleteThe internet is grand! When I ordered, they were less expensive than what they're advertising now. Probably was from a different site, too.
DeleteIt's a tree I never heard of, but I know how you feel: like a proud papa, when you see such anticipated development in the garden. Since it started fruiting so early, it has plenty of time to matures, so update us when you ready to harvest!
ReplyDeleteBelieve me, I'll be watching and sharing their development!
DeleteI ordered trees with the intention of growing a bunch of unusual fruits. That was before I realized that any small trees, but especially fruit trees, need protection from the deer until they grow large enough to stand their ground. I was fascinated by the description of the Paw Paw, but not enough to mail order fruit for tasting (you rock, Peter). Now that I've seen the flower, I may have to try again. I love dark, mysterious looking flowers.
ReplyDeleteIt's worth trying again. Just read on a website the flavor described as custard, banana, mango, pineapple, and papaya! Yum.
DeleteI've never seen a paw paw. It's cute. I'm impressed that you ordered some of the fruit just to see what it tastes like.
ReplyDeleteWell, after wondering for a half a century or so, I thought it was time to find out.
DeleteI'm embarrassed to say that, though I lived within 10 miles of Paw Paw, MI for 6 years, I didn't have a clue what a paw paw was!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it always the way, we often overlook what's in our own back yards!
DeleteI've never seen a paw-paw. Often Carica papaya is labelled a paw-paw and seen in the shops, but yours looks much more interesting!
ReplyDeleteIt is an interesting fruit but doesn't keep well over time. Freezing is the only preservation method I've heard of being used for this fruit.
DeleteCongratulations! I've never grown or tasted paw paw. A friend of mine in Castle Rock has two trees that have fruited before. I think sometimes they ripen and sometimes they don't, depending on the summer. I've never tasted them, as I'm not fond of custard and don't especially like bananas except in actual banana form (and banana bread, of course).
ReplyDeleteSounds like you might not like paw paws but the tree is kind of interesting as it's the hardiest member of the mostly tropical custard apple family and has nifty foliage.
DeleteOh, cool. No, I have no idea what a paw paw is. And I find it interesting that I never thought to find out what they are. After all, you can google anything these days. I did just google them and saw what the fruit looks like. Kinda' weird. I sure hope you get some fruit in your little paw paw patch.
ReplyDeleteThe fruit does look kinda' weird and it's got large seeds inside that make it a bit of a hassle to eat. It'll be fun if the tree produces fruit.
DeleteHi Peter, really enjoyed the song. I think of paw paw as a tropical fruit. I don't know anyone who grows it, but it's always available in fruit shops here and we often eat it. I think it's delicious too - hope the trees produce for you.
ReplyDeleteCarica papaya is also called paw paw and is a tropical fruit but this, Asimina triloba, is a hardy member of the mostly tropical custard apple family. Just looked again today and the tiny fruits haven't fallen yet so maybe...
DeletePeter, I started out for a few years as an edible-only gardener, so I bought a lot of different fruit and nut trees when I moved here, a lot of them seedling trees from Burnt Ridge. I got a couple of Pawpaw trees, and they have grown big. They both bloom but only one has borne fruit. I wait until the fruit starts to drop in fall, like October, to tell when it is ripe. I have to say the crop has gotten smaller instead of bigger over time. I read a recommendation online to hand pollinate them for a better crop, the pistils and stamens don't ripen at the same time. I think I do remember hand pollinating at one time years ago, maybe that's why I got more fruit then. I also spurged and got a grafted named variety, wouldn't you know it didn't grow much and has stayed at around 3' tall. I should go check on it. I like the custardy taste of the fruit, it is very good, but a little hard to peel and the seeds of mine were pretty large. Perhaps some of the developed varieties are better. Good luck with them!
ReplyDeleteWow Hannah, you have a lot of experience with paw paws! We have a couple of neighbors who keep bees so I'm hoping they visited these flowers. Time will tell.
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