How to Grow Pawpaw Trees in Your Garden

Pawpaws (Asimina triloba) are a tropical fruit (and largest edible fruit) that is native to North America. Pawpaw fruits primarily grow throughout the eastern regions of the United States and southern regions of Canada on small, understory trees. The ripe fruit, which was originally cultivated by Native Americans, has a mellow, tropical flavor (think banana-mango hybrid) and custard-like texture that you can eat raw, cooked, or mixed into ice creams and smoothies. Pawpaw fruits have a short shelf life after they ripen, so they aren’t commonly found in grocery stores or at farmers’ markets. Also known as custard apples (or Cherimoya), pawpaw fruit contains neurotoxins in their skin and raw flesh that can cause skin irritation, stomach aggravation, or other allergic reactions in some consumers.

Pawpaw fruit trees can grow at least 30 feet tall in full sun. The tree can grow in partial shade, but it won’t be as fruitful as trees grown in full sun. Pawpaws are understory trees, which means they can still thrive under the canopy of a taller tree. These fruit plants like humidity, grow best in moist ground, and are often found in fertile soil along waterways and hillsides. Pawpaw trees grow best in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 9.

The best way to grow your own pawpaw trees is to start from a root cutting or transplant a young tree (grafted trees around two years old). Wild pawpaw plants can be unpredictable, and some may never bear fruit, so avoid taking cuttings from out in the wild.

Pawpaw seeds take a long time to germinate in cold, moist conditions and several years to start fruiting. If you want to grow your own pawpaw trees from a root cutting or an established young tree to produce fruit sooner, check out the steps below:

1. 1. Pick the site. Pawpaws prefer full sun and are self-incompatible, which means their flowers are not self-pollinating. Fruit sets only when there is more than one tree nearby. Pick an area with at least six hours of sunlight with ample space for both trees to grow. You’ll need to plant the second tree within 15 feet of the first tree to encourage cross-pollination and fruit production.
2. 2. Prepare the soil. Pawpaw trees prefer rich, well-draining, moderately acidic soil with a pH between 5.5 and 7.0. To improve your soil quality, you can add a layer of organic matter before planting.
3. 3. Loosen the soil. Pawpaw trees have brittle taproots and need at least a foot of loose soil to extend and grow. Loosen the soil down a foot deep and three times the width of the roots.
4. 4. Dig. Dig a hole twice as deep and wide as the pawpaw tree’s root system.
5. 5. Transplant. Gently detangle the roots of your rooted cutting or small, established tree plant. If transplanting from a container, loosen the soil around the roots, but don’t remove all of it. The leftover soil on the roots will prevent the plant from going into shock when suddenly exposed to the new soil in your garden. When you place the plant into the hole, the top of the soil should align with the top of the ground soil. Pack the soil down around the base of the plant.
6. 6. Water. Water thoroughly to help establish the root system. Keep soil moist throughout the growing season.

Pawpaws only start their fruit production after the first year but can take a few years to fruit if you’re starting from seed. To encourage fruit production, you’ll need to provide basic routine maintenance:

• Keep the soil moist. Pawpaw trees need around an inch of water per week to thrive. Keep the soil of your pawpaw trees moist throughout the growing season. Avoid overwatering because it can negatively impact the tree’s growth.
• Mulch. Add a few inches of mulch to the topsoil to help retain moisture and moderate soil temperature as needed.
• Prune. The best time to prune your pawpaw tree is when the tree is dormant in either late winter or early spring. Pruning will encourage new growth.

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