Paw Paws

geales · September 26, 2011, 04:37:00 PM

I was scouting some public ground yesterday and found a patch of paw paws. They are falling and look like they are being hit pretty heavy. I was wondering if anyone else had any experience with them. I tried a search and didn't find anything.

I collected some seeds and plan on trying to grow them on my own property. I like growing different trees, especially fruit trees.

Rob W. · September 26, 2011, 04:54:00 PM

They are all over the place here. They should grow just about any place you put them. I really don't like the taste but deer do.

Rob

bentpole · September 26, 2011, 06:01:00 PM

I'm from New Jersey.

statedriller · September 26, 2011, 06:29:00 PM

They make a pretty little tree but remember that they are a secondary understory tree. So plant them in the shade. The leaves smell like kerosene when you rub them. :eek:

pintail_drake2004 · September 26, 2011, 06:31:00 PM

Paw Paw Asimina triloba They taste sort of like a bannana (but not really) idk how other to explain it. We have to beat the deer and coons to them if we want any.

americanhunter7 · September 26, 2011, 08:22:00 PM

For those two words, "Paw Paws", I have two words of recommendation, "HUNT THEM". We Hoosiers call them an, "Indiana Banana"
A paw paw to me tastes like a mix between a banana and a kiwi fruit. The texture is that of a banana with large dark brown to black seeds, which are about the size of large Lima beans. I agree with pintail_drake, as far as beating the deer and coons to them if you ever wanna try one. I'll say this, I rather enjoy eating them and making Paw Paw bread out of them, IF I can ever get to them first. Good luck with growing and look at what statedriller posted.

John

2 Barrels · September 26, 2011, 08:27:00 PM

Paw paw's Mmmmmmmmm! And deer like them too.

Rob W. · September 26, 2011, 08:34:00 PM

I was going to say banana and squash.

September 26, 2011, 08:35:00 PM

do they bear fruit every year? i thought i heard they only produce every other year or somthing like that,

i found a patch a couple years ago, but i was too late, they were laying on the ground all black and mushy, i'l have to go check on them.

K.S.TRAPPER · September 26, 2011, 08:59:00 PM

Depends on the weather as to if they produce just like any fruit tree. We have them in some areas this year and none in others. They taste like Vanilla custard and banana cross to me.

Here's a link to a thread I did a few years ago with some picks.

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=078395

Tracy

brock donald · September 26, 2011, 09:15:00 PM

Have them all over my property. never seen a deer eat them but coons love them. They are good in small quanities, and do make good wine. I would probally not reccomend them for deer though.

Eric S · September 27, 2011, 12:02:00 AM

When I lived back east if I came across a paw paw that was dropping fruit that is where I was hunting that day. I usually had to chase the deer away to get to get set up properly.

geales · September 27, 2011, 04:43:00 PM

Thanks for the input everyone. I think I will try to hunt them. I won't get back to that area for a couple of weeks so it may be too late.
Trapper, I must have missed the write up. They were great pics. My dad remembers picking them as a kid to make into pudding, but he doesn't remember exactly what they tasted like though.

last arrow · September 27, 2011, 05:00:00 PM

How far north do they grow. I don't think I have ever seen one in Michigan. May be I just don't know what to look for. My father used to talk about them from growing up in Kentucky, but he never pointed one out to us here in Michigan.

K.S.TRAPPER · September 27, 2011, 05:18:00 PM

I just did a search for Pawpaw tree's in Michigan and it shows that they are there. Alot of people mistake them for small smooth bark Hickory tree's because they look just like them.

They will be one of the first tree's to show there huge bright yellow leaves in the fall about now. Remember they like creek bottoms and low areas under the shade of mature tree's.

Good luck!

Tracy

geales · September 27, 2011, 05:29:00 PM

Tracy,
That's what threw me off with this patch was near a ridge line. I saw the fruit on the ground and had to take a second look for the trees. They were under a pretty thick cover of oak and hickory. Hope the fruit holds out for a little while longer.

LeeBishop · September 27, 2011, 05:30:00 PM

The other day I found a patch of native passion fruit. I didn't see a lot of tracks though, so I don't know if the deer are actually eating them.

They may just not be ripe yet.

Missouri Bowman · September 28, 2011, 06:57:00 PM

I eat them. When squirrel season starts for me, I go to my favorite trees and gather them. I love them.

Wind D Ranch · September 28, 2011, 08:51:00 PM

Gathered a half dozen today. I saw quite a few so the critters should have some treats when they drop.

2fletch · September 28, 2011, 10:32:00 PM

I just cut down a whole grove of paw paws. I had so many of them that they were choking out some other things in the yard. I still have two other varieties of paw paws and that will be more than enough. This year the ground was almost covered with them even though I gave a lot away.

I like to eat them fresh, in a milk shake, or as bread. They taste like a cross between a banana and maybe a mango.

We have deer come through the yard frequently but I've never seen evidence that they ate the paw paws, just everything else.

One of the reasons paw paws are unfamiliar to most people is because they have no shelf life. They rot in just a couple of days after falling from the tree. If they lasted longer, and could be shipped then they would be in the supermarkets.