9ah-figlet
Well-known member
BYFG (Backyard Fruit Growers) is a great organization for fruit growers within driving distance of Lancaster, PA. They hosted a pawpaw tasting and tour today at member Ted Weeden’s orchard. He has at least 80 pawpaw trees alongside pears, cherry, pecans, hecans, Chinese chestnuts, hardy kiwi (well, you get the idea…).
Ted has been growing pawpaws for over 20 years and has so many varieties to taste!
We tasted 14-15 different varieties ranging from classics like Allegheny, Wabash, Overleese, Mango, Susquehanna to some of his own breeding successes (Hannah and Maxsun).
Click for original
He shared some of his observations about his collection. He evaluates seedlings over a 3-yr fruiting period by keeping careful notes on the percentage by weight of seeds to flesh. Some of the earliest pawpaws to ripen are Kentucky Champion (the earliest and is completely done), Overleese (starts early and has a long picking season), and
Green River Belle starts early and fruits over 6 weeks period. Taytoo bruises more easily than other varieties, and Mango can have a more watery texture.
As we toured his yard, he spoke of some of his successful growing techniques (he dug a water retention pond), showed how to prune a pawpaw to keep it manageable and so the fruit isn’t too bruised when it falls, how to plant a pawpaw successfully, etc.
He was also growing Chinese Mulberry (Che or Zhe), which tastes like mild raspberry when ripe.
Click for original
During the tasting, an attendee shared the American Persimmons they grew which were lovely soft and sweet with a butter rum taste.
Click for original
At the end of the tasting, Ted generously gave all the remaining fruit to attendees. Such a nice guy! He also sells seedlings too.
He offers this tour every year to BYFG members. If you’re in the area, you might want to consider joining BYFG. It’s only $15 for 2-yrs. In addition to Ted’s pawpaw tour, there is a grafting workshop (and scion giveaway—mostly apples and pears) in March, and a fruit tasting in October and with lectures, picnics, etc. Info to sign up is at their website https://www.byfg.org.
Ted has been growing pawpaws for over 20 years and has so many varieties to taste!
We tasted 14-15 different varieties ranging from classics like Allegheny, Wabash, Overleese, Mango, Susquehanna to some of his own breeding successes (Hannah and Maxsun).
Click for original
He shared some of his observations about his collection. He evaluates seedlings over a 3-yr fruiting period by keeping careful notes on the percentage by weight of seeds to flesh. Some of the earliest pawpaws to ripen are Kentucky Champion (the earliest and is completely done), Overleese (starts early and has a long picking season), and
Green River Belle starts early and fruits over 6 weeks period. Taytoo bruises more easily than other varieties, and Mango can have a more watery texture.
As we toured his yard, he spoke of some of his successful growing techniques (he dug a water retention pond), showed how to prune a pawpaw to keep it manageable and so the fruit isn’t too bruised when it falls, how to plant a pawpaw successfully, etc.
He was also growing Chinese Mulberry (Che or Zhe), which tastes like mild raspberry when ripe.
Click for original
During the tasting, an attendee shared the American Persimmons they grew which were lovely soft and sweet with a butter rum taste.
Click for original
At the end of the tasting, Ted generously gave all the remaining fruit to attendees. Such a nice guy! He also sells seedlings too.
He offers this tour every year to BYFG members. If you’re in the area, you might want to consider joining BYFG. It’s only $15 for 2-yrs. In addition to Ted’s pawpaw tour, there is a grafting workshop (and scion giveaway—mostly apples and pears) in March, and a fruit tasting in October and with lectures, picnics, etc. Info to sign up is at their website https://www.byfg.org.
