Who Else Grows Pawpaw Trees?

[superdave336]

Yes most are grafted

 

[2Angels]

Al’s Horn White sounds delicious!
Forgive the newbie question, but are all names varieties grafted? (Since they don’t grow true to seed.)

You are correct. They do not grow true to seed, so grafting allows you to be certain of the genetics and what the fruit will be like. Grafting is the only way to do so because pawpaw cuttings cannot be rooted like we do with our figs. If one had seeds in which both parents are superior cultivars, the odds of getting something good are better, but it is still a gamble. The resulting tree could have received any number of gene combinations from the parents. Also, seed-grown trees will take around 7 years (+/-) before they begin to produce fruit, whereas grafted trees often produce in 3-5 years. It would be a shame to grow a tree for 7 years only to discover you don't like the fruit. Grafted trees do cost a little bit more, but at least you know what the fruit will be like, and you get fruit much sooner. This is why most people choose to go with grafted cultivars.

 

[AAAJacks]

We have been growing some rootstock paw paws from University of Kentucky. Hopefully in a few years we will get some scion wood and graft onto them.

 

[ohiobruce]

Pawpaws are like bananas in that the flavor and texture change as the fruit ripens. Everyone likes their bananas a little differently. Some like them very green, while others like them nearly black. You have to taste each cultivar at different stages of ripeness to find what you like best.

Great comparison. If the only banana I ever tried was a green one, I'd never eat another.

 

[snarfing]

Al’s Horn White sounds delicious!
Forgive the newbie question, but are all names varieties grafted? (Since they don’t grow true to seed.)

unless someone has figured out how to airlayer, yes (not sure if its been done)