The Forgotten Fruit.. PAWPAW!!

  So I went on a stroll in early fall looking for North America's largest Native and forgotten fruit tree. I was walking through the creek scanning the trees to see if I could spot the leaves of this elusive fruit tree.

  After walking for about 15 minutes up the creek I thought I saw the leaves I was looking for about 20 yards into the woods. The dark green leaves have a tropical look, with large shiny blades and a oval shape that hang down from the twigs... So I grabbed a stick out of the creek to fight back the spider webs and started heading in that direction.

   Lo and behold I found them! A beautiful patch of pawpaw trees, scientifically known as Asimina Triloba. I shook a few of the trees that had fruit in them and these fell out.

   All I can say is wow. I didn't expect it to be so sweet. It tastes like a fruit that would come from a tropical climate. a lot like a mango but without the stringy bits. The pawpaw belongs to the Custard Apple family, a large family of trees and shrubs.

   The pawpaw will grow pretty much anywhere. Starting from seed, pawpaw trees should begin flowering and fruiting in 4-6 years but a grafted tree can begin flowering in 2-3 years after planting. Keep them shaded and transplant after a year or two. Seldomly growing taller than 25 feet and when grown in full sun, the pawpaw tree develops a narrowly pyramid shape with drooping branches down to the ground. If in a forest setting they will have a spindly look to them with the branches, leaves and fruit at the top of the tree.

   Pawpaws are very nutritious. They are high in vitamin C, magnesium, iron, copper, and manganese. They are a good source of potassium and several essential amino acids, and they also contain significant amounts of riboflavin, niacin, calcium,phosphorus, and zinc.

  Are Pawpaw poisonous? ... While many people enjoy the taste of pawpaw, some individuals become sick after eating the fruit. Skin rash, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea can develop. In other cases, individuals may be allergic to the leaves or the fruit skin or the seeds. But then again used in homeopathy they say the bark, leaf, and seed are used to make medicine. Used for treating fever, vomiting, pain and swelling (inflammation) of the mouth and throat.

   Pawpaws will not set much fruit without cross pollination. Bees show no interest in this beautiful maroon blossom that show up in the spring. Because it is said to smell like rotting meat. So how does it get pollinated? The job of pollenization is left to flies beetles and one specific type of butterfly. The Zebra Swallowtail. A good solution for the home gardener is to hand pollinate with a small paint brush.

   Fully ripe pawpaws last only a few days at room temperature and a week in the fridge, so eat them quick, freeze them or cook with them right away. If fruit is refrigerated before it is fully ripe, it can be kept for up to three weeks, and can then be allowed to finish ripening at room temperature.

   Some of the things you can make with pawpaw fruit is kombucha, Pawpaw liqueur, vinegar, fruit leather,  butter, custard, ice creem, pie, cookie, cakes and pawpaw bread.

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