Starting a Pawpaw Tree From Seed
Jun 10th, 2012 by Paul Stewart, Metcalf Foundation Intern
I only heard of the pawpaw tree a couple weeks ago. I have yet to see a pawpaw tree or eat pawpaw fruit. Last week Laura gave me a bag of pawpaw seeds and suggested I try to start them, and I said sure. What she didn’t mention is that the seeds take 9 weeks to germinate! Much longer than the tomatoes, lettuces and onions that I am used to starting in my greenhouse.
The process of germinating pawpaws is also quite different than I am used to. The seeds require cold stratification, which from my understanding means keeping the seeds in a moist condition to prevent the embryo from drying out. The seeds Laura gave me were simply in a bag, so I’m not sure what their storage condition was. I tried planting some in four inch pots in my “greenhouse”. My “greenhouse” is the skylight of my apartment that I built a terrace around in order to start vegetables for my farm.
I also thought it would be interesting to put the seeds through cold stratification, so I put some of the seeds in a moist condition in the fridge in clear bags so I can watch what happens to the seed. Apparently most of a pawpaws initial growth is in root development so it will be interesting to have a view of this growth through the clear bag.
When Laura asked me to start the seeds my first suggestions was that the eventual tree could have a space in our office to provide us with some greenery. After a brief amount of research I discovered that pawpaw blossoms produce an odour of rotting flesh in order to attract flies and wasps for pollination, not an ideal smell for an office environment. I think we might decide on another fruit tree to decorate our office with and find a different home for the pawpaw trees.
We just had Pawpaw bloom for the first time in the Annapolis valley here in Nova Scotia. Halifax apparently has the climate to grow pawpaws, I’d love to plant some of my own here for urbanOrchard!
That’s very cool, I’m curious how the blooms smelt? You should go for it and let us know how it goes!
Hello,
I would be interested in trying to grow a few trees. Where can you purchase them or gain the seeds? I am on the New Minas. Basin.
Thanks