Planting & Care Guide For Your Container Pawpaw Trees

1. Planting & Care Guide For Your Container Pawpaw Trees Ohio Pawpaw Growers Association 6549 Amelia Dr. Cincinnati, OH 45241 513-777-8367 Botrytis@fuse.net www.Ohiopawpaw.com We want to give you the best and most complete information possible to ensure your success in growing and enjoying pawpaws. Please read carefully the following instructions. The instructions will help your pawpaw plants experience minimal transplant shock and help you prepare them for years of happy growing. Container plants. Check the soil in the pot to be sure it is moist. If dry, water the plant well. If you must delay planting, just keep the soil moist. Remove the pot from around the roots before planting. Take care not to injure the roots or damage the root ball as it is removed from the pot. Pawpaws typically will be sparsly rooted and have a long brittle tap roots. Sometimes it is necessary to cut the pot from the roots. Dig a hole at least twice as wide as the pot and no deeper than the pot. If the hole is dug deeper than the root ball, the plant can settle and be planted too deep. Spacing. Pawpaw trees don’t mind crowding. They can be planted, if necessary, as close as 4 feet but no more than 30 feet for good pollination. For pollination, pollen from a genetically different tree is required, thus two different trees are required. Site, soils, & habitat. Optimum fruit yields are obtained in open exposure, with some protection from wind. Seedlings need to be shaded for the first several years. The soil should be slightly acid (pH 5.5 – 7), deep, fertile, and well-drained. In full sun, it will develop into a small tree, about 25 feet tall and a pyramidal shape with dense, drooping foliage. In shade, it has a more open branching habit with few lower limbs and horizontally held leaves. Planting. Pawpaws will grow in either shade or full sun. If you desire fruit, it is best to plant where the plant will receive at least half day of sun. Planting in full sun will require the seedling to be shaded for several years. Dig a hole large enough to fit the roots without bending or crowding them. Keep the sides of the hole rough so the roots can penetrate easily. Soil amendments are not necessary. Spring planting is preferable as soon s the soil can be worked. Fall planting can be done when rains occur and the temperatures drop. After Planting. Be patient with your new plants. They need the first growing season to rebuild their root systems and become adapted to their new home. Thus, do not expect much growth the first year. It is best to remove any flowers and/or fruit the first year. Remove any broken branches that may have been a result of rough handling during shipping. Mulching. Mulch is highly recommended. A layer of straw, compost, aged sawdust, rotted manure, or other organic material will reduce weed growth around your plants allowing them to get a better start without competition. Pawpaws do not like competition from grass or other plants. Mulch will also help conserve water, reducing stress on your plants during hot spells. The mulch will provide nutrition for your plants as it slowly decays. Keep mulch several inches away from the trunk to avoid injury from rodents who might like to eat the bark. Fertilizing. Do not fertilize your plants the first year. The exceptions to this are the foliar fertilizers, composts and manures. You must wait until the roots are well established before fertilizing. The only type of fertilizer worth applying would be a slow acting organic type of fertilizer. Watering. After planting, water the tree thoroughly. Deep water once a week thereafter, unless rain is plentiful. Keep the trees watered through dry spells but do not over water. An additional note on watering is warranted. The symptoms for over watering are the same for lack of water; that is, wilting, scorch, and even the ultimate death of your plant. Periodic deep watering is far superior to frequent light watering. Deep watering encourages deep root growth, which makes your plant less susceptible to drought stress. Deer. Deer will sometimes nip off emerging leaves but will not browse on the trees because the leaves do not taste good to them. When the trees are about 4 feet high, it is a good idea to put a T-post or a ½ inch piece of metal conduit pipe stake several inches from the trunk to prevent deer from rubbing their antlers against the trunk. Thank you for your support of the Ohio Pawpaw Growers Association. If you have any questions give us a call. 513.777.8367 or visit us at our web site: Ohiopawpaw.com.