Pawpaws galore!
In just-fall when the world is pawpaw-luscious...
Spring gets all the glory when talk (and metaphor) is of new beginnings and fresh starts. While spring is celebrated as a time to get outdoors after a harsh winter, for me autumn means a chance to work outside after hiding from the extreme heat of summer. The air is fresh again, cool breezes blow, and the humidity has finally broken. The growth rate of plants has slowed and reversed as many are now dying back, meaning that I can relax my efforts to control the spread of undesirables somewhat, and enjoy the garden. There is still something of the fresh and new in autumn as the asters and mums begin to bloom, and cool weather greens start to pop up.
As undergrowth in the woods begins to die back, paths closed off for the summer months become accessible again. Recently some new paths were stomped through the golderod and blackberry brambles in an attempt to reach ripe pawpaws. I'll take my cue from E. E. Cummings and divide autumn into parts: just-fall is the first mini-season of autumn, the time when pawpaws ripen here in southeast Ohio. And what a mini-season it is!
I can't know for certain why the pawpaws have had such a successful year. It could be perfect weather, higher than average populations of pollinating flies and beetles, or a large number of trees reaching maturity this year. Whatever the reason, there's a bumper crop of “poor man’s bananas” in the woods and on the Savanna, ready to flavor ice cream and be eaten fresh.
Many people believe that pawpaw cultivars are superior in taste, size, and production. I've never grown or tasted fruit of a named variety and therefore am not qualified to comment. My opinion of plant breeding is that it's a zero-sum game in which hardiness or disease resistance is often sacrificed for coveted characteristics like larger or sweeter fruit. I'm perfectly happy with the flavor, size, and number of the fruits we harvest, so my thinking is, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Since we have plenty of space on the farm, the easiest way to get more fruit is to increase the number of trees. This is happening naturally as colonies expand and move into new territory. I throw seeds and over ripe fruit into auspicious areas in the hope of starting new patches. The most impressive pawpaw tree on the property has popped up in the narrow strip around the pasture, growing tall enough between regular mowings for me to spot it and steer around. The resulting tree has validated my claim that one of the most important tasks of a beginning permaculture project is learning all plants on the site. Had I not recognized the shiny, obovate leaves, I would have blissfully mowed it down and never been the wiser. A good thing because this particular tree is the top producer for number and size of fruits this year.
Pawpaw trees have much to offer besides delicious fruit. Their tropical-looking foliage is highly attractive, and they are fast growing, but stay under 30 feet tall. They tolerate sun and shade and have almost no issues with pests and disease. Small to medium size trees are in high demand from property owners uneasy about planting towering oaks and maples near their homes, but unfortunately in many cases Bradford and Cleveland Select pear trees have been used to satisfy this demand. With the such trees becoming illegal to sell in Ohio beginning in 2023, perhaps the pawpaw will be “discovered” as a far superior alternative.
For further reading on pawpaws:
I would love to have a pawpaw patch here. Unfortunately I've never gotten them going.