“STRATIFIED”PAW PAW FRUIT TREE SEEDS (Asimina triloba) “Indian Banana” *Freshly Harvested Wild Pawpaw Seeds*Pawpaw are Native to North America and are Very Cold Hardy Fruit Trees. They Grow Wild in 26 States, Mostly East of the Mississippi. It’s Probably Best Known and Loved in the Mountain South, where Stands of Trees Produce Fruit that Weighs between 5 and 16 Ounces, Making it the Largest Tree Fruit in North America. In Recent Years, More Pawpaw Trees have been Cultivated, but, for Most Fans of the Fruit, Part of the Pleasure is in the Thrill of the Hunt for them in the Wild. According to Kentucky State University’s Cooperative Extension Program, Pawpaw Fruit has a Sky High in Vitamin C, Magnesium, Iron, Copper, and Manganese. They are Also a Good Source of Potassium and Several Essential Amino Acids, and they Also Contain Significant amounts of Riboflavin, Niacin, Calcium, Phosphorus, and Zinc. Pawpaw Fruit Contains these Nutrients in Amounts that are Generally about the Same as or Greater than those Found in Bananas, Apples, or Oranges. Though the Pawpaw’s only near Relatives are Tropical, and Paw Paws Look like Mangos and Taste like Bananas, they are Not Tropical but are Native to Most All of the Eastern United States and Even in Parts of Canada. The Pawpaw Grows Best in Areas with Hot Summers and Cold Winters (USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 5 to 8). It is Cold Hardy and Relatively Pest-Free, and it’s Tolerance to Shade Makes it Suitable for Intercropping with Certain other Trees. Pawpaw Trees will Grow from 12 to 25 Feet Tall and Should be Spaced 8 to 15 Feet Apart.Native Zones 5-8Paw Paw Germination:”Stratified & Ready to Plant”1) Soak seeds in warm water for no more than 12 hours.3) Use a heated propagator to keep the soil at a constant 85 degrees F.4) Plant the seeds with the flat sides down at appx. 1″ inch deep in seed starting mix.5) Keep the soil PH between 5.0 to 7.0 & be sure to keep it moist, not wet as that can rot the seeds. Keep them in the shade, with little to no exposure to light.6) As long as the seeds have been kept moist at all times, and kept at a temperature of 80-85 degrees F, expect germination in 2-3 weeks, but the shoots will emerge in appx. 2 months. Pawpaw seeds are known as “hypogeal”, meaning they develop roots before they develop leaves. This means you won’t see much above ground activity for quite sometime after germination begins. (See Picture 5 to see tap roots starting.) It may be well into summer before you see the leaves start to unfold which is normal in nature for Pawpaw seedlings. Do not place seedling in direct light until they are well established. Filtered light is optimal for seedlings. Wait until they are well established before exposing them to direct sunlight. “If you plan to store the seeds instead of planting immediately, be sure to keep them slightly moist to keep them viable”
