George Washington is sai
d to have loved a chilled Paw Paw. No doubt, he had summer ice imported from the New England ice houses for his Mint Julips. Paw Paws grow wild in the Eastern US, but I don't think I have ever seen one growing.
Remember this?
Where, oh where is dear little Nellie?
Where, oh where is dear little Nellie?
Where, oh where is dear little Nellie?
Way down yonder in the pawpaw patch
Pickin' up pawpaws, puttin' 'em in your pocket
Pickin' up pawpaws, puttin' 'em in your pocket
Pickin' up pawpaws, puttin' 'em in your pocket
Way down yonder in the pawpaw patch.
This custardy native North American fruit cannot be commercialized because it deteriorates so quickly after picking.
The plant can handle only so much direct summer sun. Stark sells some cold-hardy varieties.
My pals and I get a kick out of growing unlikely things in the chilly Northeast like fig, paw paw, and peach. It takes a green thumb. (Brown Turkey Fig can survive New England winters if properly protected. Just one plant can produce hundreds of fresh figs. The above-ground branches sometimes die back in winter here, but it comes back with a vengeance from the root in Spring.)
Tip: Since we are approaching ideal fruit tree planting season, that Mutsu Apple is delicious, bears heavily, has large fruit. My neighbor has kept us well-supplied with his over-abundant crop this fall.
