Pawpaws were also a popular food among early European settlers in North America. Thomas Jefferson, for example, was known to be a fan of the fruit. In his garden at Monticello, Jefferson grew several varieties of pawpaws, which he enjoyed eating fresh or made into pies and preserves.
Pawpaws were once a more common crop in North America, but their popularity declined in the 19th century as more exotic fruits, such as bananas and pineapples, became available. However, in recent years, there has been a renewed interest in pawpaws, and small-scale pawpaw farms are beginning to spring up around the country.
Pawpaw or Papaya is a widely cultivated fruit tree in the tropics and subtropics. It is a popular fruit in Kenya. Ripe papaya is a favourite breakfast and dessert fruit that is available year-round. Green fruits are pickled or cooked as a vegetable. Young leaves are sometimes eaten. There are 3 groups of papayas distinguished on the basis of their flowers: Female (pistillate), male (staminate) and hermaphrodite (bear both male and female flowers). These groups are only distinguishable at flowering stage. Fruits from female flowered trees are usually sweeter and of more round shape than fruits from hermaphrodite trees.
Maturity Duration: Pawpaws take about 120 days to mature from flowering to harvest.
Expected Yield: Pawpaws can yield anywhere from 20 to 50 pounds of fruit per tree.
Growing Season: Pawpaws are native to North America and can be grown in USDA hardiness zones 5-9. They prefer a cool, humid climate with a long growing season.
Nutritional Value: Pawpaws are a good source of vitamins A and C, potassium, and fiber. They also contain antioxidants and other nutrients that are beneficial for human health.
Growing Altitude: Pawpaws can be grown at a variety of altitudes, but they do best in areas with cool, humid climates.
Pest and Diseases: Pawpaws are relatively resistant to pests and diseases, but they can be susceptible to anthracnose, powdery mildew, and fruit flies.
Growing Rainfall: Pawpaws require a moderate amount of rainfall, but they can tolerate drought conditions.
Growing Temperature: Pawpaws prefer a cool, humid climate with average temperatures ranging from 50 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Growing Soils and PH: Pawpaws can grow in a variety of soils, but they prefer well-drained, loamy soils with a pH of 6-7.