Asimina triloba seeds (Canadian Pawpaw)

Description

Pawpaw is a rare treasured North American tree bearing the largest fruit. In early spring, small brown fuzzy spheres open and resemble a rugose semi plena purple Trillium erectum. Its fetid smell attracts flies and beetles, its main pollinators. Thin skinned mango sized fruits are normally borne in clusters. Harvests up to 25kg/tree can start mid August when fruit start yielding under finger pressure like plums.  Flesh colour ranges from butter yellow to deep orange, its taste is much like its perfume of mango, pineapple & banana combination and a unique custard texture.  Many culinary uses: fresh, baking, pudding, chutney, beer, wine, pie, its pulp froze for later & more.

Production best in full sun, but seedlings require some shade in their first years. Pest and disease resistant. Easy to grow. Not self fertile. Very deep tap root. Curiously, the plants itself smell somewhat like petrol.  Seed from Dresden Ontario, Canada.

On a historical note, Eastern First Nations cultivated pawpaw along with squash, beans and corn.  Fruits saved many European settlers/pioneers from starvation.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/ontario-pawpaw-tree-parade-1.5283053

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20220425-the-revival-of-a-forgotten-american-fruit

• Seed Count: 8-10
• Collection Date: Oct 2023
• Hardiness Zone: 6-9
• Height and Width: 8m x 4m
• Germination test type: float

How to germinate Asimina triloba seeds:

Seed dies if stored dry.  Our seed is kept in moist peat at 3-5 C for storage and complete the cold stratification cycle. Cold stratified since late October so the 60 day cold stratification period could be finished. If not finish the 60 days at 4 C then expose to 20-25 C to germinate. Provide strong indirect light never full sun. Use deep pots when germinating as it has one heck of a tap root. Grows quickly when given summer warmth and moist fertile medium as the pic of 6 month old seedlings shows.  Fresh seed require a minimum of 1000 hours cold stratification to break dormancy.