Scott

I think Peterson's and Mango are the best I've had, then maybe Overleese and Wells, compared to maybe a half-dozen other named ones. Some crosses I've made (Mango x Overleese) seem to have the aftertaste more in first fruit or maybe less ripe fruit, but they haven't been fruiting enough yet to tell with high confidence.

I'm getting tired of losing expensive grafted pawpaw after expensive grafted pawpaw (and crosses of these), all grown with considerable attention and trouble, all to some unknown disease. I will likely just play and experiment with survivors or locally derived plants from now on rather than buy more.

My experience with the Ky State University pawpaw researchers (three detailed emails with a question or two each, spread over a year and a half) have totaled zero responses. And this to their "write us with questions" email address and another such address for the main professor (in case the first was no longer valid) They are also suspiciously quiet about any progress on the pawpaw disease that killed their trial planting in the northwest. I'm wondering if that is what I have, given that I have received pawpaws from many different nurseries. Maybe pawpaw growing is in for some serious trouble. Admittedly, I haven't checked their site in a while, but I could tell even then that it had not been tended to in a good while.

Gonebananas, I would like to hear about the symptoms of this disease you have so I can be on the lookout for it. My pawpaws have been extremely healthy once established. The major problem has been the limbs from the big tree above that occasionally fall on the pawpaws. The wood is very weak in comparison to other trees and they can get severely damaged.

Scott

I got two pawpaws from Peterson last April. He is still in business. Get your name on the waiting list. They REALLY are good pawpaws. I just can't keep them going after several years.

In "Growing Fruit Naturally" (2012), Lee Reich says his favorites are PA-Golden and SAA Zimmerman.

Has anyone tried any of those? What are your current favorites for taste?

Thanks!
Bart

Jerry Lehman won both in taste and biggest pawpaw for 2012.

Tony

Bass

Do you or Bass or anyone else know where to get "cu 166-13"
paw paw trees?

Benny

Allegheny, Overleese, PA-Golden, Potomac, Rappahannock, Shenandoah, Sunflower, Susquehanna?

I'd like to get a few trees in the ground this spring so I may not be able to wait until 166-33 comes my way.

Are any of the above wonderful, must haves and/or should I avoid any of them?

Thanks!

Some of these were previous test taste winners: Overleese (most often), Shenandoah,and Sunflower. Potomac and Susquehanna were the largest of Peterson pawpaws. Jerry Lehman VE-21 and CU 166-33 were the best of his 300 crosses. Like Bass said Jerry will release them soon under another name.

Tony

Thanks

"KSU-ATWOOD TM A newly released variety from Kentucky State University that combines large size and high quality fruit with few seeds and a mango aftertaste. Heaviest producing variety."
If you want to try a early ripening pawpaw then Cliff England at nuttrees.net has one called "Summer Delight - Just an average size pawpaw of 8 to 12 ounces that absolutely tastes delicious, has a yellow tinted shin that is thick, and ships and stores well. The remarkable thing about this Pawpaw is that it ripens in the last week of July to the first week of August. It is not precocious and takes 4 to 5 years to come into production. Summer Delight has a smooth textured flesh, few seeds, and a melon after taste."

Tony

I was at KSU a few years ago for a taste test. K8-2 came in at 7th place out of 9 varieties for the test. Wabash 1st, 3 was Susquehana, 4 was Sunflower. other places were row numbers at KSU, not named or released

Benny