The banana tree looks decorative and gives us very tasty, sweet fruits, which many compare in shape to shortened bananas, and in taste to a number of tropical fruits, such as pineapple, banana, mango, papaya.
Description.
Despite its exotic appearance, the three-lobed pawpaw (Asimina triloba) is not a tropical plant. It is a low (up to 4-5 meters, if not pruned) deciduous tree of the genus Asimina of the Anonaceae family. Pawpaw leaves are large (up to 30 cm in length), glossy, bright green. In autumn they turn yellow and fall off. The flowers are burgundy-brown, up to 5 cm in diameter, and have a faint, not very pleasant smell. Flowering occurs in April - May and lasts about three weeks.
The plant is cross-pollinated, so when growing at home (if, of course, you want to see the fruits), it is recommended to take it out into the garden at least for the spring and summer, or carry out pollination at home yourself (read how to do this here).
One flower usually bears several fruits at once. They are oblong, green at first, then yellow (and dark brown after frost), with large seeds, weighing from 20 g to 0.5 kg. They are not stored for long, usually no more than a week, so they are practically never found on store shelves.
Other names under which this plant is found: Nebraska banana, northern banana, dog banana, American papaya.
Open ground or pot? 
The homeland of the plant is North America. Today Azimina is also popular among gardeners in Europe and Japan. In Russia, the most suitable for growing plants in open ground are the southern regions of the country (such as: Krasnodar Territory, Republic of Adygea, Crimea, Stavropol Territory, Rostov and Astrakhan regions, etc.). Here Azimina winters well even without shelter.
However, residents of the northern regions can also enjoy sweet bananas. To do this, just plant Azimina in a pot. Starting from early spring (March-April) until late autumn (October-November), you can take the plant out into the garden, but for the winter it is better to remove it away from severe frosts.
Beneficial features.
Currently, the properties of the plant are still being studied, but some facts already exist. For example, it is well known that Azimina fruits contain many vitamins (they are especially rich in vitamins C and A) and microelements: potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron.
It is worth noting that the fruits are quite high in calories (about 360 kcal).
Indian peoples have used the plant's seeds as an emetic since ancient times.
Growing.
A big plus in favor of growing pawpaw is that it practically does not suffer from diseases and pests.
Popular varieties.
Martin, Overlease, Rebecca's Gold, Azimina Dessertnaya, Sochinskaya 11.
The soil.
Drained, fertile. The plant loves organic matter. Loves moisture, but does not tolerate stagnant water.
Place.
Well lit or diffused light. Young plants need shading after planting. Azimina does not like drafts either.
Reproduction. Landing.
Reproduction of Azimina is not the easiest thing. 
The seeds of the plant are difficult to germinate and require mandatory stratification before planting. But even with it they can take a long time to germinate (often not in the first year).
There are other ways to propagate a plant: using root shoots and grafting.
Root shoots are rare and very few in number. Young shoots do not tolerate transplantation well; they need quite a bit of time to get stronger.
Plant care.
Caring for Azimina involves the standard: regular watering, mulching around the tree trunks, spring-summer fertilizing (preferably 2-3, with an interval of two weeks) with complex fertilizer.
Pruning is carried out if necessary. It is best to do this in early spring, before the sap flows.
When grown in open ground, it is better to cover the plants (especially young ones) with a covering non-woven material for the winter. When grown in a tub, the plant must be moved indoors during the winter months.
Botanical name: Three-lobed pawpaw (Asimina triloba), a species of deciduous tree or shrub, from the genus Asimina of the Annonaceae family. A less common fruit crop, in Lately gaining more and more popularity.
Homeland of pawpaw three-lobed: North America.
Lighting: photophilous, tolerates slight shading.
The soil: loose, fertile, moist without stagnation of water.
Watering: regular, the soil should always be moist.
Maximum tree height: 12-15 m.
Average lifespan of a tree: more than 50 years
Landing: seeds, layering, root suckers.
General description of the pawpaw tree
Three-lobed pawpaw is a tree with a wide pyramidal crown, growing up to 4-5, under favorable conditions - up to 12-15 m. In nature, it grows along river banks, in forests with moist, loose soil, and often forms dense thickets. The trunk and branches have gray smooth bark, young shoots are densely pubescent. Large, from 12 to 33 cm in length and 4.5-12 cm in width, petiolate leathery leaves of an oblong-ovate shape, pointed at the ends and tapering to the petioles, appear in late spring after the flowers bloom. The lower surface of young leaves is pubescent, reddish-brown, the upper surface is smooth, glossy, bright green, becoming light or gray-green over time.
Flowering begins in April and lasts about 3 weeks. Flower buds, thanks to their insulating shell, withstand spring frosts well.
Single, bell-shaped brown-purple or wine-red flowers hanging on a pubescent peduncle appear in the axils of last year's leaves, giving the plant decorative look. Their diameter reaches 6 cm, each has several pistils, thanks to which the pawpaw plant can set up to 9 fruits from one flower.
Bisexual flowers are protogenic, that is, the stigma of the pistil matures before the anthers open; pollination within one flower is excluded. The plant requires cross-pollination, for which it is recommended to have at least 2 varieties in the garden. The flowers have a faint unpleasant odor, reminiscent of spoiled meat, and are pollinated by flies, bees, and ants.
The fruits of the pawpaw (see photo below) ripen in September-October and are juicy berries of an oblong-cylindrical shape, usually somewhat angular, varying in size and weight. Their length can be from 5 to 15 -16 cm, width - 3-7 cm, weight - from 60 g to 200 g.
Individual fruits are collected in fruit clusters of 2-3, sometimes up to 9 pieces, have a thin, translucent, easily removable skin and orange or whitish-yellow flesh, soft when ripe, similar in consistency to butter, very sweet, reminiscent in taste banana and mango, with a sharp strawberry-pineapple scent. The color of the peel is initially dark green, then it gradually lightens and becomes lemon yellow, and after the first frost it turns black.
Pawpaw seeds
Pawpaw seeds are large, up to 2-2.5 cm, slightly flattened on the sides, dark brown, similar in appearance to persimmon seeds. They are located inside the fruit in 10-12 pieces. in 2 rows.
The shape and appearance of the fruits resemble small bananas, which is why another common name for pawpaw is banana tree. Locals in different countries They call it Nebraska banana, northern banana, dog banana. Pawpaw - a banana tree is also mentioned in the literature as pawpaw triloba, and in the USA it is known as paw-paw, which translated means “paw-paw”, due to the similarity of the fruits, usually consisting of 3-5 fruits, in shape with a hand.
History of cultivation, beneficial properties of the pawpaw plant
The homeland of the three-lobed pawpaw is the southern and eastern regions of the United States; in the north it is distributed from the southern part of Ontario, Canada to Florida. In nature, it grows along river banks, in forests with moist, loose soil, and often forms dense thickets. Introduced in 1736, it is found in Spain, France, Japan, Italy and several other countries. Without protection it can grow only in the southern regions of Europe, little is known in Russia, cultivated in gardens Krasnodar region, on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus.
It was introduced into culture a little over 100 years ago. Currently grown in the USA and Canada, where it is becoming increasingly popular. The center of commercial pawpaw breeding is considered to be the southeastern regions of Ohio in the United States, where an annual festival dedicated to it, the so-called “Pawpaw festival,” is held in the vicinity of the city of Albany.
By chemical composition the fruits are close to bananas and contain a large amount of sugars (up to 25%), vitamin C (in some varieties up to 62 mg per 100 g), as well as vitamin A and trace elements: potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron. They have high nutritional value because they are quite high in calories (359 kcal). They are consumed fresh, canned with sugar, and used to make ice cream, fillings for pies and cakes.
The plant has medicinal properties. Its seeds, containing the alkaloid aziminine, have long been used as an emetic. A decoction of the leaves has diuretic properties. According to recent studies, pawpaw preparations have antitumor and antimicrobial effects.
The disadvantages hindering the spread of the crop include low yield (no more than 25-40 kg per adult tree), poor survival rate after transplantation due to the taproot system, as well as the inability to store and transport fruits. They have a wonderful taste and aroma, but quickly become overripe and spoil, so they should be consumed or processed immediately after picking. A ripe fruit can be stored for no more than 2-3 days, and if it falls and is damaged, then the very next day it acquires the unpleasant taste of burnt coffee.
Common varieties of pawpaws in the photo
Currently, about 60 varieties of pawpaw are known, differing in terms of ripening, size of seeds and fruits. The main breeding work on their creation is carried out in the USA and Canada, and most of the varieties grown in Russia were created there. Among the most common are the Davis and Overlease cultivars, with yellow flesh and excellent fruit quality, as well as the Martin variety, which is cold-resistant. In nurseries you can find seedlings of the varieties Taylor, Mitchell, Rebecca's Gold, Green River, etc. There are several varieties of domestic selection, including:
Dessert, mid-season, medium-sized, with fruits weighing 250-270 g and yellow pulp of excellent taste, occupying up to 95% of the total volume of the fruit;
Sochi 11, vigorous, early ripening, with large (up to 350 g) fruits and yellow-orange tasty pulp.
Growing and propagating pawpaw
On the territory of our country, growing pawpaw is possible in areas with a warm climate that provide at least 160 frost-free days (Krasnodar Territory, Kuban, Caucasus). Mature trees are light-loving and produce maximum yield in full sunlight; young plantings suffer from direct sunlight in the first two years and need shading.
In the USA, the three-lobed pawpaw is called “paw-paw”, “Nebraska banana”, “banana tree”. These popular names of the plant are associated with the shape of the pawpaw fruit - they are elongated, like those of the pawpaw, but much smaller in size.
The main advantage of the three-lobed pawpaw is its wonderful fruits, for which it is grown. The taste of its fruits is extraordinary - it really resembles bananas, but softer, and the pulp of the pawpaw fruit has a strong and very pleasant aroma.
I must say that the pawpaw fruits seemed to me the most delicious of all that I had ever tasted. And so one day, when an acquaintance treated me to them, I really wanted to have such a crop on my site.
Having accumulated many years of experience in propagating and growing this plant, I would like to supplement the information posted on the site.
Pawpaw in nature and in the garden
The pawpaw genus includes 8 species distributed throughout the United States. Of these, six species grow in Florida, one is found in Texas. And one of the most common types of pawpaw grows almost throughout the entire country right up to the Canadian border - it is this one that represents greatest interest for cultivation in our country. The botanical name of this common species is pawpaw three-lobed(Asimina triloba).
Pawpaw three-lobed (hereinafter referred to as pawpaw) is a small deciduous, slow-growing tree that lives on loose soils in floodplains. According to literature data, this plant tolerates frosts down to –25 C.
In the region where my garden is located (Tuapse) there are such severe frosts can not be. But my friend, who lives near Krasnodar, during the harsh winter of 2005/2006, when the temperature dropped to -28 C, the flower buds on the pawpaw trees froze (although the wood and growth buds were not damaged).
Pawpaw propagation by seeds
Pawpaw's seeds are very large, like those of.
I decided that pawpaw seeds needed because this plant comes from the subtropical and temperate zones.
Immediately after removal from the fruit, I placed the pawpaw seeds in loose, fertile soil, planting them in separate seedling cups. Then I buried the cups with seeds in the elevated areas of the garden, at a shallow depth.
During the winter, I made sure that water did not stagnate in the glasses with semans.
In April, some pawpaw seeds began to germinate, and I began to plant the seedlings in a permanent location.
During the spring, I carefully monitored the soil moisture, preventing it from drying out.
Since the soil on my site is heavy and clayey, before planting the seeds I completely replaced it with wood humus (I took it from the rotted trunks of edible chestnut, which is abundant in our forest).
I made planting holes for pawpaws of different sizes, placing them both in partial shade and in sunny areas. I made the largest hole about 1 meter deep and about half a meter in diameter - about 20 buckets of humus went into it.
Development of pawpaw seedlings and care for them
Pawpaw seedlings appeared from May to August, and out of the 14 seeds planted, 11 sprouted. In the first year, I did not feed the plants, I only watered the seedlings as needed. The growth of pawpaw seedlings during the first season ranged from 10 to 30 cm. In October, their leaves turned yellow and fell off; young trees went into a dormant state.
The following spring, in April, sap flow began among pawpaw seedlings, and buds began to bloom on their tops. At this time, I fertilized the young plants with nitrodiammophos (about 20 g per bucket of water), but did not detect any particular reaction to the fertilizer in the plants.
At the end of summer, I fed the young pawpaw trees, and did not fertilize them with anything else that season.
Simultaneously with the buds opening, 2 more pawpaw seeds sprouted on the overwintered plants, which had not sprouted last year.
In the second year, the growth of pawpaw seedlings also ranged from 10 to 30 cm.
In the third year, the last pawpaw seed sprouted, and the plants that sprouted in the first year grew from 20 to 40 cm.
It became obvious that young pawpaw trees growing in the shade developed worse than in the sun. Therefore, they had to be replanted, to which they reacted very painfully - growth stopped for 1-2 years.
In the fourth year, the pawpaw seedlings began to form lateral branches.
An interesting feature of the pawpaw tree is that its skeletal branches are formed strictly in one plane, i.e. represent a classic palmette.
In the photo: a small pawpaw tree in summer; Pawpaw in the fall.
Due to lack of free space in the garden, I kept only three pawpaw trees for myself, and gave away the rest of the seedlings.
As the pawpaw grew, over the years I began to increase the amount of fertilizing and the dose of fertilizer, and I only used.
It turned out that pawpaw is responsive to fertilizing, especially nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizers.
Flowering and fruiting of pawpaws
In the sixth year of cultivation, fruit buds began to form on one pawpaw tree. They were the size of a match head, and became clearly visible after the leaves fell.
The following spring, pawpaw fruit buds began to bloom in March, long before the leaf buds opened.
In April, flowers of unusual shape and color bloomed from them - light brown, with 6 petals and big amount stamens Pawpaw flowers have a faint and very unpleasant odor, reminiscent of rotten meat. This smell attracts carrion flies, which are the main pollinators of pawpaw flowers in our conditions. And bees are not at all interested in pawpaw flowers.
Pawpaw can be pollinated by its own pollen, but pollination within the same flower is excluded. The fact is that in a pawpaw flower, the stigma of the pistil ripens first. After 1-2 days, pollen begins to fall out from the anthers of the stamens, and by this time the pistil withers. This is why the first pawpaw flowers do not produce ovaries.
In the first year, only 3 flowers bloomed on one pawpaw tree, and pollination did not take place.
The following year, one pawpaw tree had about 100 flowers, and the other about 70. Moreover, their flowering continued for 3 weeks, which made it possible to carry out both cross-pollination and pollination of flowers with their own pollen.
Pawpaw flowers are drooping, they are easy to pollinate - just tie a stiff wire to a piece of cotton wool and transfer the pollen from one flower to another.
Despite the pollination of pawpaw flowers by carrion flies, artificial pollination increases the percentage of fruit set. Even with artificial pollination, the ovaries produce about 60 percent of pollinated flowers, and about 80 percent of the formed ovaries fall off - this is a normal phenomenon.
Pawpaw flowers are often visited, but their participation in pollination is unlikely - these beetles are attracted only by the pollen of the plant, which they happily eat along with the stamens, but do not touch the ovaries.
Immediately after pollination of the ovary flowers, the pawpaws began to grow very actively. Within a month and a half, the ovaries reached half their final size.
In pawpaw fruits, from 2 to 8 fruits were formed (usually 2-3 fruits). There were also single fruits, but they were few.
Some pawpaw fruits reached considerable weight, so supports had to be placed under the heavy branches.
At the end of August and beginning of September, shortly before the pawpaw fruits ripened, they grew a little more and began to change color to lemon yellow.
When fully ripe, the pawpaw fruits fell off. And if they were damaged when dropped, they deteriorated very quickly - after only 3-4 hours at room temperature.
Intact ripe pawpaw fruits had best taste immediately after falling from the tree, and the next day they acquired the taste of burnt coffee...
I tried picking pawpaw fruits from the tree shortly before they ripened. When they ripened in storage, their juiciness was very low.
It is interesting that in pawpaw fruit the fruits do not ripen at the same time. But the infructescence falls off only after the last fruit in it has ripened, which is why the first ripened fruits become overripe on the tree. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly check the degree of ripening of each fruit in pawpaw fruit after the fruit begins to change color.
Ripe pawpaw fruits easily come off when you touch them, while unripe ones hold on firmly.
In the photo: ripening pawpaw fruit; pawpaw fruits removed
Pawpaw fruits should be used immediately after they ripen. Their skin is very thin, translucent; it peels off easily, like a banana.
There is evidence in the literature that jam and compotes are made from pawpaw fruits. But I only used them fresh due to small yields.
It must be said that the yield of pawpaw in comparison with many other fruits is very low. Even in mature trees, the yield ranges from 25 to 40 kg of fruit per tree. But this drawback is compensated by the excellent taste of the fruit and the absolute resistance of this plant to.
In 26 years of growing pawpaw, I have not noticed any damage to my plants. And I have not heard from any of my friends who grow pawpaw that it was damaged in any way.
Pawpaw selection
Pawpaw was introduced into cultivation a little over 100 years ago, and therefore there are few varieties of it.
In total, about 60 varieties of three-lobed pawpaw are known. Different varieties of fruits differ in terms of ripening, size, and the size of seeds in the fruits. Obviously, in the near future, breeders will eliminate such a disadvantage as the low yield of pawpaw.
Now I grow five varieties (more precisely, varieties) of pawpaw in my garden. Of these, two varieties were obtained by me from the Institute of Mountain Horticulture in Sochi, where pawpaw breeding is carried out in Russia. One variety of pawpaw was purchased at the market, and its origin could not be established. Another variety of pawpaw was obtained from near Sukhumi, where pawpaw selection was carried out during Soviet times. And another one grew from the rootstock that was left after the death of the varietal pawpaw graft.
It must be said that the taste of the fruits of different varieties of pawpaw is very different from each other. The sweetest fruits turned out to be pawpaws from my rootstock, the graft on which died. And the pawpaw varieties from Sochi have the most unsweetened fruits; but they ripen later than others, which allows you to extend the period of consumption of fresh fruits.
At the end of August, the first pawpaw fruits ripen - on the tree that I received from near Sukhumi. They are sweet, but rather dry, and their weight rarely exceeds 100 g.
At the beginning of September, the fruits on the pawpaw tree that I bought at the market, as well as on the tree that grew from the rootstock, begin to ripen. In these two larger-fruited pawpaw varieties, the fruit weight reaches 200 g.
And finally, in October the fruits on the trees of Sochi selection ripen; their weight is also about 200 g. Below I will give the characteristics of these two varieties of pawpaw.
Three-bladed pawpaw “Sochinskaya-17”- fruits up to 200 g, harmonious taste (but, in my opinion, they have little sweetness), average yield.
Pawpaw three-lobed “Dessert”- the taste and size of the fruit is practically no different from the previous variety. But it has very small seeds, which increases the volume of pulp in the fruit. Productivity is average.
Pawpaw grafting
I would like to say a little about pawpaw grafting. In one of the articles I read that it is difficult to plant pawpaw - I cannot agree with this. From my own experience, I can say that grafting a pawpaw is no more difficult than a pear tree.
I graft pawpaw at the beginning of sap flow (in March) with a lignified cutting of a splitting tree. I cut the rootstock and split it lengthwise by 1-1.5 cm, and sharpen the scion into a wedge shape and insert it into the split of the rootstock. The cambial layers must coincide on at least one side.
I wrap the graft tightly with a polymer film, and cover it with a polymer cap on top to protect it from moisture.
The pawpaw graft usually takes root within 2 weeks, which can be judged by the time the buds awaken in the scion. After this, I remove the cap, but at first I do not completely open the place where the scion grows together with the rootstock (I just loosen the binding). Only after a month and a half, when the graft has taken root well, do I completely remove the bandage.
Out of six pawpaw vaccinations, five took root.
As a result of the grafting, I now have five varieties of pawpaw on three pawpaw trees: one tree has three varieties, and the other trees have one variety each.
Placing pawpaw trees in the garden
For better fruiting of pawpaws, it is important to choose the most suitable place for planting the tree.
Regarding the optimal placement of pawpaws on garden plot: It seems to me that, at least in the southern regions, pawpaw should be placed in partial shade.
In my garden, one pawpaw tree grows near the forest on the border of the plot, where the sun is about 4 hours a day.
Another pawpaw grows next to a tree that shades the pawpaw in the first half of the day.
The third pawpaw tree grows between trellises with vines that protect it from the early morning and evening sun. As a result, this tree is in the sun for no more than 3 hours in the middle of the day, and it is on it that the best fruiting is observed.
In the gardening season of 2015, when September turned out to be dry and hot (daytime temperatures were no lower than +30 C), on a pawpaw tree that was in the sun for half a day, all the fruits on the sunny side were baked. And on the remaining pawpaw trees the fruits were not damaged.
So far, the yield of my pawpaw trees is low: it does not exceed 10 kg per tree. But I believe that over time my trees will be able to produce more.
I believe that pawpaw deserves wide distribution in personal plots, - at least in the south of our country.
Vladimir Vasilievich Chernyak (Tuapse, Russia)
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Pawpaw (Asimina) is the only genus of deciduous shrubs and trees of the Annonaceae family that can withstand extratropical conditions. Six of the ten species are common in the southern part of the USA (Texas, Nebraska, Ohio, Georgia, Florida, Virginia), another one is in the east, some of them are found in Spain, Italy, France, Japan.
The three-lobed pawpaw (Asimina triloba), native to Canada (Ontario), has the best winter hardiness. The plant can withstand frosts down to -30 °C and is successfully cultivated in temperate climatic conditions bordering on subtropical. In the territory middle zone Russia is also doing well.
IN natural conditions pawpaw bushes grow to a height of 4-5 m, and trees can be fifteen meters high. On the site, growth is limited to 2-3 meters. The plant likes to settle along the banks of rivers; provided the soil is loose and moderately moist, in nature it forms almost impenetrable thickets. The trunk and shoots are covered with smooth gray bark; young branches are slightly pubescent.
The spreading crown forms a pyramidal shape. The elliptical leaves are narrow from the base, reaching 7 cm at the widest part, narrowing again towards the top, the length of the leaf is 20 cm. They are strong and hard to the touch, thanks to the glossy surface they seem artificial, thin lateral veins extend from the central vein. The front part of a young leaf has a bright green hue, and as it grows it darkens and acquires a grayish tint, the underside is a dull brick shade.
Winter hardiness of pawpaw
Pawpaw is unpretentious in care and cold-resistant (the tree can withstand temperatures down to -30 °C), but it can only be grown for fruiting in regions with a mild climate (Black Sea region, Crimea, Krasnodar Territory, Caucasus). The growing season, together with fruiting, lasts 160 days, so in the Moscow region, Volga region, Belarus, non-European part of Russia, pawpaw is cultivated as an ornamental foliage plant.
In central Russia, winter can be either warm or abnormally cold. It is advisable to cover young plants completely with a cardboard box, mulching the tree trunk circle with straw, wood shavings, and scraps of paper. It is advisable to wrap the base of the stem with a breathable material: spunbond, agril, burlap or a piece of nylon tights.
In an adult tree, clear the trunk circle of debris, place a mound of earth 25-30 cm high around the trunk, mulch the trunk circle with a layer of peat or humus 10 cm thick. When snow falls, rake it to the trunk, and as it settles, renew the snowdrift, breaking the crust. on the surface of the crust.
Flowering and fruiting of pawpaws
The leaves bloom only towards the end of spring; they are preceded by flowers, which open in mid-April. To prevent the corollas from suffering from returning spring frosts, nature protected them with a dense shell-casing. The flower is exotic and very decorative: a dense rounded milky core is framed by three inner and three outer petals. Their surface is dotted with veins, the color of the petal is dark scarlet, purple-violet, which makes them look like a tongue. The diameter of the corolla does not exceed 6 cm. The flowering period lasts about 20 days, an individual corolla lives for 7 days.
Each flower has several pistils, so it can bear from 3 to 9 fruits. If the purpose of cultivation is fruiting, at least two plants should be planted on the site for the pollination process. The flowers give off a slight odor reminiscent of rotting meat.
If the inflorescences fall off at the beginning of summer, it means they are not pollinated and will not bear fruit. In mid-summer there is a risk of losing part of the existing ovary if it is hot and dry. It takes 160 days to reach removable maturity. ideal temperature 18 °C, they will ripen faster in the warmth. The banana tree bears fruit in September and early October.
Pawpaw fruits are similar in shape to papaya: oblong, angular, 5-15 cm long and 2-8 cm wide, weight varies between 50-350 g. Heat and drought negatively affect the size and weight. The skin is pale green or yellowish in color, very thin and easily removed, but is extremely susceptible to mechanical damage. The fruit is edible and has a taste reminiscent of a cross between banana, mango, feijoa and pineapple. The texture of the pulp is pasty, butter, exudes the aroma of strawberries and cream, Americans compare it to custard. Elongated black-brown seeds with a shiny surface are neatly placed in it, there are 8-14 pieces in total.
Because of its fruit, the pawpaw goes by many other names: paw paw (similar to the papaya fruit), Nebraska banana, northern banana, dog banana, Mexican banana, poor man's banana.
Useful properties and productivity of pawpaw
Mineral and vitamin composition
The fruits are not only unusual in taste, but also very useful. Nutritional value is about 360 kcal per 100 g of weight, the same volume of weight contains 50-60 mg of vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, calcium, carotene, phosphorus, copper, essential amino acids (tryptophan, arginine, lysine).
The fruits do not cause allergic reactions, but the high concentration of fructose and sucrose does not allow diabetics to eat them. Berries can be stored fresh for no more than 2-3 days, in the refrigerator - 5-6. The tender, tasty pulp is put into baked goods, added to creams, marmalade, ice cream are made from it, jam, preserves, compote can be prepared, but the shelf life does not exceed one month.
Medicinal properties of pawpaw
The medicinal properties of the plant were known to the ancient Indians. A decoction of pawpaw leaves was taken as a diuretic and anthelmintic, and an emetic was prepared from the seeds. The anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiseptic properties of the northern banana have been scientifically proven. Taking medications prevents the development of tumors, including cancerous ones, and if present, inhibits their growth, slows down the aging process, and helps remove toxins and waste from the body.
Productivity of one tree
From one tree they harvest from 25 to 40 kg of crop. Fruits must be removed in time, not allowing them to fall off, since after damage they are not very stable, spoiled fruit acquires the taste of burnt coffee beans. The fragility of the fruit deprives us of the possibility of transportation. Definitely, pawpaw is not suitable for industrial cultivation. The only thing of interest is the cultivation of several trees in a personal garden plot.
Growing pawpaw in open ground
You can count on one hand the exotic fruit-bearing plants that can be grown in the variable climate of central Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. Cultivating pawpaw involves some difficulties, but the unique taste of the fruit and the beauty of the exotic flowering definitely deserve it.
Firstly, the trunk and branches of the pawpaw are fragile, they can break under the weight of snow, from strong gusts of wind, and even a modest harvest of its own can become a heavy burden for the tree. Be sure to install support for the trunk, collect fruits in a timely manner, and remove the snow cap in winter.
Secondly, it's not easy. Seeds germinate with difficulty, some seedlings die; after transplantation into open ground, survival takes a long time. Fruiting begins from the 5-6th year of life, but for now the pawpaw will serve as a decorative foliage decoration for the site. It's good that the Nebraska banana lives for about half a century, you will definitely enjoy its fruits. Due to the peculiarity of the structure of the root system, pawpaw shoots are produced extremely rarely. You should adapt to propagation by grafting.
How to grow pawpaw from seeds
Please note: varietal characteristics are not inherited if the mother plant is a hybrid. Collect pawpaw seeds from the largest and always healthy fruits (without damage, mold or signs of rotting). Be sure to stratify the seeds, otherwise they will not germinate at all. After being removed from the fruit, they quickly lose moisture; send them for stratification immediately after collection.
- In a small container filled with a sand-peat mixture in a ratio of 1 to 1, sow several seeds, deepening them by 3-4 cm.
- Cover with a transparent bag and place in a cool, damp place where the temperature ranges from 0 to +4 °C (the vegetable section of the refrigerator is ideal).
- After 3-4 months, we take the container out of the refrigerator, remove the seeds from the substrate, soak them in a solution of a growth stimulator and plant them in separate pots with a mixture of sand and peat, planting them to a depth of 3 cm.
- If the seeds have already hatched, then there is no need to deepen them: carefully place them on the substrate and lightly sprinkle them with soil on top so as not to damage the roots.
In both options, spray the soil with a fine spray, cover the container tightly with glass or a transparent bag and place it on a bright windowsill, the air temperature should be at least 25 °C.
Unfriendly ones appear from 6 to 8 weeks. During this time, lift the glass/bag daily for ventilation and spray with a fine spray as necessary.
Grow the seedlings without shelter, water them moderately, and when they reach a height of 12-15 cm, plant them in separate pots. Transfer only one-year-old seedlings to open ground.
Vegetative propagation of pawpaws
The banana tree occasionally produces basal shoots. Experienced gardeners recommend digging up and cutting the root connecting the shoot to the mother plant by 1/3, then you will need to cover it with soil again. This is done so that the root system of the shoot develops more actively. If such manipulation is not carried out, be sure to create greenhouse conditions for the planted sprout by covering it with a bag. The key to survival is regular, but not too much watering, and ventilate the greenhouse from time to time.
Reproduction by a piece of rhizome is allowed. We cut it off to a length of 8-10 cm and plant it in a mixture of sand and peat. We place it horizontally, deepening it 5 cm into the soil. Until next spring, we grow pawpaw seedlings at home: diffuse lighting, moderate watering, maintain the air temperature within 22-25 ° C.
Pawpaws require a certain skill, and such plants will bloom in the 2-3rd year. The scion is an absolutely healthy shoot tip 12-15 cm long, taken from a five-year-old tree. We cut the tip wedge-shaped, and straight on the rootstock.
We graft into the split: we make a cut 1.5 cm deep on the diameter of the rootstock, insert the scion there, the connection should be tight. We wrap it in several layers of polyethylene and fix it on top with electrical tape; we remove all the lower-lying side branches from the rootstock. Due to the high content of tannins, cuts quickly oxidize in air, so we act quickly. The scion takes 1.5-2 weeks to take root. This is evidenced by the formation of new leaves, and callus (a kind of influx of connective tissue) appears at the place of fixation.
Planting pawpaws in open ground
When to plant
The transplant process is for pawpaws severe stress, she is “sick” and in this state will not survive the coming winter in 1-2 months. Even in the southern regions, it is recommended to plant it exclusively in the spring after the threat of return frosts has passed.
Where to plant pawpaw
A place for growing pawpaw, as for any tree in principle, must be chosen once and for all. Pawpaw loves light and warmth, so plant it in sun-warmed areas without drafts or strong gusts of wind (remember the fragility of the crown).
Ideally, there is a fence or wall on the north side in the distance. The root system does not tolerate dampness and waterlogging of the soil. Lowlands, flooded areas and places where groundwater pass at a depth of less than 2 m, they are absolutely not suitable. The first two years after planting, trees may suffer from the rays of the scorching sun. It is recommended to spread a canopy over them made of a couple of layers of gauze or other white covering material.
Landing Features
There are no special requirements for the quality of the soil: it should be light, loose, slightly acidic (pH 5.0–7.0). In heavy loamy soil, pawpaw is also capable of growing, but the pace of development is slow, and you should not expect abundant fruiting. We prepare the planting hole in advance, approximately 3-3.5 weeks before transplantation.
We dig it out, measuring 50 by 50 cm. Mix the top most fertile part of the excavated soil with compost or humus (pour in 1 10-liter bucket), add wood ash(1 liter jar), which can be replaced with 40-50 g of superphosphate and 20-30 g of potassium sulfate.
If the soil is loamy and heavy, add an additional 2 buckets of coarse river sand; a layer of expanded clay or pebbles can be laid at the bottom of the planting hole. We pour the prepared soil mixture into the hole and wait for the earth to settle and settle.
1 hour before planting, water the seedling in the container generously to make it easier to remove the earthen ball (if the pot is peat, you can plant it with it). We transfer with maximum preservation of the earthen clod. To stimulate the appearance of root shoots, the seedling can be positioned at an angle of 40-45 °C.
When in loose soil, we deepen the root collar by 10-12 cm, in heavy loam - by 5-8 cm. The soil at the surface cannot be tamped, just press lightly around the stem with your palms. Water generously with 2-3 ten-liter buckets of water. After absorbing the liquid, mulch the tree trunk circle with humus or peat chips.
Pawpaw is not a self-pollinating plant, so it is advisable to plant at least two trees on the site. So, keep a distance of 3 meters between them, and 4-4.5 m between rows. You can pollinate manually, transferring pollen with a brush from one flower to another. The flowers emit a smell reminiscent of rotting meat, so they can attract flies that will help with pollination.
Caring for pawpaw in open ground
How to water
Although in the natural environment pawpaw prefers to grow along the banks of reservoirs, stagnation of moisture in the area negatively affects root system. In the garden it is watered only in extreme heat. Every 10-12 days, depending on the age, we apply from 4 to 7 ten-liter buckets of water under each tree. From the end of August we gradually reduce watering, and by mid-October we completely eliminate it.
Fertilizing and mulching
Never dig up the soil in the pawpaw tree trunk; it can be loosened as much as possible near the surface, going 2-3 cm deeper. Mulch will help maintain soil moisture and save time by saving the gardener from the need to loosen the soil surface after each watering. In the spring, carefully loosen the soil and pour a layer of compost or humus into the tree trunk circle (for an adult tree you will need 2-3 buckets with a volume of 10 liters). Every 2-3 years, add any nitrogen mineral fertilizer (ammonium sulfate, urea) to the mixture.
The tree reacts positively to fertilizing; it is allowed to use organic and mineral fertilizers, alternating them. If the planting hole is filled at planting, there will be enough food for the first couple of years. Then feed each spring (around mid-April) with a nitrogen-containing fertilizer. A solution of infusion of chicken manure, mullein, dandelion leaves or nettle greens is well suited for this. Throughout the season, feed with organic matter or complex mineral fertilizers for fruit trees(Master, Kemira Lux, Agros, Zdraven, Good Power, etc.). In frequency and proportions, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Trimming
Pruning pawpaws should be done in the spring. The plant bears fruit mainly on last year's shoots, so pruning for replacement is necessary: cut half of the shoots with flower buds by ¼ or 1/3 (for fruiting), the rest, the so-called growth ones, are shortened to the 2-3rd bud. For sanitary purposes, we cut off dry, frozen and damaged branches. Formative pruning is not required.
Azimina at home
Pawpaw is able to grow and bear fruit in room conditions. Even special dwarf varieties up to half a meter high have been bred; of course, their fruits are small (about 4 cm long), but no less tasty. The growth of other varieties is regulated by pinching the top, achieving a tree height of 1.5-2 m. If the dimensions of the room allow, there is no need to restrain growth.
Illumination
The light-loving pawpaw needs bright light throughout the year. Plants up to three years old are susceptible to direct sunlight, so place the flower pot on a southeast or southwest windowsill; in winter, it is advisable to move it to the south side. By the way, to speed up the growth rate, you can use additional illumination with phytolamps or fluorescent lamps, extending the daylight hours to 16 hours. In just 3 months the tree will grow half a meter.
Ventilation
Inflow fresh air will not be superfluous. For the summer season, “relocate” the pawpaw to an open balcony, veranda or terrace, protecting it from strong gusts of wind and rain. If you leave it indoors, maintain the temperature within 22-25 °C and ventilate regularly.
Watering and air humidity
The plant prefers rare but sufficiently abundant watering; the soil surface should dry out between procedures. In hot weather we water almost every 2 days, otherwise once a week.
The level of air humidity in the room is not a critical indicator for pawpaw. Still, occasionally spray the tree with a fine spray until there are no ovaries or fruits. Wipe off dust from the leaves with a damp sponge.
For spraying and watering, it is necessary to use softened water (rain, melt, filtered or tap water that has been standing for at least 48 hours).
Feeding
From April to the end of September, pawpaw is fed every 10-12 days. Due to the smell, organic matter is rarely used indoors; it is more convenient to use complex mineral fertilizers for fruit crops. When the flower pot is outside, you can add organic matter; only water the tree about 1 hour before adding it, so as not to burn the roots.
Transfer
The pawpaw tree takes transplantation painfully; it’s good that it can be planted in a pot “to grow.” Make sure there are drainage holes and place a layer of pebbles, expanded clay, clay shards or small stones on the bottom. Replant if absolutely necessary, transferring it along with a lump of earth. Water immediately warm water, then do not moisten the soil for 5-7 days. As a substrate, we prepare a mixture of humus, leaf and turf soil in a ratio of 2:1:1. For each liter of mixture, add a handful of river sand and 1 tbsp. spoon of wood ash.
Rest period
In winter, the tree must be kept at a temperature of 3-8 °C, but the lighting requirements remain the same. There is no need to feed; moisten the soil every 3-4 weeks.
Diseases and pests of pawpaw
Pawpaw does not suffer from pests and diseases, but a gardener can cause harm on his own by frequent and/or abundant watering. The danger is root rot. Signs of damage: limp, browning leaves, dark spots on the fruits, the base of the trunk becomes blackened and “wet,” the surface of the soil becomes covered with mold, and a rotten smell emanates from it. Watering must be stopped completely. Two or three times with an interval of 4-7 days it is necessary to treat with a solution of a fungicidal preparation such as Skor, Topaz, Kuprozan, Abiga-Pik. It is possible to save the plant only by early stages. If the damage is severe, the tree will have to be dug up and burned. The garden area must be treated with a solution of copper sulfate at a concentration of 2%.
The high immunity of the plant is due to the high content of tannins. To avoid possible troubles, avoid waterlogging the soil, and in order to prevent root rot, water the pawpaw monthly with a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate.
Types and varieties of pawpaws
In its homeland, the Nebraska banana is well known and loved. The decorative value of the tree and the original taste of the fruit have become known to gardeners in Asia, Europe and Russia recently. Even a little growing experience made it possible to identify the nuances of cultivation, care, reproduction, and harvesting.
Of the dozens of representatives of the genus in conditions Central Russia Only the three-lobed pawpaw will take root. The best varieties bred by American breeders are Davis, Rebecca Gold, Pennsylvania Gold, Pennsylvania, Sunflower. Domestic breeders gave us the Michurinka and Sochinskaya varieties.
Description of the pawpaw plant. Healing substances contained in its fruits. Properties beneficial to the human body and possible harmful manifestations. Recipes with pawpaw.
The content of the article:
The pawpaw is a small deciduous tree and its fruits native to the eastern United States. Visually, the fruit is similar to quince with a greenish-brown skin, but belongs to a completely different genus. Alternative names for the fruit are paw paw or banana tree, and its flavor is a bit like creamy mango, papaya or even cantaloupe melon, with a slight aroma of ylang-ylang.
Composition and calorie content of pawpaw
The nutritional value of this fruit is quite high. Paw-paw contains much less water compared to other fruits, but vitamin composition exceeds the merits of apples, peaches and grapes. The same applies to flavonoid antioxidants, which, however, are still not sufficiently studied by reputable research laboratories.
Pawpaw contains many bioactive compounds that can be beneficial or toxic to humans, depending on the amount consumed and personal sensitivity. In addition, the bark and seeds of the tree contain a large number of anticarcinogens that help prevent the development of tumors. The leading researchers of these substances, which have proven the medicinal value of fruits, are doctors of science from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.
The calorie content of pawpaw is 39 kcal per 100 g, of which:
- Carbohydrates - 18.8 g;
- Fiber - 2.6 g;
- Fats - 1.2 g;
- Protein - 1.2 g.
- Vitamin A - 87 mcg;
- Thiamine (B1) - 0.01 mg;
- Riboflavin (B2) - 0.09 mg;
- Niacin (B3) - 1.1 mg;
- Vitamin C - 18.3 mg.
- Calcium - 63 mg;
- Iron - 7 mg;
- Magnesium - 113 mg;
- Manganese - 2.6 mg;
- Phosphorus - 47 mg;
- Potassium - 345 mg;
- Zinc - 39 mg.
Interesting! Paw paw is the largest edible fruit native to the United States. Its trees are native to 26 states, representing 27 different varieties in more than 50 nurseries.
Useful properties of pawpaw
An interesting observation is the fact that Polynesians who consume pawpaw fruits practically do not get cancer, unlike Europeans. According to research from 1999, this feature is associated precisely with the unusual diet of the islanders. However, the special substance acetogenin is not the only advantage of pow-pow.
Among the beneficial properties of pawpaw:
Harm and contraindications
The American Health Association considers pawpaw a safe fruit, including it in the registry food products. However, it can cause allergic reactions, so appropriate categories of people should be careful, in particular when using organic cosmetics. Pau-paw extracts can be included in hair creams and shampoos.
Consequences of pawpaw abuse:
- Stomach upset. Pawpaw is a fairly low-calorie fruit that can be taken without restrictions during a diet. However, overeating fruits can cause stomach upset, including attacks of nausea and vomiting. Considering the whole range of different active ingredients, some people who abuse pow-pow feel weak or headache.
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Despite the benefits of pawpaw for healing ulcers, some patients with gastrointestinal problems experienced bouts of nausea after consuming it. Be careful and use the fruit in small quantities.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding. On this moment There is not enough reliable information about how it affects the body of the fetus and newborn. Therefore, it is better to abstain from pow-pow fruits or consult with medical worker.
- Allergic reactions. Pawpaw contraindications are especially important for those who are already allergic to any members of the Annonaceae family. Itching, redness and rashes can occur even after superficial touching of any part of the plant.
- Negative effects on medication use. Paw paw fruits are capable of interacting with certain medicines, especially those containing “7-keto” formulas, as well as coenzyme Q10. If you are using other medications, consulting a pharmacist may also be helpful.
Recipes for dishes with pawpaw
Many people believe that The best way To enjoy the taste of pawpaw fruits is to eat them raw, in the open air, personally picking them from a tree you like. But there are also many other ways to use the fruit to enhance your culinary experience.
A ripe fruit is easy to identify - it should be as firm as a ripe peach. The change in skin color is similar to that of a banana: if the fruit has slight spots or darkening, it is ripe and still fit to eat. Fully ripe paw paws will last only a few days at room temperature; they can last up to a couple of weeks in the refrigerator. Pawpaw pulp is easy to ferment to produce beer, wine or cognac.
Recipes with pawpaw:
- Pawpaw Parfait. To prepare, we will need: half a glass of brown sugar, 1 package of unflavored gelatin, half a teaspoon of table salt, a slightly incomplete glass of milk, 3 eggs, 1 glass of paw-paw puree, a quarter cup of regular sugar. In a saucepan, combine brown sugar, gelatin, fruit and salt. Add milk and lightly beaten egg yolks. Heat to a boil, remove from heat, stir well. Leave for 30 minutes in the refrigerator. In a separate container, beat the whites until peaks appear, gradually adding the bulk of the sugar. Combine the two mixtures. The dessert is ready to eat, it can be used as a cream, filler, along with fruit or cookies.
- Sweet snack with pawpaw. Take 1 cup of 2% milk, 1 cup of cream, 3 eggs, 3/4 cup of sugar, 1 cup of pow-pow pulp. Mix the ingredients and beat them well with a mixer. Pour the mixture into the cupcake tin and bake at 200°C for 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to about 150°C and keep in the oven for another 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Pawpaw dessert with coconut. Prepare 1 glass of pau-paw pulp, 60 g of grated coconut, a glass of cream, a teaspoon of vanilla, 3 eggs, a pinch of salt, 60 g of sugar. Mix the fruit mixture with coconut. In another saucepan, combine milk with vanilla, eggs and sugar, beat well. Add fruit, ensuring the mixture is homogeneous, pour it into the mold. Bake at 180°C for 30 minutes.
- Cookies with walnuts. Take a cup of paw paw pulp, a cup of flour, half a teaspoon of baking powder, a quarter of a package of butter, half a cup of brown sugar, 1 egg, half a cup walnuts. Preheat the oven to 180°C, grease the cookie sheet with butter. Process the fruit pulp in a blender until it becomes paste-like. Combine butter and sugar, kneading them with a fork, add flour, baking powder, egg and half the nuts. Spoon the dough onto the sheet, forming cookies of any shape. Place the remaining ones on top for decoration. walnuts. Bake for about 12 minutes or until evenly browned.
- Pow pow ice cream. For the recipe with pawpaw, take: 1 liter of cold milk, 6 eggs, half a teaspoon of salt, 1 glass of pow-pow, juice of 1 lemon, 1 liter of heavy cream, a little vanilla. Beat the eggs with half the milk, add salt, sugar and the rest of the milk. Heat over low heat, stirring constantly and not letting it boil. As soon as the cream begins to stick to the spoon, turn off the heat and leave the mixture to cool first at room temperature, then in the refrigerator. In another container, combine pawpaw puree with lemon juice and vanilla, add to the cream, stir well. Pour into an ice cream maker or distribute into molds that are suitable for freezing in the freezer
- Canned pawpaw. The fruit is easy to preserve and prepare until the next season according to this scheme: for 12 fruits, take 2 cups of water, 3/4 cup of sugar, 1 lemon, 1 orange. We clean the pau-paw and place it in water without removing the seeds. Boil until soft, rub through a sieve. Add sugar and citrus juice. Heat again to a boil, after 1-2 minutes turn off and put into jars.
- Drink with pawpaw. For servings of 1 pow pow fruit you will need: 600 ml of water, a wedge of lime, a pinch of salt, sugar to taste. Remove the peel from the pawpaw fruit and squeeze the juice out of it well. Stir with water, add sugar and salt, and lime for decoration. Add crushed ice if desired.
The earliest documented mention of pawpaw is in the report of a 1541 Spanish expedition that discovered Native Americans cultivating the tree for their own use in areas east of the Mississippi River. The Lewis and Clark Expedition also consumed paw paw during their travels.
Chilled pawpaws were a favorite dessert of George Washington, and President Thomas Jefferson planted the tree at Monticello, his home in Virginia.
Today, pawpaw is successfully grown in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, due to which it has many “local” names, for example, pav-pav, wild banana, Indian banana, bananago and others. Trees are easy to grow from seeds if there is systematic watering (however, long-term storage does not benefit the seeds).
Usually the plant is a large shrub, but can grow up to 11-14 meters in height. Green leaves, if mashed, emit a not very pleasant smell, similar to green pepper. The same applies to large, red-violet flowers that emit a faint yeasty aroma, as well as resin released from damaged areas of the bark.
Pawpaw trees are gaining popularity among gardeners due to their rapid growth and low maintenance requirements. In moist soil they have a strong tendency to form dense clumps, which can be formed into hedges by pruning. Sometimes the plant is included in ecological restoration plantings because it can stop soil erosion caused by frequent floods and tidal streams.
Pawpaw fruits are actually classified as berries. They ripen by September, but in tropical latitudes you can harvest twice. Fallen fruits are eaten by various mammals - raccoons, foxes, squirrels, opossums and even bears. Butterflies of the species Protographium marcellus are completely dependent on the pawpaw, as they feed on the young leaves of the tree of the same name.
Cross-pollination from different genetic varieties of the tree is recommended for yield. Therefore, to attract insects, there is a practice of hanging pieces of meat on the branches of pawpaw or spraying it with a product with a fishy smell.
Pau-paw fruits are not stored very well. By analogy with peaches, they are picked green, followed by ripening on the counter or during transportation.
Paw pow is a popular tool in homeopathic practice. The juice of unripe fruits contains a high percentage of a special substance called papain, named after the plant. The latter is useful for rapid wound healing. Smoke from dried and set fire to pawpaw leaves has a positive effect on curing diseases associated with the respiratory system (asthma, bronchitis, etc.)
A clinical trial, the results of which were presented in the journal Phytomedicine in 2002, confirmed that pawpaw extract is highly effective in the fight against lice. At the moment, a number of shampoos with a similar additive are produced. A study of the tree's pesticide potential showed that young, thin branches, as well as fresh leaves, bark and green fruits, have the greatest effect.
For example, phlox infected with fungus, when treated with pawpaw juice, showed a noticeable improvement after just 10 days. Even the trunk of a fallen tree is not affected by insects thanks to its unique properties. The juice released when pawpaw bark is peeled naturally repels mosquitoes without being harmful to humans.
Watch a video about pawpaw: