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Susquehanna is the largest and latest ripening of Neal Peterson's fabulous introductions. Neal's life's work has improved the pawpaw to a new level. Fruits are large, sometimes over a pound. Flesh is plentiful, seeds are few. They are richly flavored and delicious. Plant Patient #15900 was awarded this fine variety. Space 14' circle Zone 5-8

Susquehanna is without a doubt my personal favorite" -- Neal Peterson, "if I had to choose one." Outstanding for combining very large size with rich pawpaw flavor, great sweetness, exceptional fleshiness, and firm buttery texture, this particular variety makes an especially beautiful ornamental tree in the home landscape. This tree originated as a seedling from the collection of the Blandy Experimental Farm. It has the largest fruit of our three varieties, sometimes weighing over a pound. With a firm texture similar to avocado and a thickish skin, Susquehanna is less fragile than most. It has the fewest seeds of any variety (3% by weight). Moderate to good yields. Responds well to pruning.

Key Features of the Susquehanna pawpaw:

Very fleshy - only 3% seed
Very sweet, rich flavor
Firm, buttery texture
Fruit size very large
Moderate yields
Responds well to pruning

Plant Characteristics
Pest Resistance	Excellent
Disease Resistance	Excellent
Drought Tolerance	Good
Heat Tolerance	Very Good
Humidity Tolerance	Excellent
Sun Tolerance	Very Good
Wet Soil Tolerance	Good
Shade Tolerance	Very Good
No Spray	Excellent
Salt Tolerance	Fair
Fun for Kids	Very Good
Deer Resistance	Fair
Thorns	No
Plant Type	Tree
Soil Type	Adaptable
Edible Type	Fruit
Self Fertile	No
this information is accurate to the best of our knowledge, comments/opinions are always welcome

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Meet the Pawpaw


Climate
The pawpaw, Asimina triloba, is a tree of temperate humid zones, requiring warm to hot summers, mild to cold winters, and minimum of 32 inches (80 cm) of rainfall spread rather evenly throughout the year, with the majority falling in spring and summer. It is hardy to zone 5 (-15F/-25C). Pawpaws are native over a wide range of latitude, from the Gulf Coastal plain to southern Michigan.
One of our customers in Northfield MN, has been growing our pawpaws for several years now. (Zone 4) His advise start with a good strong specimen.

Site, Soils, & Habitat
Although the pawpaw is capable of fruiting in the shade, optimum yields are obtained in open exposure, with some protection from wind (on account of the large leaves). The soil should be slightly acid (pH 5.5-7), deep, fertile, and well-drained. In habit it is a small tree, seldom taller than 25'. In the shade it has a more open branching habit with few lower limbs and horizontally held leaves.

Pollination, Natural & Artifical
Pollination is the major limitation to pawpaw fruit set. The flowers are protogynous, meaning that the stigma (the female receptive organ) ripens before the pollen, and is no longer receptive when the pollen is shed. Thus the flower is designed not to be self-pollinated. In addition pawpaw trees are self-incompatible, requiring pollen from a genetically different tree in order to be fertilized. Finally, the natural pollinators of the pawpaw (various species of flies and beetles) are not efficient or dependable. Although it requires a little extra labor, hand pollination can be well worth the effort and can be done as follows: Using a small, flexible artist's brush, transfer a quantity of fresh pollen from the anthers of the flower of one clone to the ripe stigma of the flower of another clone. Pollen is ripe when the little ball of anthers is brown in color, loose and friable; pollen grains appear as yellow dust on the brush hairs. The stigma is ripe when the tips of the pistils are green and glossy, and the anther ball is still hard and green. Do not overburden the tree with fruit, as this will stress the tree, resulting in smaller than normal fruit, and may cause limbs to break under excessive weight.

Pests
Eurytides marcellus, (Zebra Swallowtail), whose larvae feed exclusively on young pawpaw foliage, but is never in great numbers. The adult butterfly is of such great beauty that this should be thought of as a blessing. Deer will not eat the leaves, twigs, or fruit. USES: The primary use of pawpaws is for fresh eating. The easiest way to eat them is to cut them in half and scoop the flesh out with a spoon; the large seeds, scattered throughout the flesh, are then simply spit out. On a hike or picnic, you can tear an opening into one end and squeeze the flesh into your mouth. In cooking, the pawpaw is best suited to recipes that require little or no heat. Because the pawpaw's flavor compounds are very volatile, prolonged heating or high temperatures destroy their characteristic flavor. Pawpaw works well in ice cream, sorbet, chiffon pie, and mousse, and combines well with mint. On account of its flavor resemblance to banana, it may be substituted in recipes such as banana bread.

Ripeness
Ripe pawpaws are best on the tree just about ready to drop from the tree. The skin will turn to a lighter tint of green. The flavor is like custard. If the skin is yellow and brown, (brown like an overripe banana) the pawpaw although still good to eat is not as good in my opinion.

Quality
Quality pawpaws compare favorably to the best pears, peaches, and mangos of the world. They can vary considerably in size, depending on the cultivar and the number of seeds in each fruit, but should ordinarily weigh between 5 ounces and 1 pound. They should appear plump and round in shape--the largest, plumpest pawpaws often resemble mangos. the flesh should be neither too soft or too firm: it should have a custard texture that is smooth, melting, and luscious. The flavor should be sweet, fragrant, and complex, with a satisfying and lingering aftertaste.

Note from a customer in Northfield, MN
"I live in Northfield, Minnesota, and my experience with paw paws is
pretty easily summarized:

1) Grafted cultivars do not do well; they tend to die off or grow
poorly (I've tried Davis, Pennsylvania Golden, NC-1, and others)
2) Specimens grown from seed do just fine, but tend to experience some
winter kill

The problem with seedlings is that there's no way to know if they'll
fruit early enough in Minnesota to be useful. You just have to plant
them, let them grow, and see.

Ditto for the taste. No way to know.

I have no fruiting plants right now (one tree is just getting to the
point where it could bear).

My largest is about six feet tall and has been in the ground for two and
a half years (planted when it was maybe three feet tall).

There's no magic bullet in zone 4. You just have to try things.

I wish I had a half acre I could just plant with these and other
interesting/marginal trees and let nature take its course, but in fact
all I have is a small lot in town.

I am enjoying myself, though."
RG