Pawpaw Fruit

A pawpaw fruit has green skin with yellow or orange flesh that holds a row of large dark brown seeds. The fruit can weigh up to two pounds but are more commonly smaller. They are part of the Magnolia family and the closest relatives to pawpaw are the soursop, custard apple, and cherimoya. They are the largest edible native fruit in America and the most cold tolerant tropical fruit. You can eat them raw or make ice cream, pies, jam, mead, beer, smoothies and more! The fruit tastes like mango banana custard typically but can have vanilla, pineapple, caramel and many other flavors depending on the ripeness, genetics and growing conditions. There is a possibility of an undesirable yeasty flavor, particularly in the wild varieties. But it may also just be that you ate the fruit when it was over-ripe or bruised! Pawpaw breeders have been actively selecting against this trait for the more popular varieties. Current breeding efforts are focused on creating larger fruit with less seed volume, better flavors and ability to survive longer storage after harvest.

When is it ready?

One of the most common questions I am asked is when is it ready to pick? The most common time I gather Pawpaw fruit is when it is on the ground! That is a sure sign it is ready, when it naturally falls off the tree. This can be problematic though as it can be damaged in the fall or the critters may begin to eat them. In my area, it is the ants and box turtles that seem to find them first. So, during Pawpaw ripening season, I check my trees at least once if not twice a day. You can also shake the tree or feel each fruit individually. 

One gentle shake is enough to loosen any ripening Pawpaws. Any more of a shake and you could possibly knock loose unripe fruit. These will often not ripen, even if you leave them on the counter for a good while. Or they will ripen unevenly and nto be fun to eat.

You can also gently squeeze the fruit on the tree. It will shift from rock hard to the smallest squish when it is nearing ready. I often pick my fruit at this stage to keep it safe from critters. 

Depending on the variety, some Pawpaw fruit will let you know when it is ready for picking. Some of them begin to smell like ripe pawpaw. Some of them will color change from green to yellow on the outside skin. This is called color break and it is one of the things some breeders are encouraging as it is so helpful in the harvesting process.

Each variety of Pawpaw is slightly different in how and when it ripens. You will need to get to know your trees with trial and patience to see when is the best time to harvest.

Of course, the perfect scenario is when you touch the fruit, it falls off in your hand. That is the Best!