In-Depth Description
Pawpaw trees are self-incompatible, which means that pollen produced on a plant cannot pollinate flowers on the same plant. Instead, to produce fruit, a pawpaw flower must receive pollen from flowers on another tree, thus the need for more than one plant. Pawpaw fruit begins to ripen in late summer and peaks in September and October. The inside yellow, golden, or white flesh, surrounding large black seeds, is creamy and often described as a “custard-like flavor,” somewhat similar to the flavor of a banana but with hints of mango, vanilla, and citrus. Pawpaw fruit is very nutritious, high in vitamin C, magnesium, iron, copper, and manganese, a good source of potassium and several essential amino acids, and contains significant amounts of riboflavin, niacin, calcium, phosphorus, and zinc.
