American pawpaw
Asimina triloba
Also known asPawpaw · Common pawpaw · Hoosier banana · Custard apple (US) · Indiana banana · Poor man's banana
Environment
The bounded range this crop tolerates.
Climate and zones
- USDA zones
- 5–9 (winter low around -29°C)
- Frost
- very hardy (survives deep cold)
- Season
- warm (summer, frost-sensitive)
Growing systems
Root mass: very heavy. Thin-channel systems can't hold this crop.
Growing media
| Medium | pH effect | Retention | Bacterial surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soil-based mix (Potting soil) | varies | high | high |
Nutrient demand by stage
NPK ratios are relative weights. EC targets shift through the plant's life.
| Stage | N | P | K | EC (mS/cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| seedling | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.7 |
| vegetative | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1.3 |
| flowering | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1.4 |
| fruiting | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1.4 |
Aquaponics suitability
Not recommended
Fish waste alone doesn't supply enough of what this crop demands. Grows in hybrid systems with supplemental dosing, but expect active management.
Care notes
Not a practical hydroponic crop. Pawpaw is a full-sized tree (5–10 m tall at maturity) that requires years to reach fruiting age (4-8 years from seed, 2-4 from grafted nursery stock). It needs winter chill hours (400-1000 hours below 7°C) to break dormancy and set fruit, making indoor hydroponic culture impractical. Included here because the species is increasingly popular with food gardeners and permaculturists, and understanding its requirements helps aquaponics operators who might want to integrate tree crops with their outdoor systems. Pawpaw does best in rich, well-drained soil with consistent moisture (it's naturally a riparian tree). pH 5.5-7.0. Full sun to partial shade; young trees need shade protection. Tolerates USDA zones 5-9. The trees are pest-resistant and rarely need spraying. For aquaponics integration, pawpaw trees planted near (not in) outdoor aquaponics systems can benefit from the nutrient-rich water used for irrigation. Direct hydroponic culture of pawpaw is not feasible.
Notable varieties
| Cultivar | Type | Days | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunflower | open pollinated | 1825 | Kansas cultivar, 1970 selection. Large yellow-fleshed fruit with few seeds, sweet aromatic flavor. Reported self-fertile (unusual for pawpaw), but still produces more reliably with a pollinator partner. The most popular home-orchard cultivar. |
| Shenandoah | open pollinated | 1825 | Kentucky State University pawpaw program release. Mild custard flavor, low seed count, good for people new to pawpaw who find traditional cultivars too tropical-tasting. Zones 5-8. |
| NC-1 | open pollinated | 1825 | Canadian cold-hardy selection from Douglas Farms, Ontario. Earlier ripening than most cultivars, useful for short-season climates. Zones 4-7. Medium-sized fruit, yellow flesh. |
| Susquehanna | open pollinated | 1825 | Penn State release. Large fruit (300-400 g), low seed count, considered one of the best-flavored cultivars. Slightly later ripening than Sunflower. Zones 5-8. |