Over the past several weeks, my sunflower paw-paw had 15-20 flowers and I used my brush to extract yellow pollen from the older (black looking w/ leaves falling off) flowers and paint on to the younger just-opening flowers. The several fruit that looked promising last year were eaten by rodents so I'll have to do a better job of caging the fruit that I hope will grow this year. Wild Haired Mavens, I wish you luck w/ your LA paw paw. They don't do well in direct sun light (I lost 4 last year because my canopy fell off while I was away) and regardless of the species (hopefully sunflower), make sure to hand-pollinate when the flower open to get the best chance of fruits. In the meantime, paw-paws are related to cherimoya (similar taste from what I've read), which I would recommend purchasing if you can find it. They're my personal favorite fruit and can be bought from Home Depot (make sure you buy two to cross pollinate).

My pawpaw flowers are now covered with these little flies. I am sure I will have good natural pollination. They are close together however. My recommendation is to get two given the unreliability of information about Sunflower. If you don't have the space plant the two very close. I have pawpaws 5' apart and it works well. You could go closer if needed. Scott

Thanks Noogy for the wild harvesting tips. But sad to say that they do not grow in the wild here in my zone4 location. It sounds like you are onto something really good there for yourself, so congrats for that. 6 - 7 inchers you say - WOW! The longest one in my Integration Acres shipment was 3 inches. 10 days in my refrigerator at 34 degrees didn't effect them at all either. Looks to me like 3 weeks of refrigerated storage may well be within the realm of possibilities. I just finished up my shipment of I/A Paw Paws. Except for one last one that I am holding back on in order to let it ripen to its max. The riper ones were definitely best in my little home trial of about 9 or ten fruits. As far as for final taste/flavor notes goes, I will say that they tasted like, um, well - Paw Paws! The banana/pineapple/mango analogy all seems to have pertained to some minor degree. But overall there is a more overwhelming presence. And that is it's own unique Paw Paw flavor factor that has to be experiences for oneself in order to fully appreciate. I am just glad that I finally got that opportunity. And am quite pleased with the results. I would definitely recommend them to curious sorts of folks or any self described fruit connoisseurs to give them a try!

The reason I looked up what Paw Paw was, was honestly because I was curious. I thought maybe it was an Indian tribe. (I happen to be reading a series of books on the history of America) When I read it was a village and politically independent I thought that was interesting. I thought I would share it with all the people/posters that don't live there or have never heard of it. The original post was like a puzzle for me. That's all. I solved it. By the way, the markers look great and I will be ordering some. I have been looking for good markers. Allison