About all that says is that the ground will be moist most of the time, so they will have water. Pawpaws have very odd lightning requirements when they're young, what kind of shade does the location have, or what kind of shade can you build there (temporarily)?

Regarding the comment about "A potting soil made from pine bark, peat, perlite ... works OK for a year and then shows strong nutritional (disease?) problems (general chlorosis) ... I'm still baffled." What is the pH and composition of mineral salts in the irrigation water. This type of problem is common in soilless mixes after they are watered for a while with groundwater that is relatively high in pH and high in disolved lime (Calcium carbonate). It's a very common problem in my potted, acid-loving plants like citrus, camellias, gardenias, etc. My groundwater is very hard and very high in lime -- it crusts over shower doors, coffee pots, etc in just a few days. Aside from using a water softener, 'Lime-Away' brand lime remover is a constant in the household, because the water softener doesn't remove it all no matter where it's set. The untreated groundwater is even worse -- even a single, hour or two session of watering with a sprinkler can leave everything coated with lime scale. For the potted plants, I find it necessary to remove them from their pots about every other year, wash all of the potting mix from their roots, and repot in fresh soilless mix. I also use acidifying fertilizers and trace element supplements in between. I wonder if you have a similiar problem. Initially, the orginic compounds in the soilless mix can absorb and neutralize the calcium, but eventually, the amount of lime from the water just overwhelms the ability of the soilless mix to act as a calcium sink, and the pH rises rapidly, resulting in the chlorosis symptoms you describe. There is realistically next to nothing you can do to purge all of this lime out of the soil at this point that wouldn't also fry the plant, so it's time to replace the soil.

Jack Swords (former president of the local chapter of the California Rare Fruit Growers Association) lives not far from me in Nipomo. He has several paw-paw trees. I have forgotten the specific varities he actually grows but he mentioned these as worthy here, in conversation: ÂMary Foos JohnsonÂ, ÂMitchellÂ, ÂOverleeseÂ, ÂProlificÂ, ÂRebeccaÂs GoldÂ, ÂSunflower (sf), ÂTaylorÂ, ÂTaytooÂ, ÂWells Only 'Sunflower' is self-fertile. The rest need hand pollinating. Joe

Edible Landscaping is a good choice. Potted pawpaws will be pretty small most likely, either that or shipping can be $$. I've ordered most of my pawpaws bareroot and those are generally best planted in early spring. Pawpaws are are sometimes tricky to establish and it is commonly recommended that you shade the plants for the first season (depending on how small/young the plants are. As I've planted bareroot ones, which are generally larger, I have not had to shade any of mine. You chose good varieties (I have Shananndoah among others) and I've heard good things about the others. I tried grafting Mango this year, but I don't think weather cooperated enough for it to take. You on will need to keep these plants well watered, and naturally they like areas with soil that retains water well. Do not amend the planting hole, your goal is to encourage the roots to grow out in search of sustenance, not spiral around and around in the best soil that you amended. DO mulch well (and if you have compost or other "amendments" put them down on the surface before you mulch. Don't make the mistake of planting too deeply. When all is done the first feeder roots should be just under the mulch or just below the compost surface. Keep the mulch a couple inches from the stem and go out a couple feet. if deer are a regular problem, you will definitely want to protect them. Although I find that for me possums and raccoons are a problem as well. Im jealous as I've never made it to the pawpaw festival. I'm close enough but as a teacher there is no way I can fit that into my schedule at that time of year. other good nurseries are www.nuttrees.com and www.burntridgenursery.com as well as rolling river nursery. Chills