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Comment by cmrdporcupine

5 hours ago

My pawpaws (Asimina triloba) mainly need (house) flies to pollinate. They make their flowers look like meat.

I have a couple 100 foot rows of them, it's tricky to get good pollination.

10 comments

cmrdporcupine

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mallomarmeasle  5 hours ago

My grandpappy told me that if you want a good crop of pawpaws you have to hang a dead cat in the tree. I think dead cats were in greater supply back in his day.

Fascinating flowers for a tree though. Red meat color and odor only a fly could love.

For anyone that’s close, go to the upcoming Ohio Pawpaw festival! https://ohiopawpawfest.com/

  • cmrdporcupine  3 hours ago

    Yeah I've wondered about just really nasty ass stinky fresh manure around the base of each tree. That would attract flies.

    Probably a flush of nitrogen at exactly the wrong time tho. Most plants respond to that by pushing excess green growth instead of flowering and fruit set.

    • pfdietz  3 hours ago

      Solid cow manure is really low in nitrogen, though, and maybe 90% is organic N which is released slowly.

      Maybe you meant fresher manure.

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indoordin0saur  4 hours ago

You grow these commercially? Always wondering where I can buy good quality ones when they're in season (in NYC area)

  • Alex3917  3 hours ago

    Email me and I can connect you with some. There is a FB group for folks growing them in the NYC area, plus a list of all the parks where they are planted.

  • cmrdporcupine  3 hours ago

    No, from those trees we basically only get enough for personal consumption because fruit bearing (so far) is so unreliable.

    Also, southern Ontario.