Planting and establishing pawpaws in SoCal

[FletcherFields]

Hey there,

Pawpaws aren't very common in southern California, but there are a few folks who successfully grow them. I'm giving it a try and recently received two sleeved pawpaws that are 3ft whips. I plan to put them in the ground this winter, but I'm not certain of the location yet. Everything I've read says these are understory trees that need shade the first few years.

Question -- should I shade cloth these the first few years and then uncover them and give them full sun after 2-3 years? Or should I place them under a larger tree so they're always under partial shade? What's best will ultimately determine where I place them in my yard.

I appreciate anyone who can share their experience.

[ScottR]

If you search paw paw threads on forum you'll see old threads covering this issue!

[MotherofDragons]

Exciting! Looking forward to hearing how they do for you. I've recently been looking into pawpaw as well.

I think you may get the best advice if you share what part of Southern California you are in, specifically your average high and low temps. There is such a large range of climate in Southern California. People on the coast won't see the inland's intensity of light exposure, or 115 heat in summer. A little more information on your growing conditions could narrow down applicable advice and set you up for the best success. Good Luck!!

[K-Rimes]

I had mine in just 4-5 hours of direct inland 100f+ dry, low humidity sun, and they hated it.

If you are near the coastline, I bet they could be full sun in a year or two from whip size with decent growth. They really struggled late in the season with salt / mineral build up on the roots and would defoliate way early due to this. When they got to be reasonably well established, about 6' tall, they became a little stronger. It takes a long time to get them going.

[ScottR]

I've always shade clothed mine for first year complete, then second yr. open shade cloth to east and top, then after second yr. they go naked to the world.

[FletcherFields]

I'm about 10 miles from the coast in San Diego County. I went back and looked at some old threads, and it looks like a few people regretted putting their pawpaws in the sun. I'm going to put mine under a pepper tree where there's dapple sunlight. They may not thrive, but they won't get scorched.

[K-Rimes]

I'm about 10 miles from the coast in San Diego County. I went back and looked at some old threads, and it looks like a few people regretted putting their pawpaws in the sun. I'm going to put mine under a pepper tree where there's dapple sunlight. They may not thrive, but they won't get scorched.

Pepper trees are allelopathic and do not allow other plants to grow around or beneath them as they release natural herbicides. Do not plant fruit trees around or under them.

[FletcherFields]

Pepper trees are allelopathic

Hey K-Rimes, I searched some of your old posts and replies so I can make better decisions about my planting. You sent me down a rabbit hole here. Seems like there's some division between what affects pepper trees have on surrounding plants. It's either a herbicide like you mentioned or an abundant amount of leaf litter that chokes out surrounding plants. Maybe both. The area to the west of my pepper tree is a jungle. Firethorn, honeysuckle, bottlebrush, and another pine tree. All are thriving enough that I need to hack them down once a year. This makes me lean more towards the leaf little aspect, which I can manage. This is all to say that I'm now looking at a spot that is outside of the pepper tree drip line that'll require a bit of shade cloth in the early years.