“New” Fruit Catching On Fast

“New” Fruit Catching On Fast CROPS New Crops If you are looking for a new “tropical” fruit to grow this year check out the pawpaw It’s hardly a new fruit Native to the U S it sustained members of the Lewis and Clark expedition through Missouri as well as scores of homesteaders Now with decades of breeding the native pawpaw is bigger and better than ever and gaining buzz among foodies market growers and home gardeners “It’s one of our fastest growing in popularity specialty crops ” says Kim Young of Forrest Keeling Nursery The Elsberry Mo nursery grows native plants for restoration and wetlands as well as specialty crops such as pawpaw chestnut and Aronia chokeberry “Our method of growing allows for great transplant success ” Young says noting pawpaw is among trees difficult to transplant “We developed a patented growing process the Root Production Method® that creates a very fibrous root system that allows the plant to take up water and nutrients for accelerated growth in the first year and for bigger harvests ” Young says The process includes air-root pruning and special nutrition and soil Home gardeners and farmers market growers love the big yellow fruit from the pawpaw described as tasting like creamy mango or a cross between an apple and banana It’s high in antioxidants and researchers are evaluating its other nutrients Pawpaws have 2-in maroon blossoms and the fruit ripens over a month between August and October depending on the region With only a shelf life of a couple of days three weeks refrigerated it is used as a fresh fruit that varies from 3 to 6 in long and from 5 16 oz Young notes that Neal Peterson after three decades of research developed the six pawpaw varieties they sell Suitable for Zones 5 to 9 sometimes 4 two varieties of pawpaws should be planted to pollinate Trees can bear fruit as early as the second year Young adds that chestnut hybrids are also growing in popularity especially in Michigan The fruit inside the spiny shell is used in stuffing and breads and is gluten-free Other Forrest Keeling specialty crop plants/trees include persimmons elderberry Aronia pecans and walnuts Homeowners can purchase them at the Forrest Keeling’s garden center or through the website www g2gardens com Wholesalers should go to the Forrest Keeling nursery website Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Forrest Keeling Nursery 88 Forrest Keeling Lane Elsberry Mo 63343 ph 800 356-2401; www fknursery com

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.