How to Germinate Pawpaws

Harvesting Pawpaws:

• Wild pawpaws are ready in Middle Tennessee around middle-August to September. Last year we harvested and stratified on August 17.

Stratification & Planting:

• Remove seed coat and clean seed.

• Place in moist paper towel or peat moss in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for 90 days.

• After 90 days, plant 1-2 inches (2-5cm) deep in tall tree pots (12 inches / 30cm). Pawpaws have a deep taproot.

• Place in a protected area that doesn’t freeze. A garage is ideal. When the weather warms, place outside in a half shade / half sun area and water if the top of the soil ever appears dry.

Germination

• Pawpaws will first send out a taproot starting in spring. In middle TN, this was around April to May. Check the underside of the pots to check on germination.

• A couple months after taproot appears, pawpaws send up a single shoot that looks like a bean sprout, then starts to leaf out.

94% germination of Pawpaws using our method.

Wild Pawpaws on a tree in Tennessee.

Pawpaw in early June 2026

Pawpaw seedling just after emerging.

Pawpaw seed. This is after germinaton. Seed is about 1.5 inches long.