Red Pawpaw

Robertito says...
Hi guys,

In Brisbane, which is not that far north of you, pawpaw trees get to about six metres tall. The leaves come out from the central trunk, so the spread is unlikely to exceed two metres.

It's common practice to stop the tree getting too tall by chopping the top couple of metres off when the fruit get out of reach. The tree will respond by producing a bunch of stalks from old growth so the spread is up to four metres. Put a tin can over the exposed trunk after you cut the top off to prevent rotting.

Finally, note that you can expect about a four year lifespan before it's more efficient just to plant another tree. So if you enjoy the fruit, but a new one in after two or three years to ensure continuous harvest. Also note that they start producing very early, so you can get plenty of fruit from a small tree.