*The ‘Sunflower’ Paw-Paw cultivar is often commercially listed online as self-fertile; however, some websites which seem somewhat ‘scholarly’ seem to indicate that this cultivar has never been actually proven to be self-fertile. I’ve even seen is said that they are "partially" self-fertile – whatever that means (maybe it means unreliably, but occasionally; or maybe it means only a few of the flowers will be able to be self-compatibly fertile. Has anyone grown a single specimen and yet received fruit and/or knows the answer to this question?
NATURAL POLINATION OF PAW-PAWS
*I was considering, if the ‘Sunflower’ cultivar is not really self-fertile, planting 2 separate Paw-Paw cultivars. Since they are mostly only pollinated by flies and ‘scavenging beatles’, how far is the most I should keep them apart?
FORCED POLINATION OF PAW-PAWS
Can I detach the flowers of one Paw-Paw and then bring it over to the (attached) flowers of another Paw-Paw and fertilize the flower which is not detached in this way?
Thanks,
Steve
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Is the 'Sunflower' Paw Paw self-fertile, and other q's.
I don't know the answer to #1, I think the answer to # 3 is yes. Regarding #2--I think I read somewhere you can even plant 2 varieties in the same hole! However, Neal Peterson's response to ideal spacing is 10' apart. Ann
RE: Is the 'Sunflower' Paw Paw self-fertile, and other q's.
I would suggest using a small, soft brush to transfer pollen from one flower to another. See the section of 'Pollination' in the article in the link below.
