Babaco paw paw � the champagne fruit.

11 months ago 52

Babaco This is a cold tolerant paw paw that can be grown in a frost free position in southern Australia. The Babaco is self pollinating, and can be grown in a pot, preferring well drained soil. Find a sheltered...

Babaco
This is a cold tolerant paw paw that can be grown in a frost free position in southern Australia.

The Babaco is self pollinating, and can be grown in a pot, preferring well drained soil.

Find a sheltered spot from wind, frost and hot summer sun an east facing wall is ideal.
These plants are herbaceous and need water during the warmer months but ease back in
winter as soil moisture is generally adequate and the plants are not actively growing.

Plant tree and prune at 40cm to produce two to three trunks for stability then at xx cm
prune again and allow three branches to form giving a total of six to nine branches.
When plant is two metres tall encourage two new branches to grow from base as
replacement trunks.
The trees get heavy so if you can support it with strong wooden stakes or better still two
star pickets that allowed the branches to be supported.In summer when flowers appear use hose in morning to spray up into flowers assist
pollination and fruit set.

In dry hot weather mist the tree in the morning to avoid the leaves burning and young fruits
shedding.
In winter if you see major leaf drop do not worry as the fruits will generally hang on and
continue to develop in spring when the new foliage appears.
You only need to be concerned if you are in an area with heavy frosts and a cover of xxx
netting and xxx frost block cloth is all that is needed.
Fruit ripens from around late October to January in Melbourne and can be picked when half
yellow and brought inside to avoid falling and damage.

They will fill your house with the tropical smells of papaya, passionfruit and pineapple as
they ripen.
To eat pick a fully yellow fruit place in fridge to chill and slice into wedges and remove skin if
you wish.