PawPaws & Puffballs

[El Cazador]

The old-timers called them "Indiana Bananas" or "Hoosier Bananas" here and in Kentucky where I spent my youth. There was a small thriving market for them some years back, but while many of the older folks remember them, few younger people do. My wife's grandfather gathered them every year and sold them at farmer's markets, along with his vegetables.

I have heard of a few people who were allergic to pawpaw fruit, so if you run across some and have never eaten one, take it home with you before you bite into it. Just in case you're one of the unlucky few.

 

[Jack Ryan]

I think I've seen the small unripe ones; never the large ripe ones.

I have two creeks and a first-growth woods.

Whenabouts do they ripen?

Thanks again,

Josh <><

When they start falling on the ground they are ripe. Everything in the forrest eats them and persimmons. They are both ripe about the same time.

 

[greg]

last years find

 

[Wabatuckian]

So are they tough to find? Do they like low lying areas along creeks, or relatively dry conditions?

Thanks,

Josh <><

 

[DHolder]

The ones I've seen are in low areas, under the canopy of hardwoods. I know when they are ripe, the air around the tree smells like bannanas. There is 1 tree in the woods I hunt, my folks have 4 or 5. The tree dosent get real big, about the size of a dwarf apple.

 

[haldir]

May try to put one in the orchard.
Pawpaw - Gurney's Seed & Nursery

 

[Jerry C]

I have a lot of the trees on my farm but only a few of the trees will have fruit. I checked some of the trees last week and there isn't near as many fruit this year a last year. I got 20 off one tree last year and it only has 4 this year.
Btw, the leaves make a good substitute for Charmin when you're squirrel hunting and forget to bring some from home.

 

[skier11]

They taste like bananas to me. Not a lot of trees around.
Tell me about the puff balls? I thought those were poison. You can eat them? What do they taste like?

 

[Clay]

All I know is you have to get the puff balls before they dry out on the inside. Slice em up and fry em.

 

[printcraft]

All I know is you have to get the puff balls before they dry out on the inside. Slice em up and fry em.

Yep, a little cornmeal and bacon grease - yes, I said bacon.

Usually they are about the size of large grapefruit, gramps got
one the size of a soccer ball once up around Mississinewa reservoir.

Dried out and step on them to release the spores.

 

[Hornzilla]

PawPaw pie, with a little icecream. And a good western.