Originally Posted by
Bulldogger
IIRC Pawpaws are found naturally as far north as Canada MaryB. They tend to grow in patches and prefer to be left alone in unmolested territory, so development and landscaping practices seem to discourage them.
They are cold hardy, and should you wish to try, they can be grown where you're at.
They look and taste tropical, and some believe they migrated North naturally over many many years, and developed tolerance on the way.
Since I'm from Indiana, it follows I prefer to call them by their common nickname "Hoosier Banana"
They don't ripen off the tree, they don't tolerate transport (more sensitive than peaches, perhaps since they have to be ripened on the tree), and so they are unknown by many.
They are YUMMY when you get a good one. I eat them skin and all (the seeds are nice and big for spitting at your siblings...).
Bulldogger