Description
Jerry Lehman grew out more than five hundred pawpaw seedlings on his farm at Terre Haute and put his name to only a handful of them. 275-56 is one, a cross of Prolific and Sam Norris-15, and growers know it as Benny’s Favorite.
The fruit is medium, around 6 to 8 oz, and what it is grown for is the eating: sweet, smooth and creamy, the custard texture that makes people plant a pawpaw in the first place. It comes in mid to late in the season, and the tree stays at 15 to 20 ft and takes pruning well, so the crop can be kept within reach.
Overview
- Excellent sweet flavor with smooth, creamy flesh.
- Medium fruit, about 6 to 8 oz.
- A Jerry Lehman cross of Prolific and Sam Norris-15.
- Mid to late season on a 15 to 20 ft tree.
Growing Details
Latin Name: Asimina triloba ‘275-56’
Site and Soil: 1/2 day to full day of sun; well-drained soil with steady moisture
Hardiness: Hardy to USDA Zone 5
Rootstock: Grafted onto pawpaw seedling rootstock
Bearing Age: 3 to 5 years after planting
Size at Maturity: 15 to 20 ft tall and wide, manageable with light pruning
Ripening Time: Mid to late season; September into October
Pollination: Needs a second, genetically distinct pawpaw within about 30 ft
Pests & Diseases: Few problems; deer and most insects leave the foliage alone
Additional Notes
- Grower’s Insight: Head the tree at 8 to 10 ft while it is young. A pawpaw left alone puts its best fruit where you cannot reach it.
- Regional Insight: Pawpaw wants warm summers to finish its fruit, and young trees do best with some shade for their first two years before they take full sun.
- Explore more pawpaw trees in our collection: Pawpaw Trees
