paw paw trees
 

I have maybe fifty pawpaw trees growing around my house. I noticed the other day several golf ball-sized fruits. Do I pick them now and ripen them in a window? Or let them grow until fall and take a chance they'll be eaten by animals? I've never eaten (or until now even seen) a pawpaw. I think they stay green. How do I know if they're ripe?

I think I called them sugar pears growing up. Unless I have the wrong kind of tree, the fruit should grow pretty big, like the size of a pear, or larger, and the fruit should be really sweet and juicy.

Have patience, they will start to change color to brownish green when they are ripe, and it should be pretty obvious.

If you are afraid you are going to wait too long, go ahead and give one a try, if it is bland, it's not yet ripe.

Just don't eat the skin because it's a laxative, and watch out for the seeds.

Oh, they will get kindof soft too, pretty much like a pear.

Been years since I've eaten a paw paw. Kind of banana like, I think.

Forget the paw paws. Let them fall and provide food for the deer.