Depends in part on your tastes. I'd go with one of the Peterson types. Susquehanna has a fairly strong flavor, large but not highly productive; Shenandoah is mild and most banana-like; Rappahannok is light and more fruity. I don't know about the other three. Mango is also light and fruity. I'm not so found of Sunflower and Overleese is like Shenandoah but more seedy. The seedling paw paws are cheaper but a gamble regarding quality.

AJD1221 wrote:

Allegheny and Shenandoah are two varieties I have my eye on - never
actually tried the fruit but sounds like each is what I'm looking for.

Thanks—it sounds like you may be planting a tree this spring just like me. :)

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swvirginiadave wrote:

Depends in part on your tastes. I'd go with one of the Peterson types.
Susquehanna has a fairly strong flavor, large but not highly
productive; Shenandoah is mild and most banana-like; Rappahannok is
light and more fruity. I don't know about the other three. Mango is
also light and fruity. I'm not so found of Sunflower and Overleese is
like Shenandoah but more seedy. The seedling paw paws are cheaper but a
gamble regarding quality.

OK, thanks for all the helpful information. Since I already have a seedling, it seems best to go with one of the varieties you mentioned.

I pretty much agree with everyone else. All 6 of Petersons varieties are high quality but allegheny, shenandoah, wabash, and rappahannock are the most productive. Wabash and shenandoah are the largest fruited compared to allegheny and rappahannock - if size matters to you.

My sunflower has the largest fruit by far of the varieties I grow. Not the best tasting though with some bitter aftertaste very noticeable to me. Flavorwise, I like Wabash the best probably, and also like Shenandoah, Allegheny and Mango. Prolific has been the most prolific - who'd think?

I also notice a bitter aftertaste with "most" but not all sunflower fruit - even from the same cluster 1 fruit will have it and another will not and it does not matter if it is a wet or dry season. It is the same every year since about 1999. The ones that have no bitter aftertaste are exceptionally good having very dense texture and great flavor. As you say sunflower is very productive with very large fruit and is the latest ripening for me. When all others are gone I will still have some sunflower fruits. I have noticed that it seems in some years the bitterness is more common than in others. If it were not for this issue sunflower would be at the top of my list for a commercial variety.

I pretty much agree with everyone else. All 6 of Petersons varieties are
high quality but allegheny, shenandoah, wabash, and rappahannock are
the most productive. Wabash and shenandoah are the largest fruited
compared to allegheny and rappahannock - if size matters to you.

OK, thanks for the info, shane11.

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My sunflower has the largest fruit by far of the varieties I grow. Not
the best tasting though with some bitter aftertaste very noticeable to
me. Flavorwise, I like Wabash the best probably, and also like
Shenandoah, Allegheny and Mango. Prolific has been the most prolific -
who'd think?

Sunflower sounds interesting, but I think I'll go for flavor more. Thanks for the recommendations, creekweb.

Use the search feature in this forum there is quite a large thread about paw paws with lots of opinions. Many of the well spoken about varieties have already been mentioned in this one.

OK, thanks for the info, melikeeatplants.