Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) SUN-GLO

Pawpaw 'Sun-Glo'

'Sun-Glo' is an important historical (heritage) variety that emerged from prestigious American university research. It is a "reliable classic" that immediately attracts attention in the orchard with its radiant, sun-kissed appearance.

Pawpaw 'Sun-Glo'

It combines aesthetic beauty, large fruits, and exceptionally high yield. Thanks to its visual appeal and classic sweet taste, it is an excellent choice for local markets and home growers looking for a quality late variety.

Main advantages of the variety:

• High and reliable yield (up to 75 fruits per tree).
• Large fruits (up to 300 g).
• Visually very attractive (radiant yellow skin and flesh).
• Clear visual maturity indicator (color change to yellow facilitates harvesting).
• Excellent, velvety texture and classic sweet taste.
• High frost resistance and adaptability.

Origin and Breeding

• Origin: USA (Michigan).
• Breeding: The variety was selected as part of the historical breeding program of Tollgate Gardens and Michigan State University (MI-TG).
• Availability: Currently widely available only through specialized nurseries in North America and Europe as a reliable grafted variety.

Detailed variety description: Tree and Pollination

• Vigor: Vital and strong.
• Habit: Forms a medium-sized tree that is easy to maintain and suitable for both home and commercial plantings.
• Pollination: The variety is cross-pollinated. For consistent and maximum fruit set, planting with other mid- to late-blooming varieties is recommended to ensure cross-pollination.

Fruits

• Size and weight: Medium. In Kentucky State University (KSU) state tests, fruits reached an average weight of approximately 155 g. Maximum weight up to 300 g under optimal conditions.
• Color and skin (Visual maturity indicator): The skin is smooth. During ripening, it undergoes a significant color change – turning into a radiant, deep yellow (sun-kissed). This color shift is a reliable visual signal of full maturity.
• Flesh: Deep yellow. The texture is velvety, which is typical for high-quality Michigan selections.
• Taste: Classic, sweet, and rich.
• Market value: Thanks to its size and attractive yellow coloration, it is highly prized for its commercial "appeal" and reliable market attractiveness.

Cultivation properties and characteristics

• Phenology:
  • Ripening: Late variety. In Kentucky, it ripens in mid-September; in northern Michigan (and similarly in Central Europe), usually not until the first week of October.
  • Yield: Highly productive. In KSU tests, it proved to be a heavy-yielding variety with an average yield of up to 75 fruits per mature tree.
• Resistance and requirements:
  • Frost resistance: Fully frost-hardy in USDA zones 5-8. Thanks to its professional breeding background, it is excellently adapted to handling typical temperature fluctuations and moisture of the temperate climate.
  • Location (Important for northern areas): Since it is a late variety, growers in regions with shorter summers must ensure that the tree is planted in the warmest and sunniest spot in the garden. Only this guarantees that the fruits will have time to fully ripen within the October window.

Drawbacks of the variety:

• Late ripening (in cooler regions with short summers, there is a risk that fruits will not ripen before frosts; requires the warmest location).
• Cross-pollination (strictly requires planting with another pawpaw variety to ensure a crop).