For the first two years, growth is slow as the root system establishes itself, but thereafter it accelerates. Trees normally begin to bear fruit when the saplings reach 6 feet, which usually requires five to eight years. The only method that does not produce good results is T-budding. Softwood and hardwood cuttings have proved virtually impossible to root. Although it is common for a pawpaw to sucker from the roots, propagating a clone by transplanting root suckers is often not successful.
Pawpaws are ordinarily quite difficult to transplant.
They have fleshy, brittle roots with very few fine hairs. Experimentation has shown that, to be successful, transplantation should be done in the spring at the time that new growth commences, or soon after. If many roots are lost, it may be desirable to prune the top to bring it into balance with the remaining roots. Grafted trees may bear fruit in as few as 3 years. Purchasing trees Pawpaw trees available from nurseries are generally either seedlings or grafted named cultivars.