Two Boots Farm

4226 Maple Grove Rd. Hampstead USA

(443) 507-8428

A family run farm and floral design studio in Hampstead, Maryland. We grow a wide variety of cut flowers and produce. We also have over 100 cultivated pawpaw fruit trees. We use ecologically sustainable practices so that future generations can continue to grow in healthy soil.

It's Pawpaw Time!

September 08, 2023  /  Elisa Lane

Greetings, farm friends!

Dave, harvesting and sorting pawpaws.

That’s right, y’all. Pawpaws are BACK.

For the uninitiated, I like to describe pawpaws as having flavor that’s like a cross between a mango and a banana, with a custardy texture. Pawpaws are native to North America, with a range from southern Louisiana all the way up to Ontario. The trees are beautiful, with a slender trunk and long, large leaves. The trees are pollinated by flies and beetles, and are the host plant to the beautiful zebra swallowtail butterfly. The flavor of pawpaws can be polarizing, but we find that many of our customers return year after year to get their hands on this ephemeral treat!

During pawpaw season, we harvest the fruits daily because they ripen so rapidly on the tree. To harvest, we touch every pawpaw we can reach to check for softness. If the fruit has a bit of give, it’s ready to harvest. We harvest into crates lined with bubble wrap, as they bruise extremely easily. Once they’re all harvested and we get them back to the barn, we have to make sure that everything is weighed and sorted by ripeness.

Here’s a video we made to help you learn all about pawpaws!

As usual, we’ll be in the D.C. area for farmer’s market pawpaw popups during September, and we’ll have them at the JFX market weekly as long as we’re still harvesting. We’re expecting a smaller crop that usual this year; as I’ve mentioned in past newsletters we had a massive storm in August that knocked down a lot of fruit, and the dry season has also contributed to a smaller harvest.

One of the year’s first pawpaws.

We’re making so many gorgeous bouquets these days.

We’re back at the JFX Market this Sunday, September 9th.

This week’s market availability will feature bouquets, bunches of dahlias, eucalyptus, celosia, millet, sunflowers, snapdragons, and of course, our build your own bouquet bar. And PAWPAWS!

This year’s pawpaw popup dates:

Sunday, September 17th, Takoma Park Farmers Market

Sunday, September 24th, Dupont Circle Farmers Market

Thanks for reading, and enjoy these waning summer days!

Amelia & The Two Boots crew

Crew meetings always seem to feature cats these days.

The van was JAM PACKED with florist orders this week. Thanks to all of our florists!!

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