🥭 PA-Golden 3 - Widely Regarded as the "Gold Standard" of the Pennsylvania Series for Northern Growers

Variety Description

Summary

PA-Golden 3 is the undisputed "heavyweight" of the Pennsylvania Golden series. While its siblings are often valued for their cold hardiness alone, PA-Golden 3 is sought after for its exceptional flavor profile, which rivals much later-season hybrids. It manages to combine the high-volume productivity characteristic of northern selections with a sophisticated, juice-rich tropical flavor that is often described as a blend of honeyed melon and ripe banana.

Foundations and Provenance

This selection was developed by John Gordon, who sifted through the massive, wild-collected genetic legacies of mid-century botanists George Slate and George Zimmerman. PA-Golden 3 was isolated as the specimen that exhibited the best balance of fruit size, pulp color, and disease resistance. Primarily grown in the cool-summer regions of Ontario, New York, and Pennsylvania, it has proven itself as a reliable anchor for any northern pawpaw project.

Fruit Specifications: Sensory Experience

Physical Attributes: The fruit is noticeably larger and more symmetrical than PA-Golden 1 or 2. Palette: Unlike the "utility" taste of many early varieties, PA-Golden 3 offers a complex, juicy experience. The golden pulp is lush and melting, with high sugar concentrations that feel refined rather than overpowering. Nutrients: Its deep golden hue suggests a higher concentration of beta-carotene and other antioxidants compared to pale-fleshed wildings.

Orchard Productivity

Yield Metrics: It is a "productive workhorse." Once established (typically 5-6 years), it bears a consistent, heavy crop regardless of minor fluctuations in summer heat accumulation. This reliability is vital for the hobbyist grower who cannot afford the "off-years" common in some complex hybrids. Seasonality: Its early September ripening window ensures that any investment in the tree is realized before the first hard freezes of autumn.

Management and Considerations

Logistics: Like all members of the series, PA-Golden 3 is a soft-fleshed fruit. It is not designed for industrial processing or long-distance shipping. It is the perfect "front-yard" tree—meant to be picked and shared immediately with neighbors and family. Pollination: Requires a genetically distinct second variety (such as Overleese or another PA-Golden number) to ensure consistent fruit set.

Resilience

Demonstrates elite performance in Zone 5. It manages the wide temperature swings of the Great Lakes and Northeast regions with ease, rarely showing signs of winter-kill or bark split.

Conclusion

PA-Golden 3 represents the pinnacle of the "Pennsylvania" breeding line. It is the variety for the grower who refuses to sacrifice flavor for hardiness. If you can only plant one early-season variety, PA-Golden 3 is the logical choice.