Key Points
- Provenance: Selected by John Gordon in Amherst, NY, from the legacy seed collection of George Slate and George Zimmerman.
- Fruit Architecture: Produces small-to-medium fruits (69–146 g) with a classic yellow-gold skin and melting golden custard pulp.
- Production: Characterized by high, reliable yields; a vigorous and early-bearing tree suitable for varied soils.
- Seasonality: An "early-header" variety; matures in early September, providing a vital first-harvest for northern orchards.
- Resilience: Highly adapted to the harsh winters of USDA Zones 5–8; demonstrates excellent structural integrity under snow and wind.
- Handling: Possesses the typical delicate pawpaw structure; best for immediate home processing or local farmer's markets.
- Commercial Status: One of the most frequently available entries in the Pennsylvania series; often sold as a general-purpose cultivar.
Variety Description
Summary
PA-Golden 4 represents the dependable "workhorse" of the early-season pawpaw harvest. While it produces slightly smaller fruit than its sibling PA-Golden 3, it compensates with an incredibly robust survival instinct and a predictable ripening window. It is the variety for the grower who wants guaranteed results—a tree that fills its branches with sweet, golden fruit year after year, even in the cooler microclimates of the Great Lakes and the Northeast.
Foundations and Provenance
Isolated by John Gordon in his Amherst trials, PA-Golden 4 was selected for its elite adaptation to short growing seasons. Like the rest of the Pennsylvania series, it sifts the genetics of George Slate into a stable, cold-hardy package. It is widely distributed across the northern tier of North America and has become a staple variety in nurseries that specialize in edible landscaping.
Fruit Specifications: Simple and Sweet
Physical Attributes: The fruit is numerous and manageable, typically falling in the 70g to 150g range. Taste: It is a straightforward, pleasant tropical experience. Lacking the heavy musky notes of some wild selections, it offers a clean, sweet banana flavor with a hint of honeyed melon. Texture: The pulp is high in carotenoids (as indicated by its golden color) and possesses a smooth, custard-like consistency that is ideal for desserts and purees.
Orchard Productivity
Efficiency: This is a high-volume variety. It is not uncommon for a mature tree to be virtually covered in clusters of 3-5 fruits. Maturity timing: Ripening in early September is its tactical advantage. By finishing its cycle early, it avoids the fruit-drop and rot issues that can plague later varieties during rainy autumns.
Management and Uses
Logistics: Primarily a "local" fruit. Its thin skin and soft flesh mean it should be handled with care. It is a fantastic variety for drying, baking, or immediate freezing, as its high sugar content preserves well. Pollination: Matures early, making it an excellent pollination partner for other early and mid-season cultivars.
Resilience
Exhibits elite cold hardiness. It has survived temperatures well below -25°F in northern trials without significant damage to the apical buds. It is the variety of choice for Zone 5 growers who require a "bulletproof" entry for their pawpaw collection.
Conclusion
PA-Golden 4 is the logical choice for the beginner grower or the commercial orchardist looking for early-season volume. It provides the security of a guaranteed harvest, setting a high bar for sweetness and productivity before the main season even begins.
Breed Performance Summary
| Indicator | Cultivar Metric |
|---|---|
| Heritage Line | Gordon/Slate/Zimmerman Selection |
| Average Fruit Mass | Small-Medium (≈69–146 g) |
| Yield Density | Superior (Consistently High) |
| Flavor Profile | Clean Tropical / Sweet Honey |
| Maturity Timing | Early (Early September) |
| Cold Limit | USDA Zone 5 (Elite Survival) |
| Primary Utility | Home Harvest / Reliable Crop Insurance |