Pawpaw tree growing in Sandown

Peter Garrun has been growing a sub-tropical pepino tree in a small garden at his complex. He said he planted the seeds three years ago and only one plant continued growing while the others died. “It just kept growing and growing like the tree in Jack and the Bean Stalk,” he said. The tree has already produced 30 pawpaws. “I really did not think anything would come of it. I did not even do anything special so that it would grow like this,” added Garrun. The general manager of Sun Garden, Barry Gush said, “It’s not common for a pepino tree to grow in these parts. It is more of a sub-tropical plant and it needs specific weather conditions to actually grow and produce pawpaws. But there is no reason for it not to grow if it is well taken care of.” Garrun has been sharing the pawpaws with his friends and family. “I give them away to people because they are just too many to eat all by myself so I share them.”