Papaya is a perennial plant that grows in tropical and subtropical climates with no chance of frost or freezing temperatures.Most species have attractive yellow, orange, or cream-colored flowers and can grow as tall as 30 feet (9m).The plant's fruits can be pear-like or round and are known for their sweet, yellow or orange flesh.For the best chance at healthy plants and a high quality fruit crop, learn how to grow papaya.
Step 1: Papayas can thrive in your climate.
Papayas thrive in USDA zones 9-11, which correspond to minimum winter temperatures of 19F to 40oF.They prefer climates that are warm throughout most of the year.Papaya trees don't do well in wet soil.If your climate is rainy, you can plant them on a mound of well draining soil.
Step 2: Prepare the soil.
You can make your own mix out of garden soil or 25– 50% compost.The exact soil texture doesn't matter if the soil drains well.Papaya can grow in sandy or rocky soils.If you want to test the soil's pH, choose a soil with a pH between 4.5 and 8.It is likely that any soil that successfully grows other plants in your garden has the correct pH for papaya.Use sterile potting mix if you want more seeds to grow.You can make your own by mixing vermiculite and potting mix and baking it in the oven for one hour.
Step 3: Prepare the seeds.
You can remove the seeds from the center of a papaya fruit or buy them from a garden center or nursery.If you want to break the seeds themselves, press them against the side of the colander.Dry in a dark location on a paper towel.
Step 4: Plant seeds.
You can either plant seeds directly in your garden or plant them in pots to have more control over the plant arrangement once you see which ones are growing.The seeds should be put into the soil about 1/2 inch under the surface and 2 inches apart from each other.You can increase the odds of both male and female plants growing if you plant as many seeds as you have room for.There is no way to tell if a plant is male or female before planting.
Step 5: The soil should be watered moderately.
Water thoroughly after planting, but not to the point where standing water forms on the soil.The soil will be slightly damp, but not soggy, if you monitor the weather over the next few weeks.
Step 6: Determine which trees to keep.
After about two to five weeks after planting, some of the seeds will start to grow.Pull out or cut the smallest seedlings after giving them a week or two to grow.If you have more than one plant in a pot, you should cut it in half or the seedlings should be at least three feet apart.If you keep at least five plants, you can get both male and female trees.If you choose your most successful plants, you should move on to the section on planting or general care.
Step 7: Excess male plants should be removed when plants are flowering.
Wait until the plants are about 3 feet tall to see what sex each plant is, if you still have more plants than you want to end up with.Plants with long, thin stalks should flower first.There are larger flowers near the trunk.Only one male plant for every ten to fifteen females is needed to produce fruit.Papaya plants produce both male and female flowers.Plants can pollinate themselves.
Step 8: If necessary, build a dirt mound.
If there are floods or heavy rains in your area, build a mound of soil.There is a high of 0.6–0.9 m and a low of 1.2– 3.0 m.The diameter is 1.2–3 m.The chance of injury or death will be reduced by keeping water out of the papaya's roots.To learn about soil preparation, read the instructions below.
Step 9: Don't dig a hole.
In the plant's intended permanent location, make the hole three times as deep and wide as the planting pot or root ball.10 to 20 feet from buildings or other plants is a sunny location.Make a hole for each plant.
Step 10: The compost should be mixed into the soil that has been displaced.
Unless your garden soil is already rich in nutrients, replace some of the soil in the hole or mound with compost and mix thoroughly.This can burn roots, so do not mix with it.
Step 11: It's possible to apply a fungicide.
Papaya trees can die from disease.To reduce this risk, apply a gardening fungicide to the soil.
Step 12: Carefully add the plant.
If you want to add the altered soil back into the hole or pile it in a mound, make sure the remaining depth is equal to the depth of the potting soil or root ball.Remove the papaya plants from their containers, one at a time, and plant each in its own hole at the same depth as it sat in the container.They should be handled carefully to avoid breaking the roots.
Step 13: Water and backfill the soil.
The hole should be filled with the same soil.If the soil isn't filling the spaces between the roots, it's time to pack.The soil surrounding the root ball needs to be thoroughly moistened.
Step 14: It's a good idea to apply thefertilizer once every two weeks.
If you want to grow plants, apply thefertilizer every 10 days.Don't use a specialized one.Continue until the plants are about 30 cm tall.Commercial growers continue to fertilize the plant after it reaches this size.The completefertilizer is not touching the base of the plant.If you want to speed up the plant's growth, increase the amount offertilizer and length of time between applications until the papayas receive no more than 2 lbs.Every two months starting at seven months old.
Step 15: Plants are established regularly.
Papayas can be damaged by standing pools of water, but may not produce large fruit without regular water access.Water should not be used more than once every three or four days.During hot weather, increase this to once every two days in sandy or rocky soils.Allow a few more days between waterings.
Step 16: If it's necessary, apply bark mulch or wood chips.
If the plant looks withered from failure to retain water, apply pine bark, another bark mulch, or wood chips around the base.There is 2 inches of mulch around the papaya, no closer than 20 cm to the trunk.
Step 17: Bark and inspect the leaves for signs of disease.
There are spots on the leaves or bark.If the disease is severe, black spots on the leaf may be treated with a fungicide.There are curling leaves that may be a sign of picking up a weed killer.Other problems, including insects or full plant collapse, may require consulting an expert gardener or local agricultural department.
Step 18: When the fruit is ripe you want to harvest it.
Many people prefer fully ripe, yellow or orange fruits for their sweet taste, even though green fruits may be eaten as a vegetable.You can harvest after the fruit is mostly yellow-green if you want them to finish ripening indoors.