Therefore, plants should be planted in wind-protected areas of the landscape. Papaya is mainly propagated by seed, but tissue culture and rooted cuttings are practiced to a limited extent. The sex of the plant is determined by its parents. To propagate by seed, remove the seeds from a ripe fruit and place in a colander.
Press the seeds against the side of the colander to break the sarcotesta sac surrounding the seed this sac inhibits seed germination. Rinse seeds thoroughly and place on a paper towel to dry not in the sunlight.
Once seeds are dry they may be placed in a plastic bag and stored in the refrigerator for several years for later use.
In general, propagating and planting 2 to 3 plants is best to insure fruit production from at least 1 plant. This is because depending upon the source of seeds, they may produce female, bisexual, or male plants. Plant 2 to 4 seeds in each 1-gallon 3.
Water thoroughly, and place the containers in a warm sunny location. Germination may take 2 to 3 weeks. Once seedlings have emerged, select the most vigorous one and snip the others off at the soil line with clippers. Fertilize the seedlings with a dilute complete fertilizer solution every 10 to 14 days.
Once plants have reached 6 to 12 inches 15—30 cm tall, plant in a sunny location. Well-cared-for plants may begin to produce flowers 4 months after planting and fruit 7 to 11 months after plant- ing. The amount of fruit produced by a papaya plant varies with the general climate, weather conditions during the year, and plant care.
Yields vary from 60 to 80 lbs per tree over a month period. Papaya plants should be planted in full sun and at least 7 to 10 ft 2. In general, planting 2 to 3 papaya plants 7 to 12 ft 2. Papaya plants are not pruned because their main growing point is terminal, and branched trees may not produce as well. Selecting 1 or 2 of the most vigorous shoots and removing the others will facilitate growth and fruiting of the remaining shoots.
Tying these side shoots to a stake will reduce the chance they may break off due to a heavy fruit load or high winds. Removal of dead leaves is a good practice and results in less scarring of the fruit from the base of the leaf petiole.
It also reduces disease and insect problems. Papaya plants grow and fruit well in many well drained soil types. Plants will do well with care in sands, loams, and rocky soils with a pH of 4.
Properly planting a papaya tree is one of the most important steps in successfully establishing and growing a strong, productive tree. Some nurseries offer papaya plants and the first step is to choose a healthy nursery tree. Commonly, nursery papaya trees are grown in 1- to 3-gallon containers and trees stand 6 inches to 2 ft tall. Large trees in smaller containers should be avoided as the root system may be "root bound. Root bound root systems may not grow properly once planted in the ground.
Inspect the tree for insect pests and diseases and inspect the trunk of the tree for wounds and constrictions. Select a healthy tree and water it regularly in preparation for planting in the ground.
In general, papaya trees should be planted in full sun for best growth and fruit production. Select a part of the landscape away from other trees, buildings and structures, and power lines.
Select the warmest area of the landscape that does not flood or remain wet after typical summer rainfall. Many areas in Florida have sandy soil. Remove a 3- to 5-ft-diameter ring of grass sod 0. Dig a hole 3 to 4 times the diameter and 3 times as deep as the container the papaya tree came in.
Making a large hole loosens the soil next to the new tree, making it easy for the roots to expand into the adjacent soil. It is not necessary to apply fertilizer, topsoil, or compost to the hole. In fact, placing topsoil or compost in the hole first and then planting on top of it is not desirable. If you wish to add topsoil or compost to the native soil, mix it with the excavated soil in no more than a ratio.
Backfill the hole with some of the excavated soil. Remove the tree from the container and place it in the hole so that the top of the soil media from the container is level with or slightly above the surrounding soil level. Fill soil in around the tree roots and tamp slightly to remove air pockets. Immediately water the soil around the tree and tree roots.
Staking the tree with a wooden or bamboo stake is optional. However, do not use wire or nylon rope to tie the tree to the stake because they may eventually damage the tree trunk as it grows. Use a cotton or natural fiber string that will degrade slowly. Many areas in Miami-Dade County have a very shallow soil and several inches below the soil surface is a hard, calcare- ous bedrock. Make a hole 3 to 4 times the diameter and 3 times as deep as the container the tree came in.
To dig a hole, use a pick and digging bar to break up the rock or contract with a company that has augering equipment or a backhoe. Plant trees as described in the previous section. Many areas in Florida are within 7 ft 2. To improve plant survival in these areas, consider planting fruit trees on a 2- to 3-ft-high by 4- to ft-diameter mound of native soil 0.
After the mound is made, dig a hole 3 to 4 times the diameter and 3 times as deep as the container the papaya tree came in. Yellow papaya has a sweet, tropical-flavored when ripe. Yellow papaya trees seldom grow taller than 8 feet.
Red, Mexican, papaya has a red skin when ripe. Mexican papayas are pear to oval-shaped; they are much larger than Hawaiian papayas, up to 15 inches long, and they weigh as much as 10 pounds or more. The flesh of the Mexican papaya can be yellow, orange, or pink.
The red papaya is less sweet than the Hawaiian papaya. Mexican papayas commonly grow 10 to 12 feet tall; in tropical regions, they can grow to 30 feet tall.
A ripe papaya will be aromatic and give slightly to gentle pressure. The flesh of ripe papayas is juicy with a buttery consistency. Small black seeds about the size of caviar are clustered at the center of the flesh; the seeds are edible and have a peppery taste. The papaya tree has a few leafy branches arranged in a spiral at the top of a cylindrical trunk; the trunk is marked by leaf scars similar to the trunk of a palm tree. Papayas are often served chilled and cut in half and seeded.
The flesh can be scooped with a spoon. Skinned and sliced papaya can be added to a fruit salad or compote. Purred ripe papaya can be used in sherbets, ice cream, and beverages. Green unripe papaya can be made into pickles and chutneys. Do not disturb the roots. Place the tree in the centre of the hole. When you fill up the hole hold the tree so that its base is level with the surrounding ground. Raise the soil around the tree to dam the water rain or irrigation.
Do not plant the tree deeper than it was in the container. Do not cover the stem with soil because it will rot. Water Papayas need little water. They will, however, give more and bigger fruit if they are watered every 2 weeks in the dry season.
The flowers will drop if they do not get enough water. If they are planted in clay soils, make sure that the soil does not stay too wet. To avoid waterlogging in clay soil, make a ridge and plant the papayas on the ridge.
Fertilisation Compost or manure Give the tree: 1 bucketful in September, 1 bucketful in November another bucketful in January. Sprinkle a few handfuls of manure evenly around the tree each month from September to the end of March. NB: Do not apply chicken manure on trees younger than 2 years as it can burn the young papaya trees. Artificial fertiliser Give the trees 4 tablespoonfuls g of in September, November and January. Sprinkle evenly around the tree, not against the stem.
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