It is believed that the papaya got its name from Arawakan language spoken by Central American Arawak peoples who called it “the tree of health.” It belongs to Caricaceae family and originated in Mexico; today, papayas can be found throughout subtropical and tropical areas like Australia, India, Central and South America as well as Africa.
Papayas are evergreen, semi-woody trees that can reach heights of 3-4 meters in a pot. In their natural environment, however, they may grow taller. The palm-like trunk of a papaya has hollow inside or is covered with soft tissue with some branches; unlike most trees it has less density overall. Furthermore, papaya tree exhibit abundant milky sap throughout their length as well as an unusually shallow root system.
The papaya’s long, stalked leaves form a tree’s crown as they continue to descend further down the trunk. As these leaves fade away and leave scars behind, new leaves emerge that resemble spread hands. At their largest size, papaya leaves can grow up to centimeter in length with deeply lobed edges.
Papaya flowers come in an array of shapes and colors, depending on their species of origin. Popular species like Carica papaya have tiny white flowers which resemble propellers. You can grow these plants from leaf scars left by dead leaves; both the flower as well as fruits can be found on one plant simultaneously! Papayas are dioecious plants – producing only female or male flowers; successful fertilization requires two papayas of opposite genders. After 10 to 14 months from flowering, you should see your first flowers appearing and shortly after that the tree begins bearing fruit!
Papaya fruit are oval in shape with yellow-green skins and can weigh anywhere from 500g to 5kg depending on variety. As the line between vegetables and fruits can be somewhat blurry, unripe papayas can be cooked similarly to vegetables while fully mature fruit has an incredible sweet flavor that sets it apart. When young, papayas look white inside but mature into reddish-orange when fully mature; additionally, their cavity contains small black seeds about the size of peppercorns that are rarely consumed.
Papaya production from seeds
Papayas are native to tropical environments and could only thrive in the UK if planted indoors in a greenhouse or conservatory, or on your terrace/balcony during summer. For optimal germination of papaya seeds, place them in an outdoor grow pot and then move them to a warm, consistent location such as a window or greenhouse. At this stage in their lifecycle, papayas need full sun with temperatures at or above 60degF (15degC). At 15 centimeters in height, papaya needs full sun. In summer months it is recommended to have the plant outdoors in a sunny and windproofed location as papaya thrives under direct sunlight. Unfortunately, windy conditions, heavy rain and cold temperatures can harm its fruit; during the winter months you should keep your papaya plants indoors in warm, protected locations.
Instructions for Planting Papaya Seeds
Sowing papaya seeds is easy! Simply follow these steps.
Making Papaya Seeds: Slice an unripe papaya fruit in half and use a spoon to extract its seeds. Rinse these in water before discarding any pulp that remains. Use a kitchen towel to rub away the gelluss layer surrounding each seed as this contains substances which hinder germination. Once dry and ready for planting, store these in an airtight container at temperatures below 15 degrees Celsius.
Preparing the Grow Pots
Begin by filling several pots with suitable growing media. Seed one seed per pot and cover it with 0.5 centimeters of soil. You can moisten the soil using a spray bottle, then cover the pots with transparent covering to provide a humid environment. Be sure to air-condition these containers afterwards.
Germination Period: Keep the substrate damp but not wet, and expose the seeds to air regularly. Optimal temperatures for germination are 25-30 degrees Celsius. After about two weeks of growth, first fine-looking shoots will emerge. Papaya seeds prefer bright but not too sunny spots; use a spray bottle to keep them moistened during this period.
Repotting: Once the first papaya leaves are visible, it’s time to pot them up with regular nutrient-rich potting soil. Choose a pot that will accommodate their growth for at least one year. When repotting younger plants with delicate roots, be extra gentle when doing so.
How to Maintain Papaya Trees
Take good care of your papaya trees!
Maintaining papaya plants is essential to their flourishing year round, whether in your conservatory or backyard.
Fertilisation and Watering
Papaya plants require frequent watering to maintain soil moisture. Be mindful not to overwater; watering less frequently during wintertime. Maintain a humidity level of 60% all the time for optimal results.
Before planting your papaya seedlings, it is not necessary to fertilize for the first two weeks after germination as their roots already provide enough energy. After two weeks have passed, however, a quarter dose of fertilizer should be applied at least once every fortnight; during these early years just a quarter dose is usually enough. Liquid fertilizer provides an adequate level of nitrogen that can easily be applied through watering containers; however be mindful that insufficient nitrogen could result in lower fruit production.
Repotting
Potting papayas for repotting is an integral part of their annual care. Select the correct size pot so the roots have enough room to expand, and do not harm the root ball when doing so. Plant it exactly where it was previously planted with a humus-rich, rich in nutrients partially sandy and well drained potting soil to prevent water accumulation.
Pests and Diseases
Papaya plants can be damaged by diseases like powdery mildew. This fungal illness is easily identified by its gray or white spores which appear fluffy. Furthermore, Tetranychidae mites (spider mites) may injure your plant’s health.
Does Papaya Fruit Resistant to Rot?
Papayas are not hardy plants, so make sure your plant has a secure, warm winter spot before temperatures outside drop. Optimal temperature for wintering is 11 degrees Celsius, meaning the area should be warmer than this number. Bright lighting is also key – try placing it in either your conservatory or under a skylight; alternatively, consider using strong plant lamps instead of natural sunlight in less natural places like south-facing windows.
Are you able to grow papayas at home and harvest them yourself?
Yes, but the first flowers usually appear 10-14 months after sowing. Flowering depends on having a protected place with ample sunshine and warmth, ample fertilizer, as well as appropriate methods for wintering. Once these have bloomed and been fertilised, you won’t need to wait long to harvest your juicy and sweet papaya fruit.