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View Full Version : Growing Papaya as Ornamental annual.


siege2050
01-13-2015, 03:54 PM
I recently sprouted some seeds from a Papaya I got from a local grocery store (Lucky to even find a Papaya here, had never tasted one before). I cannot remember the exact name of the company that was on the label that was stuck to the fruit, but I traced the name to a grower of Papaya called Tainung. I am just growing them for ornamentals so its not important really if they dont come true from seed. My question was what kind of growth can I expect in the first year by fall when grown from seed, and just out of curiosity how long does it take for papaya fruit to ripen if I am lucky enough to get some? I suspect the season will be too short, but our summers are hot (90's +) and humid, and I tend to fertilize the heck outta stuff. First frost is usually around Oct 20th, and my plants will be about 5 months old in May.:2738:

Tortuga
01-29-2015, 01:25 PM
here's a great link I've used for my own papaya research. This guy has great information on a lot of tropical fruits presented in a really easy to read and understand format. How To Grow Papaya: Growing Papaya From Seeds (http://www.tropicalpermaculture.com/growing-papaya.html)

If you're papaya is already 5 months old you will definitely be getting fruit this year, as long as it is a hermaphrodite or a female that gets fertilized. These things grow extremely fast and reproduce quickly. Papayas do very well with bananas; people will often plant them in a circle or semi-circle, alternating banana, papaya, banana, papaya. A great way to do this is to determine the radius you want your plants to be circled, then dig a hole about a foot to a foot and a half deep in the middle of the radius. Pile all of the dirt from the hole around it so that you get a nice ridge circling the hole. Plant the bananas and papayas on the outside of the ridge, and tarro on the inside of the ridge (not in the hole). Then throw all of your yard trimmings and vegetable kitchen waste into the hole. The hole will constantly be producing good soil and nutrients that the bananas, papayas and taro use to grow strong, and the broken down vegetation will act as a natural sponge to hold water, cutting down on your need to water them. If you want to get really fancy you can plant 2 mangos, an avocado and 2 rambutans 3 feet out from your banana circle, then cover the ground around and between them with white and crimson clover. You will be the envy of the state.

Probably more than you wanted to know, but maybe also something to inspire you!

Funkthulhu
05-07-2015, 10:54 AM
I'll bump this thread up.

I had a papaya sprout last year from store-bought fruit seed. Currently it is has been transplanted to a larger pot, has a half dozen small leaves or so, and stands about 6 inches tall and maybe as big around as a pencil.

I guess my question is, can I put this guy outside? How does direct sun affect these plants when they're young? Like Siege says, what can I expect for growth this summer? And finally, what temp should I bring them in this fall? (how cold hardy?)

Cheers!

Tortuga
05-07-2015, 11:24 AM
Check the link that I posted above your comment, here it is again: How To Grow Papaya: Growing Papaya From Seeds (http://www.tropicalpermaculture.com/growing-papaya.html)

That has a ton of great information on growing papayas in an easy to read format.

As long as you don't get frost you can leave your papaya out all year. I would recommend putting it in the ground so you don't have to worry about transplanting it. As long as you don't get frost it will grow and thrive. Maybe plant 2-3 more so it has a couple of friends.

gnappi
05-17-2015, 10:43 AM
I've grown only a half dozen or so papaya to maturity here in South Florida and don't have any experience with them as an annual, but the ones I planted did not fruit to maturity within the time frame you're dealing with, and we're pretty well suited to growing them here.

Remember papaya do not like wet feet. I never had one die on me in the high 40's so that's probably a good time to bring them in. Papaya slow or stop growing as the temperature drops. Best of luck, and keep us posted.

redswe
05-19-2015, 06:21 AM
Papayas have a large tap root and really dont do well in pots... also most store fruit are hybrids so planting seed is a crap shoot , buy quality seed if you want fruit you will want to eat. Red lady is an easy and hardy dwarf that I grow delicious fruit
In areas with frost you can start the seeds in pots 4 months before the first frost you will have a 3-4 ft plant if its hot enough , baby this thru the winter and plant in ground after the last frost ... this is your best chance to get fruit in areas that get frost

Hammocked Banana
05-20-2015, 05:32 PM
After your seedlings sprout and develop their first true leaves, transplant right to 20+ gal. The best time to do this is early summer. Young pspayas are extremely easy to kill by overwatering so the best time to do this is early summer while its hot and not as wet. These plants can grow an insane amount in just one hot humid summer. Expect a 3-5' tree at the end of the summer which is just entering is flowering stage. If you can manage to over winter these they will bloom early the second season for you and if your lucky you may get some ripe fruit before frost.

JP
05-20-2015, 06:20 PM
Easy to kill by overwatering indeed. I second that.