Papaya interplanting question??????

Darkman · 11-19-2011, 10:06 PM

I was thinking that Papayas grow pretty straight up without a lot of spreading. That being the case I think I could grow them in between my blueberry rows.

There is ten foot between rows and 6 foot between plants in the row.

Does any one think it would work?

Anyone see problems?

Richard · 11-19-2011, 10:19 PM

Papayas are often grown straight up commercially, but in the wild and in some plantations they are in a branching form. From a distance they appear to be a light-bark fig tree, but when you get close it can be a surprise. I prefer them in branching form because it is easier to harvest the fruit.

sunfish · 11-19-2011, 11:06 PM

Sure it would work

Darkman · 11-20-2011, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

Papayas are often grown straight up commercially, but in the wild and in some plantations they are in a branching form. From a distance they appear to be a light-bark fig tree, but when you get close it can be a surprise. I prefer them in branching form because it is easier to harvest the fruit.

Where I live they are an annual and I would be growing a low fruiting variety that fruits at four foot. They would be replaced every year. With that in mind do you see any issues.

oakshadows · 11-20-2011, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkman

Where I live they are an annual and I would be growing a low fruiting variety that fruits at four foot. They would be replaced every year. With that in mind do you see any issues.

Sounds like a good use of space. Although there is 5 acres here most is for the cattle and plants have to be out of their reach. Which variety of papaya are you growing? Where is a good place to get the seed? Thanks

sunfish · 11-20-2011, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oakshadows

Sounds like a good use of space. Although there is 5 acres here most is for the cattle and plants have to be out of their reach. Which variety of papaya are you growing? Where is a good place to get the seed? Thanks

Store bought fruit have viable seed and you get to eat the fruit

Richard · 11-20-2011, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkman

Where I live they are an annual and I would be growing a low fruiting variety that fruits at four foot. They would be replaced every year. With that in mind do you see any issues.

1. You'll need to locate a cultivar that consistently flowers in the spring and has fruit ripe by fall. Here in zone 10a, my papayas flower in the fall and the fruit is ripe the next summer.
2. You'll need to buy plants that are developed enough to produce fruit.
3. If you can accomplish #1 and #2, then hopefully the cost of the plants and the quality of the fruit will beat what you can buy in the store. That might be problematic in Florida.

oakshadows · 11-20-2011, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunfish

Store bought fruit have viable seed and you get to eat the fruit

It is easy to find the large one but the small papaya isn't around here. We are looking for seed and hope to find some soon so it might be possible to harvest late next summer.

thanks

Richard · 11-20-2011, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oakshadows

It is easy to find the large one but the small papaya isn't around here. We are looking for seed and hope to find some soon so it might be possible to harvest late next summer.

The smaller fruits come from standard size papaya trees, typically the "Solo" variety. If you are looking for a shorter-stature cultivar, check out "T.R. Hovey".

sunfish · 11-20-2011, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oakshadows

It is easy to find the large one but the small papaya isn't around here. We are looking for seed and hope to find some soon so it might be possible to harvest late next summer.

thanks

We have large and small here. I'm surprised you can't find them there since so many people grow them.I would think Farmers Markets would have them.But I could be wrong

sunfish · 11-20-2011, 11:23 AM

Papaya - Tropical Fruit Growers of South Florida - YouTube

Natureboy · 11-21-2011, 08:40 PM

I've grown "Red Lady" (which is what is shown in the video from S. Florida) with good success here in Central Florida. It is a semi-dwarf variety, but will still get overhead in one season. Because we usually get sub-freezing temps each winter, it is usually grown as a single season plant. The papaya will fruit over multiple seasons, but fruit quality will decline. Best success is growing in a greenhouse or getting a REALLY early start in the late winter so that you can start harvesting fruit in late summer/fall.

I've grown Red Lady from seed (from the store) and most of the plants are either female or bisexual, a few being male. Bisexual is obviously the best, because every flower develops a fruit and no male pollinator is needed. I was thinking about ordering some seed from this site, they have a lot of varieties: Papaya Seed Some varieties like Solo do not tend to do well in FL, but succumb to disease. Red Lady is disease resistant, tastes great, and is shorter, which proves to be a good combination.

Natureboy · 11-21-2011, 08:49 PM

Also just wanted to mention that I've noticed that papaya roots can spread laterally in great distances (10ft or more from center) in a single season. If you are growing them as an annual, it shouldn't be much of an issue, but something to keep in mind. The roots may interfere with your blueberries. Papayas do like to suck up alot of water!

Darkman · 11-21-2011, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Natureboy

I've grown "Red Lady" (which is what is shown in the video from S. Florida) with good success here in Central Florida. It is a semi-dwarf variety, but will still get overhead in one season. Because we usually get sub-freezing temps each winter, it is usually grown as a single season plant.

What month/date do you usually set them out and what month/date do you usually get the sub-freezing temperatures?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Natureboy

The papaya will fruit over multiple seasons, but fruit quality will decline. Best success is growing in a greenhouse or getting a REALLY early start in the late winter so that you can start harvesting fruit in late summer/fall.

How large are your plants you set out?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Natureboy

I've grown Red Lady from seed (from the store) and most of the plants are either female or bisexual, a few being male. Bisexual is obviously the best, because every flower develops a fruit and no male pollinator is needed. I was thinking about ordering some seed from this site, they have a lot of varieties: Papaya Seed Some varieties like Solo do not tend to do well in FL, but succumb to disease. Red Lady is disease resistant, tastes great, and is shorter, which proves to be a good combination.

I will see if I can find Red Lady here. Is it too late to find them in the stores? At what height does it start to set fruit?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Natureboy

Also just wanted to mention that I've noticed that papaya roots can spread laterally in great distances (10ft or more from center) in a single season. If you are growing them as an annual, it shouldn't be much of an issue, but something to keep in mind. The roots may interfere with your blueberries. Papayas do like to suck up alot of water!

I'll keep that in mind. The BB's root zone the way that I grow them is in the top three to five inches and normally is in the mulch and not in the soil. I provide irrigation so the water will not be a problem.

Thanks for the great information.

Natureboy · 11-22-2011, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkman

What month/date do you usually set them out and what month/date do you usually get the sub-freezing temperatures?
If you have them in pots, I would set them out whenever you believe the risk of freeze has past. In my area, that is usually mid-March.

How large are your plants you set out?
It doesn't really matter how large they are, but they are usually b/n 1-3ft. One thing I have learned, though. Papayas actually seem to grow better if you sow them directly in the ground. Volunteers that I get from my compost grow 2x faster than ones I have set in the ground from a pot. I think this has to do with the root system/tap root not being confined from the start. Papayas will grow for a while in pots, but they do not like it.

I will see if I can find Red Lady here. Is it too late to find them in the stores? At what height does it start to set fruit?
I just bought a Maradol (Red Lady) today from Publix @ $1.69lb for $5.50. We tend to get them from Brooks Tropicals who grow them in Belize. If you can't find any in the stores around you, let me know and I will send you some Red Lady seeds. They start to set fruit at around 3-4ft. As far as cost effectiveness of growing papayas: If you grow one plant and it yields 10 fruit in a season, that's $55 worth of fruit. Also, you can pick them when they are actually ripe, instead of early like the commercial growers!

I'll keep that in mind. The BB's root zone the way that I grow them is in the top three to five inches and normally is in the mulch and not in the soil. I provide irrigation so the water will not be a problem.

Thanks for the great information.

No problem, hope you have success with them!

Darkman · 11-23-2011, 07:46 PM

Thanks for the detailed answers. It is possible that with a little protection I could start mine in place. It would be easy to put up a small shelter on the few nights that it gets too cold and provide some supplemental heat. I guess I should ask what is too low for the seedlings. If I kept the low to 40 degrees would that be ok or would the low need to be higher. I was researching the Reds and read that they will not come true from seeds harvested off the plant but I know you have done this. Other than sex of the plant have seen many differences in the plants?

11-19-2011, 10:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
Darkman Dirt Master Darkman's Photo Gallery Location: Pensacola, FL South of I-10 Find me on the map! Zone: 8b/9a Name: Darkman Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,249 BananaBucks : 189,868 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 9,263 Times Was Thanked 1,582 Times in 702 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 243 Times	Papaya interplanting question?????? I was thinking that Papayas grow pretty straight up without a lot of spreading. That being the case I think I could grow them in between my blueberry rows. There is ten foot between rows and 6 foot between plants in the row. Does any one think it would work? Anyone see problems? __________________ Darkman in Pensacola AS ALWAYS IMHO AND YOUR MILEAGE MAY DIFFER!!!!!!!! Life - Some assembly required, As is no warranty, Batteries not included, Instructions shipped separately and are frequently wrong! Kentucky Bourbon - It may not solve the problem but it helps to make it tolerable! Statistics - Data that analyst twist to support the insane opinions of those that pay them.

11-19-2011, 10:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
Richard un-Retired Richard's Photo Gallery Location: Vista, CA Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 10b Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 9,674 BananaBucks : 378,543 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,636 Times Was Thanked 12,536 Times in 4,718 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,685 Times	Re: Papaya interplanting question?????? Papayas are often grown straight up commercially, but in the wild and in some plantations they are in a branching form. From a distance they appear to be a light-bark fig tree, but when you get close it can be a surprise. I prefer them in branching form because it is easier to harvest the fruit. __________________ Doodling along at tangentvectors.org

11-19-2011, 11:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
sunfish Banned sunfish's Photo Gallery Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Name: Tony Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 18,429 BananaBucks : 743,762 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,210 Times Was Thanked 20,590 Times in 7,760 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,716 Times	Re: Papaya interplanting question?????? Sure it would work

11-21-2011, 08:40 PM	#12 (permalink)
Natureboy Natureboy's Photo Gallery Location: Titusville, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 9B Name: Nate Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 91 BananaBucks : 41,329 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 124 Times Was Thanked 138 Times in 59 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 7 Times	Re: Papaya interplanting question?????? I've grown "Red Lady" (which is what is shown in the video from S. Florida) with good success here in Central Florida. It is a semi-dwarf variety, but will still get overhead in one season. Because we usually get sub-freezing temps each winter, it is usually grown as a single season plant. The papaya will fruit over multiple seasons, but fruit quality will decline. Best success is growing in a greenhouse or getting a REALLY early start in the late winter so that you can start harvesting fruit in late summer/fall. I've grown Red Lady from seed (from the store) and most of the plants are either female or bisexual, a few being male. Bisexual is obviously the best, because every flower develops a fruit and no male pollinator is needed. I was thinking about ordering some seed from this site, they have a lot of varieties: Papaya Seed Some varieties like Solo do not tend to do well in FL, but succumb to disease. Red Lady is disease resistant, tastes great, and is shorter, which proves to be a good combination. __________________ Praying hands: a good way to thank God and a darn good banana, too! Current varieties: Dwarf Namwah, FHIA-03 (Sweetheart), White Iholena, Maoli, Orinoco, Manzano (Apple), Praying Hands, Dwarf Brazilian, Pisang Raja, Rajapuri, Ice Cream (Blue Java), FHIA-01 (Goldfinger), Kandarian

11-21-2011, 08:49 PM	#13 (permalink)
Natureboy Natureboy's Photo Gallery Location: Titusville, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 9B Name: Nate Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 91 BananaBucks : 41,329 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 124 Times Was Thanked 138 Times in 59 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 7 Times	Re: Papaya interplanting question?????? Also just wanted to mention that I've noticed that papaya roots can spread laterally in great distances (10ft or more from center) in a single season. If you are growing them as an annual, it shouldn't be much of an issue, but something to keep in mind. The roots may interfere with your blueberries. Papayas do like to suck up alot of water! __________________ Praying hands: a good way to thank God and a darn good banana, too! Current varieties: Dwarf Namwah, FHIA-03 (Sweetheart), White Iholena, Maoli, Orinoco, Manzano (Apple), Praying Hands, Dwarf Brazilian, Pisang Raja, Rajapuri, Ice Cream (Blue Java), FHIA-01 (Goldfinger), Kandarian

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11-23-2011, 07:46 PM	#16 (permalink)
Darkman Dirt Master Darkman's Photo Gallery Location: Pensacola, FL South of I-10 Find me on the map! Zone: 8b/9a Name: Darkman Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,249 BananaBucks : 189,868 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 9,263 Times Was Thanked 1,582 Times in 702 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 243 Times	Re: Papaya interplanting question?????? Thanks for the detailed answers. It is possible that with a little protection I could start mine in place. It would be easy to put up a small shelter on the few nights that it gets too cold and provide some supplemental heat. I guess I should ask what is too low for the seedlings. If I kept the low to 40 degrees would that be ok or would the low need to be higher. I was researching the Reds and read that they will not come true from seeds harvested off the plant but I know you have done this. Other than sex of the plant have seen many differences in the plants? __________________ Darkman in Pensacola AS ALWAYS IMHO AND YOUR MILEAGE MAY DIFFER!!!!!!!! Life - Some assembly required, As is no warranty, Batteries not included, Instructions shipped separately and are frequently wrong! Kentucky Bourbon - It may not solve the problem but it helps to make it tolerable! Statistics - Data that analyst twist to support the insane opinions of those that pay them.

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