Richard

What experiences might you have growing papayas in subtropical climates (zone 9/10) ? Are there Carica cultivars with a reasonable taste that can be grown outdoors?

Thanks ...

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lorax

Personally I haven't done this (I live in the tropics), but I have a friend in Oslo who's growing the standard papaya's highland ancestor Vasconcellea cundinamarcensis (hardy to Z10) outdoors in pots. He overwinters them in his garage.

I have eaten V. cundinamarcensis fruits, and they're remarkably similar to "regular" Carica type papayas.

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john_ny

I saw some growing at Leu Botanical Gardens, in Orlando. Maybe Eric, who is connected to Leu, and posts here, can give us some details.

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John

Bamboo Conne'iseur

I personally grow several types here in 9b. I ran across a rare heirloom type from Asia that can handle temps down past 25F. It is called 'Sweet Sue' and is the largest growing papaya I have ever seen. It puts out large quantities of really sweet high quality fruits. It is very beautiful as well.

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Richard

Wow, that's one large Papaya plant! What are the names and characteristics of the other varieties you are growing?

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Bananaman88

I'm trying one for the first time this year. Right now it is in a pot and only about 12"-14" tall. I didn't have a good place to put it in the ground so I'll shift it up to a bigger pot as needed.

Bamboo Conne'iseur

I am growing a hawaiian solo sunrise, and another solo type, along with one called waimanalum x-77. The solos are famous for their sweet fruit without any of the musky smell of the mexican types. The solo especially is one of the best tasting ones. They are named solo because they produce both the male and female flowers on the plant(70% of the time), so there is no need for another plant in order to get fruit. The x-77 is a hybrid that puts out fruit very quickly; sometimes as little as nine months from seed. It gives out loads of medium size fruits which are very sweet as well. I believe it is a cross between a solo type, and another larger one that gives large fruits. I also have seeds for the Caribbean red, and a heirloom type from Costa Rica. The heirloom produces loads of really small extremely sweet fruits that sort of clusters around the trunk. I plan on getting some going this year, along with some C.R. So far all I have growing have taken the cold when the bananas would not, so they seem to really do well in my zone. Of course it does not really get too cold here...
Btw, my banana has really recovered from the hit it took this year. I have two fresh leaves that have grown out of the fried others, and I see another new one forming, so I am happy about that.

I have seeds for trade on all papayas except the X-77, and the C. Red.

Richard

Its now November in southern California and the Solo Papaya I planted several months ago has started to bloom! The plant is overall about 8 feet tall. In the photo, you are looking at the 5 foot level, with the trunk about 4 inches across.

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brettay

Nice looking plant with a really impressive cold tolerance. Is it also more resistant to the root issues other papayas can develop in wet cold weather. Where did you get it?

-Brett

bencelest

I have a problem growing papayas in my area due to cold weather. I tried it for several years without any success. Winter tempt always kill them and so the bugs.
So I am trying to grow babaco instead.

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bencelest

I will also be interested getting seeds from the above. I have 23 varieties of bananas I can trade with or cash?

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lt_eggbeater

I've planted about 15 mostly from 3 gallon pots. I killed 14 of them! The one survivor left is a solo I believe. I have almost killed that one about 5 times! It's been in the ground for a year and a half and is only about 8 feet tall. I am gong to try to find some of those sweet sues. It would appear they may be easier to grow. The 25F cold hardiness would really help as well as the root rot resitance.

bencelest

I tried to PM the source and also try to post my intentions in other forums but so far there are no answer to my query to get the sweet sue papaya.
I exhausted all the avenues I know to obtain one.

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Bamboo Conne'iseur

I could probably spare some seeds.
In answer to where I got them.. from a friend who grows many types of bamboo as well. His sweet sue papayas are impressive. This sweet sue was brought from Thailand to the Rio Grande area I believe.

lt_eggbeater

Yah I could not find any either, and I looked pretty extensively. I will pay whatever a source wanted (within reason) if there are some sweet sue seeds available. It gets a little cool in the winter for the ones I have been trying to grow here.