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?

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.

Re: Papaya interplanting question??????
 

Sure it would work

Re: Papaya interplanting question??????
 

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.

Re: Papaya interplanting question??????
 

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

Re: Papaya interplanting question??????
 

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

Re: Papaya interplanting question??????
 

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.

Re: Papaya interplanting question??????
 

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

Re: Papaya interplanting question??????
 

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".

Re: Papaya interplanting question??????
 

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

Re: Papaya interplanting question??????
 

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.

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!

Re: Papaya interplanting question??????
 

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

How large are your plants you set out?

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'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.

Re: Papaya interplanting question??????
 

No problem, hope you have success with them!

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?