How to grow papaya tree at home

How to grow papaya tree at home (Fruit, Climate, Seeds, Planting, Care, Harvest)
@PlantFarmEat

Grow Papaya
Giant plant to 33 ft (10 m) tall; generally short-lived although may live up to 20 years; initially single but may form secondary shoots with age. Papaya plants have no secondary growth. There are 3 basic tree types, male plants, female plants, and hermaphroditic plants. Papaya plants may be self-pollinating or cross pollinated by insects and wind.

Fruit
Papaya fruit is a berry with a thin, smooth peel and thick, fleshy pulp surrounding an open cavity containing many small seeds. Fruit may be globose, ovoid, obovoid, and pyriform, 2 inch to 18 inches (7–35 cm) long, and ½ to 22 lbs (0.250–10 kg) in weight.

Climate
Any climatic factor such as cool or cold temperatures, lack of water (drought), high constant winds, or shade will reduce papaya growth and production. Papaya plants grow and fruit best in areas where temperatures remain warm to hot (70°F–90°F; 21–32°C). Root growth is best if soil temperatures remain above 60°F (15.5°C) and slows or declines below that temperature. Papaya plants are not tolerant of freezing temperatures and are damaged or killed below 31°F (-0.6°C).

Seeds
Papaya is mainly propagated by seed, but tissue culture and rooted cuttings are practiced to a limited extent. To propagate by seed, remove the seeds from a ripe fruit and place in a colander. Press the seeds against the side of the colander to break the sac surrounding the seed. Rinse seeds thoroughly and place on a paper towel to dry.

Planting
Papaya plants grow and fruit well in many well drained soil types. Plants will do well with care in sands, loams, and rocky soils with a pH of 4.5 to 8.0. In general, propagating and planting 2 to 3 plants is best to insure fruit production from at least 1 plant. Plant 2 to 4 seeds in each 1-gallon (3.8-liter) container in a clean, sterile artificial media. Water thoroughly, and place the containers in a warm sunny location. Germination may take 2 to 3 weeks. Once seedlings have emerged, select the most vigorous one and snip the others off at the soil line with clippers. Fertilize the seedlings with a dilute complete fertilizer solution every 10 to 14 days.

Crops
Well cared plants may begin to produce flowers 4 months after planting and fruit 7 to 11 months after planting. The amount of fruit produced by a papaya plant varies with the general climate, weather conditions during the year, and plant care. Yields vary from 60 to 80 lbs per tree over a 12-month period.

Spacing
Papaya plants should be planted in full sun and at least 7 to 10 ft (2.1–3.1 m) away from other plants, buildings, and power lines. In general, planting 2 to 3 papaya plants 7 to 12 ft (2.1–3.7 m) away from each other will insure that at least one will be fruitful, and it will also facilitate fertilizing and watering.

Pruning
Papaya plants are not pruned because their main growing point is terminal, and branched trees may not produce as well. However, as papaya plants mature and/or if they are exposed to environmental conditions that inhibit growth or if the main growing point is damage or killed, side shoots may grow.

Fertilizer
Frequent applications of small amounts of fertilizer are best for continuous papaya growth and fruit production. Young plants should be fertilzed every 14 days with 1/4 lb of a complete fertilizer with the amounts increasing as trees become larger. Complete fertilizers include nitrogen (N), phosphate (P2O5), potash (K2O), and a source of magnesium (Mg).

Watering
Watering is essential for best papaya plant growth and fruit production. Papaya plants that lack water (drought stress) may drop flowers, leaves, and young fruit and produce small fruit of low sugar content. Plants growing in sandy or rocky soils that are well drained and do not hold much water should be watered every other day or every day during hot, dry conditions and less often during cool parts of the year (late fall, winter).

Mulch
Mulching papaya trees in the home landscape helps retain soil moisture, reduces weed problems adjacent to the tree trunk, and improves the soil near the surface. Mulch with a 2- to 6-inch (5- to 15-cm) layer of bark, wood chips, or similar mulch material. Keep mulch 8–12 inches (20–30 cm) from the trunk.

Harvest & Storage
Papaya fruit may be harvested green for use as a vegetable and ripe when full yellow to orange color develops on the peel. Generally, fruit may be picked when yellow color covers 1/3rd of the surface peel, however, greater color development of the fruit while on the tree increases fruit sugar content.

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