Organic Papaya Farming | Aplus Farms
Papayas or pawpaws, as we call them, deserve a place in the garden, as much for their large tropical-looking leaves as for their sweet, exotically flavoured fruit. This easy-to-grow tree will reward with highly nutritious fruit for your sweet and savoury dishes.
They originate from southern Mexico and Central America, so they flourish in tropical and subtropical areas and produce a bumper crop of fruit that can be appreciated fresh or used to bring a tropical flavour to everything from fresh summer salads to smoothies. You can even use the unripe green fruit in Asian-inspired salads, stir-fries and curries.
Papaya trees can be male, female or bisexual. Males don't bear fruit, female trees need a male to produce a good crop, and bisexual trees are mostly self-pollinating, so always check the label to see if you need a compatible planting partner.
Papaya trees are fast-growing trees that can produce a bountiful crop for up to six years. Look out for named varieties like 'Sri Lankan Red'. which adds a vibrant splash of colour to a tropical fruit salad. The big, elongated fruit weighs up to 1kg and has wonderfully sweet orange-red flesh.
'Sunrise Solo' is tops in the popularity stakes and for good reason. This bisexual variety boasts a bountiful crop of small pear-shaped fruit with delicious pink flesh and a sweet musk flavour.
Papaya 'Southern Red' is another bisexual choice that produces heavy crops of elongated fruit with juicy, sugary sweet orange-red flesh. It grows to 2-5m tall. You could also look for Dwarf Papaya 'Southern Red'. which produces delicious pawpaws within easy picking reach and fruits at a young age.
Also keep an eye out for Dwarf Papaya 'Torpedo', a self-pollinating type known for its firm, sweet, torpedo-shaped pawpaws. This treasured heirloom variety can begin to yield when the tree is just over a metre tall, and produces a reliable crop of tasty pink-fleshed fruit up to 55cm long.
Growing
Grow papaya in a warm, sunny spot, with protection from frost. They perform best in soil that's rich in organic matter, so dig in plenty of compost before planting. Good drainage is also vital to prevent root rot. They like a pH around 6.0-6.5, so if your soil is too acidic dig some lime through it.
Papaya are mainly pollinated by bees, so allow space between trees at planting time to let friendly pollinators roam freely. Airflow between trees is also important for reducing the risk of fungal attack.
Harvesting, Storage
Papaya need a long, warm summer to fully ripen. Ripe fruit will begin to feel softer and give off a wonderful fruity aroma. In the tropics, you could be eating ripe pawpaws for breakfast throughout the year. In subtropical areas they generally stop fruiting through winter.
Scientific
- Common name: Papaya, pawpaw
- Botanical name: Carica papaya
- Family: Caricaceae
- Aspect and soli: Sun; well-drained soil
- Best climate: Warm temperate to tropical
- Habit: Small tree
- Propagation: Sucker, cutting, seed
- Difficulty: Medium
Gardening Tips and Tricks :
One male papaya tree can fertilise seven females or more (lucky bloke).