Yes, I'm this time growing some Papaya trees too! I basically bought the fruit from the shop, eat it up, but saved and also dried the seeds in the sun. I planted 15 (as I only had 15 free pots). And so far about 5 have sprouted! Not exactly sure how many will turn out to be males and how many will be females - But I think I'll be getting a good crop either way (since I planted so many) Papaya seeds ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Papaya seedling about to pop out! ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Papaya seedling just came out ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Papaya seeding standing tall! ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden )
Oh how I wish our climate was suitable to grow things like papaya. I hope you'll keep posting updates of how your seedlings are growing and that they, in time, will give you a good crop.
Never having seen a Papaya tree, your seedlings will be interesting to watch. Garden experiments are always fun. Good luck with the trees. Jerry
Yes Eileen I will keep on posting pictures of how these trees will take shape. They are by the way extremely fast growing - Reaching a height of almost 12 feet within the first year. And some even grow as tall as 30 feet (provided they get lots of water). And Jerry, I am somewhat surprised that you haven't seen a Papaya tree before? Well, I have been growing them since I was 3 years old! See this picture of me clinging to a papaya tree (taken in 1979)! Me ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden )
Since I'm in zone 6a and Papaya trees grow in zone 9,10 and 11, I only get to see Papaya fruit in the grocery store. 12 to 30 feet a year you could almost see it grow!! Nice that you have pictures going that far back, good memories. Jerry
Oh no, in order to grow 30 feet plus - The tree needs to be at least 3 to 4 years old. And usually it's the male tree which reaches that size. Because female trees often topple over in the breeze, as they are top heavy due to all the fruit which is hanging on them. But yes, if the female tree hasn't got a male tree nearby to fertilize her flowers - Than it too will reach that size eventually. These trees usually grow straight up, with hardly any branches. However if a female tree becomes too tall, than it is often cut at about waist height - And so from that level it starts to sprout again. It by the way is desirable to have a single tall male tree, with a few female trees around it (within a radius of 5 feet). That way the pollen from the male tree's flowers can easily reach the female trees. If you have bees, than you can have female trees at an even greater distance! However there is also a 3rd type of papaya tree too, one that has both male and female parts in it's flowers. This type is somewhat rare, (one out of maybe a 100 seeds perhaps) but that type does not require any help when it comes to giving fruit. And this type also sometimes branches out too (unlike regular male and female papaya trees).
S-H... I'm sure looking forward to seeing the progress of your Papayas. I, too, have never seen them growing.
Well, so far, I've got 8 papaya tree seedlings doing very well! I think they will be about 3 times their current size in a matter of a week! So far there are 8 Papaya tree seedlings growing ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden )
OK, did I or didn't I say that they will be 3 times their size in a matter of a week! 8 Papaya seedings, doing well! ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Papaya seedling. ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden )
That's right Jerry! However we won't know what sex each plant is, until they reach about shoulder height and start flowering. But considering the speed at which they are growing - That won't be too long!
OK, this is the latest! Papaya trees ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Papaya tree ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden )
Looks to be about an inch a week. At that rate, shoulder height one year? Unless as the root system gets larger the growth rate increases. Still a large growth rate. Jerry
That's correct Jerry, as the root system gets larger, the rate of growth also increases - So they will reach a height of about 10 to 12 feet within the first year.
The growth rate can not be linear. I wonder if at some point you can see it grow. 12 foot stepladder anyone? Jerry
