How to Grow Papaya from Seed
Growing Papaya is easy and rewarding, they are quick to fruit and they fruit all year round.
Growing papaya from seed is the easiest and most successful way to get started. You can grow papayas using seed from ripe papaya fruits. Papayas can grow everywhere in the tropics and subtropics country. It often grows wild, and every tropical food garden has several papaya trees.
Papaya plants sprout readily from seeds. To prepare seeds, scoop them from ripe papaya fruit and spread them out on a couple sheet of tissue or towel and leave them out to dry for about 3 to 4days. After that, roll the seeds around to remove the dried husks of the seed coverings, then store them in a cool, dry place. To sprout papaya seeds, place them in a pot or container with atleast 20inches wide and depth and keep it moist and warm. Seeds sprout quickly, and the plants will begin rapid growth. Papayas have less success rate when transplanted, that is why it’s much better to directly plant them in a big pot or container or much better in your garden soil.
Sunlight and Water
Water thoroughly and monitor the moisture levels by keeping the soil damp but not soggy. As it grows to increase the amount of water supply to the plants. Papayas love heat and sunlight, prefer full sun for better growth.
Fertilizer
Papayas needs a lot of fertilizers to ensure fast growth and development of the fruit. Apply fertilizers such as N-P-K (Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium) on plants in the ratio of 10-10-10 or 15-15-15 for root establishment. You can also add organic compost or chicken manure to the soil.
Harvest Time
Papayas are ready to harvest after six to nine months from seeds in the hot-temperate zone and 9-11 months time to harvest in moderate temperate zones. Harvest papayas only when fruit turns yellow.
lifespan of papaya tree
4 – 5 years. Some other varieties may live longer if not uprooted. But there may be chances of reducing fruit production after 4 years.
Note: If you have enough space in your garden, then Don’t start them in pots!
