How to Grow Papaya Trees©

Should you live in a sub-tropical climate or a zone where your temperature stays above 32F then you may want to consider planting a few papaya trees.

Besides being an exotic tree the fruit is really good for you. Papaya contains papain which is a powerful and remarkable protein dissolving enzyme that is an exceptional aid to digestion and eases many stomach ailments.

This fruit is rich in minerals and vitamins A,C and E plus the fruit breaks down carbohydrates and wheat gluten. For those with Celiac disease this is a great fruit to eat.

Papaya does the entire above plus it stimulates digestive acids and the production of bile thus leading to a healthier liver and pancreas. Consumption of papaya fruit has been helpful for acute prostrate inflammation and kills parasite by digesting them and expels worms by purgative actions.

When I lived in Australia the common name for this fruit was Mamao. This tree and its fruit are also known as Papaya, Paw Paw or Papaw. Those in Brazil call it Tree Melon.

Papayas make excellent container plants if you have the room for them. They are great additions for greenhouses or heated conservatories.

This fruit tree is really a fast growing, large herb that will grow to about twelve feet high. It can be short lived if hit by the briefest blast of cold weather. It grows straight and will only branch out when injured. It usually is about a foot in diameter at the base and will go straight up to about two or three inches in diameter.

If you plant them remember they like to be warm not only in sunshine but also in reflected heat and putting them against the house will make them happy. Make sure they are out of the wind. Plant them in mounds or against the foundation of a building where you can control the water.

They only like well-drained light soil. Too much water will kill them. The soil needs some moisture during hot weather and its needs to be dry in cold weather.

You do not need to prune papaya, but some growers will pinch them back to ensure multiple trunks.

If you do get a freeze you will need to cover them up with a plastic cover so a frame might be a good thing to build around it and you could put an electric light bulb in there until the freeze is over.

The Hawaiian Papaya trees produce sweeter papaya than the Mexican types. Also you can start your papaya from seeds by doing the following:

Remove the seeds from a Papaya and wash off the gelatinous covering.

Dry the seeds and dust them with a fungicide and plant them as quickly as possible.

Plant seeds in warm sterile potting mix that is about 80 F. You can sterilize you potting soil by mixing it with 50% vermiculite and placing it in your oven for one hour at 200 F.

The seeds should germinate in about two weeks but some take three to five weeks. One can add Gibberellic acid to speed up germination. The seedlings will usually flower within nine to twelve months after germination.

You can harvest your Papaya when most of the skin is yellow-green. Allow them to ripen at room temperature for several days until they are almost fully yellow and will seem slightly soft to the touch. Now you can store them at 45 F for up to three weeks.

You can slice and eat them as fruit or cook to make chutney or serve in salads or with all other kinds of food. Since every part of the Papaya tree and fruit contains latex, do not eat any green papaya raw. In some areas green papayas are boiled and eaten as a vegetable.

"Tread the Earth Lightly" and in the meantime May your day be filled with Peace, Light and Love,



Author's note: This article was originally written for GreenThumbArticles.com