Papayas are not only delicious fruits with an exotic origin, but as plants they also have some botanical peculiarities. The interesting plants can be grown from the seeds in commercially available fruits.
How do I grow papaya plants from seeds?
To grow papaya plants from seeds, you need nutrient-poor substrate, a bright location and temperatures above 10 degrees Celsius. Papayas grown in pots can bear fruit just one year after sowing.
What are the special properties of the papaya plants?
Papayas are part of the melon family and, as plants, grow relatively quickly. Although they form a mostly unbranched and hollow trunk, they are not considered a tree, nor a shrub. Papayas cannot be clearly classified as fruit or vegetables, as they can be used when unripe for savory salads and when fully ripe for fresh consumption and sweet desserts. There are different varieties of papaya, some of which are self-pollinating while others are dioecious.
What should the location for a papaya be like?
Papayas are mainly grown in tropical and subtropical countries with a warm climate all year round, for example in:
- China
- Thailand
- Iran
- Australia
Therefore, in this country the plants can only be cultivated as houseplants or as pot plants. In summer, the papaya should definitely be positioned in a location with full sun, but should also be kept sufficiently moist. In winter, papaya plants should not be exposed to temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius, but they do need a bright place to overwinter.
What growing substrate is needed for papayas?
For growing in pots, the papaya seeds must first be cleaned of any pulp that adheres to them so that they do not become moldy during the germination phase. They should ideally be sown in a nutrient-poor substrate such as coconut material (€17.00 on Amazon) or peat so that the young plants can have he althy root growth. During the germination phase, which lasts about two weeks, the growing substrate should be kept constantly moist, but not too wet.
Can you grow papayas from seeds and plant them in pots?
The germination of papayas is usually relatively easy, but the young plants are often a bit sensitive when pricking out and planting in pots. Therefore, either several young plants must be grown at once, or the seeds must be sown individually in medium-sized pots for the plants' first year of life.
How can papayas be propagated?
The papaya plant generally grows relatively light and therefore does not require pruning like other fruit trees. Growing cuttings is therefore not common practice, but it would hardly be worthwhile for other reasons. Since the papaya is one of the very fast-growing plants, growing it from seeds is practical and uncomplicated.
When can the first home-grown papayas be harvested?
As a rule, most papaya varieties bloom about a year after sowing. Under the right conditions, the first fruits can be harvested after this time. One of the special features of papaya is that ripe fruits and flowers can be present on the stem of a plant at the same time.
Tips & Tricks
Due to the papaya's growth height of up to four meters or more, it is not advisable to grow the papaya tree as a pure houseplant. However, the plant sometimes finds optimal conditions for year-round accommodation in a winter garden.
