Product Review

Carica papaya Family: Acanthaceae (acanthus family) Common Names: papaya, papaw, fruta bomba, lechosa R Culture Grow papaya in fertile, well-drained soil. This is one of the easiest of tropical fruits to grow. Papayas usually have male and female flowers on separate plants and you can't determine the sex until they flower, usually about 6 months after germination. Male flowers are thin and borne on short stalks; female flowers are wide and borne directly on the trunk. Light: Papayas need full sun and warmth. Grown in partial shade, they produce fruit that is not very sweet. Moisture: The tropical papaya needs at least 4 in (10.2 cm) of rain per month for optimal fruit production. They like plenty of water when it's warm and less when it's cooler. Hardiness: USDA Zones 10 - 11. Papaya does not tolerate frost or even periods of near freezing temperatures. Propagation: Papayas are usually propagated from seed which takes 3-5 weeks to germinate. Plant at least four or five seeds to be sure you get female and male plants. Description The papaya plant has an erect branchless trunk 6-20 ft (1.8-6.1 m) tall, and a palmlike head of foliage at the top. The trunk remains somewhat succulent and soft wooded, and never develops true bark. The leaves are deeply incised and lobed, up to 24 in (61 cm) across and borne on 24 in (61 cm) petioles. The smooth-skinned fruits are green, yellow, orange or rose colored, and can weigh as much as 20 pounds (9.1 kg), but typically are about a pound (0.5 kg). They hang on short stalks in clusters directly from the trunk beneath the umbrella of giant leaves. Papayas flower and fruit simultaneously throughout the year.