Q&A for How to Grow Papaya

In hot regions, 6-9 months, and they're ready to harvest. In more temperate areas, 9-11 months, and they're ready to harvest.

A medium size plant can be successfully transplanted. If it is too large, then maybe cut it and plant. Papaya plant will grow even if it is cut from the top.

Yes and no. You can have one, but it will eventually grow too big to keep inside.

It's best to let nature take it course. To achieve ultimate plant growth, be sure to fertilize regularly and use generous amounts of compost.

You kept the papaya in a warm place - not in the refrigerator - and you waited too long to open it.

In the case of papaya, within 1 and a half years, you would be able to get the fruit of it. Instead if you plant a newly germinated one which has reached up to 30cm, you might get the fruit in 5-6 months.

No. Papayas can sometimes self-pollinate and be pollinated by wind, but in order for papaya fruit to develop, pollen must be transferred from the staminate (male) flowers to the pistillate (female) flowers. You may need to identify your papaya's sex as some papayas are bi-sexual, meaning that they self-pollinate. The fruit (pawpaw) may produce 1,000 or more seeds, which means that well over 1,000 pollen grains must be deposited on the stigma while it is receptive.

Yes, I have trees at double that height, and they still fruit -- though the fruit is just average-tasting.

It could be a male tree or a female tree with no male pollinator nearby.

Put two long poles into a canvas bag. Use the protruding part of the poles as extended arms and the outstretched bag to catch the falling fruit. It takes practice.

With a burlap-covered frame. To add extra warmth, place an incandescent lamp inside the frame or string Christmas lights in the branches (not cool LED lights - these do not provide sufficient warmth for the plant).

To grow good papayas, you need a frost-free climate, lots of sunlight and water, and very good soil. If you live in a colder region, you may have difficulty providing this, but it is still possible to grow them indoors in pots.

Choose a large 15- to 20-gallon container for growing papaya in pots. Additionally, ensure there are enough drainage holes in the bottom before planting. A pot that is around 18-22 inches in diameter and 12-15 inches deep is usually sufficient.

Papayas don't tend to do well with transplants, because it disturbs their root systems. Some oft-cited anecdotal advice to improve success with transplants includes waiting until a rainy day to perform the transplant and being as careful as possible to not disturb the root system, but even taking these measures, the plants are still incredibly susceptible to transplant shock.

It will take around 7-12 days. Yes you need to wash the seeds and remove the soft jelly sac around the seeds for faster germination.

The size of papaya fruits depends on the variety. But if it is too small, you may need to fertilize the soil with 14-14-14 (N-P-K). It must be in full sunlight to encourage photosynthesis on the leaves and create bigger fruits.

It is falling probably because it lacks nutrients from the soil and fertilizer is necessary. In my experience, I reduce the leaves if they are too thick as well, as this can help put energy toward the fruit instead of the leaves.

There is no specific month to germinate papaya seeds. They can germinate any time of the year as long as they are not exposed outside where there is heavy rainfall because water can rot papaya seedlings. During summer, water papaya trees twice a week.

No. If you cut down a papaya, a new tree will grow from the stump. Papaya trees should be cut after their prime growing years so that the best fruiting tree will grow.

You could. But you need a big greenhouse to allow for its height and width. You'll also need to trim the plant regularly, so it doesn't grow too big for the space it's in.

In hot regions, 6-9 months, and they're ready to harvest. In more temperate areas, 9-11 months, and they're ready to harvest.

Wait until it has 3-4 true leaves, and is at least 2 feet tall. Follow the directions in the article to replant it when it is ready.

If you mean you don't want the fruit but want the plant, then you can keep the male plants that do not produce fruit. If you mean you don't want the bother of planting it from a seed, buy a papaya plant or put a papaya in a warm spot for it to self germinate.