Growing papaya at home is easier than you might think. We tell you what the step by step is!
Grow papaya at home? Of course! You can achieve it and obtain its delicious fruits to accompany your breakfasts just by going out to the patio or garden.
This is because the papaya or Upload papaya it is a small tree that grows fast. Even in 1 year nothing more. Although it requires a temperate or warm climate, being native to Central America it is relatively easy to grow it and we will tell you how to do it.
The step by step to grow papaya at home
Growing papaya at home is possible and getting it to bear fruit in less than a year is also possible. It is enough that you follow the steps that we are going to recommend, which include even the proper planting time. Here we go!
1. Sowing at the beginning of spring
To grow papaya at home and harvest its fruits in less than a year, you have to observe the season in which you are going to sow. Preferably, it should be done at the beginning of spring, specifically between March and April in the northern hemisphere. This is because it is the most temperate season of the year.
If there are no seasons in your country, be guided by the months mentioned. Keep in mind that exposure to low temperatures (below 15 degrees Celsius) are deadly for the papaya tree.
In the case of surviving, the fruits could show internal damage. quite the opposite, papaya needs good exposure to sunlight to develop properly.
2. Choose how you are going to plant the tree
The papaya tree is small. Therefore, you can sow it in the garden or in a pot.
You decide, according to the available space. Of course, if you opt for the pot, you will find smaller fruits.
Next, we tell you the steps to follow in each case.
Plant papaya in a pot
- Get the papaya seeds. You can do it in a specialized store or take them from a papaya that you have already consumed. Keep in mind that there are male and female seeds, which need each other to germinate a tree that bears fruit. There are others that are hermaphrodites and with them you go to the fixed at the time of planting.
- Disinfect them. They may be predisposed to fungus. It is best to disinfect them with a little white vinegar or a fungicide that you have bought.
- Let the seeds dry for 24 hours. You do this by placing the seeds in a dry place and gently pressing them with a piece of kitchen towel to absorb their moisture and break their sack, facilitating germination.
- Prepare the substrate. It should promote good drainage and be rich in nutrients and organic matter. The best thing will be to prepare one with peat, coconut fiber, worm humus and perlite.
- Sow your seeds. Take them and put them in the pot where you have already prepared the substrate. They must be 1 centimeter deep, keeping a distance of 5 centimeters between each one.
- water constantly, but without leaving the substrate waterlogged. In addition, you should put the pot in a space where it receives good sunlight. Rotate the pot from time to time to balance the sunbath.
- Choose the best seedlings. You will notice that many seeds germinate and others do not. Also, some seedlings will be stronger than others.
- Place the winner in a separate pot. You will have to transplant it for it to develop properly. You can put it in a larger pot or move it to the garden if you wish.
- Fertilize two weeks after the transplant and that’s it.
Papaya cultivation in soil
- Acquire the seeds. Disinfect them and leave them as explained above.
- fertilize the soil with organic matter, such as compost or worm castings.
- Plant your seeds leaving a meter of space between each one. This way you save the transplant and it is easier to eliminate the seedlings that will not reach the end.
- Follow the other recommendations. Water constantly and add some fertilized soil when the plant is at medium size.
3. Continuously inspect your papaya trees
Your papayas could be affected by pests, diseases and insects that could harm them. In order to act before a severe problem occurs, it is recommended to constantly check the leaves and stems.
Consider the following as warning signs:
- Dry and yellow leaves: disease symptom.
- Black spots on the leaves: it could be an infection, for which you will require a fungicide.
- Curly leaves: herbicide damage.
4. Harvest your papayas
After cultivating your papaya it is time to harvest the fruits. You can lower the papayas when they reach the degree of ripeness that you consider suitable to carry out your gastronomic recipes. Greens serve as one more vegetable and ripe to eat them like this or in different dishes.
It is also a good idea to harvest the papayas while they are still green to allow them to ripen indoors. This reduces external hazards that spoil the fruit.
That’s how easy it is to grow papaya at home!
Growing papaya at home is easier than you might think. Having the right climate is a great advantage for this crop that, from now on, will require minimal care, but it is necessary to get ahead.
Remember that papaya consumption has outstanding health benefits. For example, scientific articles have highlighted papaya (fruit, seeds, leaves, and roots) for its antibiotic and digestive properties, among others.
Now you can have all this planted in your garden. Of course, you have to take into account that papaya trees have a short life, no more than five years.
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