Grow papaya at home? Obviously! You can make it and get its delicious fruits to accompany your breakfasts by simply going out on the patio or in the garden.
This is why papaya or Load papaya it is a small tree that grows fast. Also, in 1 year no more. Although it requires a temperate or warm climate, being native to Central America it is relatively easy to grow 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 it is also possible to make it bear fruit in less than a year. It is enough that you follow the steps that we will advise you, which also include the right time to plant. Here we are!
1. Sow in early spring
To grow papaya at home and reap its fruits in less than a year, you need to observe the season in which you are going to sow. Preferably, it should be done in early spring, particularly between March and April in the northern hemisphere. This is because it is the warmest season of the year.
If there are no seasons in your country, be guided by the months mentioned. Keep in mind that exposure to cold temperatures (below 15 degrees Celsius) is deadly to the papaya tree.
In case of survival, the fruits may have internal damage. quite the opposite, papaya needs good exposure to sunlight develop properly.
2. Choose how to plant the tree
The papaya tree is small. Therefore, you can sow it in the garden or in pots.
You decide, based on the available space. Of course, if you opt for the vase, you’ll find smaller fruits.
Plant the papaya in a pot
- Take papaya seeds. You can get them at a specialty store or get them from a papaya you’ve already consumed. Keep in mind that there are male seeds and female seeds, which need each other for a tree to germinate and bear fruit. There are others who are hermaphrodites and with them we go to the fixed at the time of sowing.
- Disinfect them. They may be predisposed to mushrooms. It is best to disinfect them with a little white vinegar or a fungicide that you have purchased.
- Let the seeds dry for 24 hours. You do this by placing the seeds in a dry place and pressing them gently with a piece of dish towel to absorb their moisture and break their sack, making germination easier.
- 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, earthworm humus and perlite.
- Sow your seeds. Take them and put them in the vase where you have already prepared the substrate. They must be 1 cm deep, keeping a distance of 5 cm from each other.
- water constantly, but without leaving the substrate waterlogged. Also, you should place the pot in a space where it gets good sunlight. Rotate the pot occasionally to balance out the sunbath.
- Choose the best seedlings. You will notice that many seeds germinate and some do not. Also, some seedlings will be stronger than others.
- Put the winner in a separate dish. You will need to transplant it for it to develop properly. You can put it in a bigger pot or move it to the garden if you like.
- fertilize two weeks after the transplant and that’s it.
Cultivation of papaya in the soil
- Purchase the seeds. Disinfect them and leave them as explained above.
- fertilize the soil with organic matter, such as compost or vermicompost.
- Plant your seeds leaving a meter of space between them. In this way the transplant is saved and it is easier to eliminate the seedlings that will not reach the end.
- Follow the other recommendations. Water consistently and add some fertilized soil when the plant is medium sized.
3. Inspect your papaya trees continuously
Your papayas may be affected by pests, diseases and insects that could harm them. To act before a serious problem occurs, it is advisable to constantly check the leaves and stems.
Consider the following as a warning sign:
- Dried and yellow leaves: symptom of disease.
- Black spots on leaves: it could be an infection, for which you will need a fungicide.
- Curly leaves: herbicide damage.
4. Harvest your papayas
Once you’ve grown your own papaya it’s time to reap the rewards. You can lower the papayas when they reach the degree of ripeness that you think is suitable to make your gastronomic recipes. The greens serve as an extra vegetable and are ripe for eating them this way or in different dishes.
It’s also a good idea to harvest papayas while they’re still green to allow them to ripen indoors. This reduces the external dangers that spoil the fruit.
It’s so easy 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 which, from now on, will require minimal care, but it is necessary to move forward.
Remember that consuming papaya has outstanding health benefits. For example, Scientific articles have highlighted the papaya (fruit, seeds, leaves and roots) for his antibiotic and digestive propertiesMoreover.
Now you can have all of this planted in your garden. Of course, you must take into account that papaya trees have a short life, no more than five years.
The post See how to grow papaya at home and harvest in less than 1 year first appeared in research-school.