How to Grow Papaya From Seed
If you’ve ever wondered how to grow papaya from seed, there are some key factors that you should keep in mind. The first is the type of papaya tree you want to grow. There are two types: male and female. The male papaya plant will have multiple blooms in one round, while the female tree will have only a single bloom.
The seeds for papaya plants should be kept in a refrigerator or a cool place for about 60 to 100 days before you plant them. After that, they can be planted in the ground or deep container. You should also keep the soil in a temperature of 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
After the seedlings germinate, you should soak them for at least 30 minutes in potassium nitrate (a common fertilizer found in most garden centers). This will decrease the germination time of the seeds and increase their percentage of surviving. Soak the seeds in this solution for at least 30 minutes before you sow them. If you don’t have access to a hot water container, you can also soak the seeds in distilled water for 15 seconds.
Papaya seed:
Papaya seed is best planted in soil that has a pH level between six and 6.5. Soil that is too acidic will result in root rot, which can be detrimental to the plant. A sandy soil will provide better drainage than one with too much clay. Too much clay will also inhibit the uptake of nutrients.
You can purchase papaya seeds from a garden store. These seeds should be planted in a shallow container with light soil. Once they start to sprout, you can transfer them into larger pots. A five-gallon pot is the ideal size for a mature papaya plant.
Papaya plants require plenty of water and fertilizer. Nitrogen is particularly important for their growth. To feed them, fertilize them every couple of weeks with a balanced fertilizer. It’s a fast-growing plant and will require a lot of nutrients to maintain its health and growth.
After several months of growth, you should be able to harvest the papaya fruit. Papaya fruits are ready to harvest about four to five months after they start flowering. The tree will continue producing fruit until it’s four or five years old. However, you should be careful when harvesting papayas as they are delicate and susceptible to sunburn.
Papaya plants:
Papaya plants require regular watering, particularly during the dry season. Watering the top inch of soil will keep the roots healthy and prevent it from drying out. However, excessive watering can cause premature yellowing of young leaves and flowers, as well as root rot. During the first six months of growth, you can apply a complete fertilizer every two weeks. After six months, you can use a liquid fertilizer or slow-release balanced fertilizer. Remember that papaya trees are susceptible to fungus and pest attacks, so you should be vigilant with pest control.
You can purchase papaya seeds from a local nursery or through an online nursery. The seeds should be pale to medium brown in color. When buying a papaya seed, check the fruit for signs of hermaphrodite or female seeds. Female papaya trees need cross-pollination to thrive.