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Growing Papaya in AP
http://byap.backyardmagazines.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=4428		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  TCLynx [ Nov 4th, '08, 10:02 ]
Post subject:  Growing Papaya in AP
I went and planted a papaya in the AP system quite a while back. It is getting quite big but it is flowering now. I just need to make sure it doesn't raise the roof when I'm no looking.

I have quite a few papaya growing around the place, all from seed saved from fruit we ate. If they have plenty of sun, moisture and nutrients, they grow quite fast. If they are neglected a bit or in the shade, they seem to survive so far but are much slower.

Anyway, the papaya I stuck into the grow bed was getting kinda tall and hitting the structure so I simply pushed it over to an angle. It has turned a curve and started to grow upright again. At one point I pinched off the growing tip but it seems to have recovered and is growing new leaves at the top again. Not sure what I will do to the poor thing next.

Will hopefully report when/if we get some fruit.

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Author:  Dufflight [ Nov 4th, '08, 10:20 ]
Post subject:  Re: Growing Papaya in AP
A lot of people put a bucket or covering over the top and it makes them produce more fruit at a lower hight.
Author:  TCLynx [ Nov 4th, '08, 10:28 ]
Post subject:  Re: Growing Papaya in AP
Ok, so I could grow papaya with a hat on it? :wink:
Author:  Dufflight [ Nov 4th, '08, 10:44 ]
Post subject:  Re: Growing Papaya in AP
TCLynx wrote:
Ok, so I could grow papaya with a hat on it? :wink:

Just like Indiana Jones :lol:
If you can force it to branch you get more bang for your buck. :wink:
Author:  TCLynx [ Nov 4th, '08, 10:52 ]
Post subject:  Re: Growing Papaya in AP
We have a papaya stump in the ground from a tree that froze last winter, it has grown about 4 new trunks growing out of it and that is the tree with the most fruit on it. If we don't get a hard freeze this year, that will be the one to give us fruit I think.
Author:  juicemonkey [ Jun 21st, '09, 15:07 ]
Post subject:  Re: Growing Papaya in AP
There are a number of varieties of Pawpaw/ Papaya available

most people in Australia get lumped with the red bisexual or less often the dioecious Yellows more common down in Northern NSW.
The reds are great - but they are really suited to where they are grown like Innisfail

Papaya seed is a permitted import by AQIS so ive brought in a few other types
its just the tip of the iceberg too

theres Mexican, Sunrise/ hawaiian Solo, Sunset
and the one i think needs to be trialled most urgently in AP

"Waimanolo"
..heres why...

Quote:
A low bearing variety that can produce its first fruits when only 4'-5' tall. Sweet flavored fruits with orange/yellow pulp. Fruitation within 1 year is normal for any type of papaya. The papaya flowers are small, creamy white and fragrant and are borne directly below the uppermost stems. The average fruit weight is 2 lb (900g+). Mature hgt 15'.


early bearer with right sized fruit

as is said above when they get too tall you just lop them off and put a tin can over the top to stop water getting into the trunk and rotting it off. they resprout with great vigour and start fruiting again within a month or 2
Author:  mattyoga [ May 10th, '13, 12:33 ]
Post subject:  Re: Growing Papaya in AP
Can anyone recommend a papaya type for Perth (in a greenhouse) and also how many fish (or how much fish food) it will take to power one - Need to get some info together for a new system I'm planning.....

Have people had success with reds?

Going to try one in a wicking barrel and one in an AP barrel and compare the difference....
Author:  Charlie [ May 10th, '13, 12:43 ]
Post subject:  Re: Growing Papaya in AP
From what I understand you need the red variety (bisexual plant) but it would be very difficult to measure how many fish would be required to power it.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=15614&hilit=paw
Author:  mattyoga [ May 10th, '13, 12:55 ]
Post subject:  Re: Growing Papaya in AP
dang my pommie roots - forgot to search for pawpaw!

Further research suggests they need HEAVY feeding so sounds like plenty of fish in a mature system for success. I'm planning on setting up a small 500L tank out the back and may just stick one blue barrel pawpaw and a wicking bed AP bath tub on it and see how I go - and call it my 'experimental system' :) Maybe I'll use a fish that creates lots of poo..
Author:  Marc d W [ May 10th, '13, 15:44 ]
Post subject:  Re: Growing Papaya in AP
I have a red pawpaw in one of my blue barrels. It is loving it so far as the hydroton on the north side warms up and bathes the roots in nice 20C+ water every 15 mins (as long as the sun is out).

It will be interesting to see how they all go over the next few years.
Maybe a Pawpaw brag page :D

PS for those in other countries I should point out that we are only 3 weeks from winter in WA and it is getting cold.
Author:  mattyoga [ May 10th, '13, 16:11 ]
Post subject:  Re: Growing Papaya in AP
yep - looking like its going to dip below 10 degs C - brrrrrrrrrrrr ;-)
Author:  Charlie [ May 10th, '13, 17:09 ]
Post subject:  Re: Growing Papaya in AP
Yea its freezing at the moment. Bloody 20 deg here today brrrrrr
Author:  mattyoga [ Sep 23rd, '13, 21:36 ]
Post subject:  Re: Growing Papaya in AP
Heh Marc, where did you get your red bi papaya from? Having trouble finding some in Perth. Ideally chasing seedlings though seeds would also do. . .
Author:  Gemini420 [ Sep 24th, '13, 01:02 ]
Post subject:  Re: Growing Papaya in AP
Hi there,

I have grown papaya in my AP setup before, but had to remove them (replanted in ground) after they became too big.

I think your only limiting factor for keeping them in an AP setup is the volume of the grow bed media. Otherwise, they will thrive if given good light (I'm in Florida.)

For me, the problem was that the Papaya root systems grew so thick and long that the grow bed was 95% filled with a thick mat of roots (completely cutting off water circulation.) Once the roots grew so thick that there was no more room, they began growing down the drain pipe and eventually completely clogged the 2" diameter drain pipe. I only noticed this was occurring after the grow bed overflowed one day. I had to use a corkscrew to unplug the root mass from the drain!

Some of the ones I replanted in-ground have done wonderful and are growing 8+ (still green) Papayas now.
Author:  scotty435 [ Sep 24th, '13, 03:42 ]
Post subject:  Re: Growing Papaya in AP
A plant that I've always wanted try is Carica pentagona aka Babaco. It's related to the papaya (Carica papaya) but grows much shorter (6ft or so). Might work for someone in a greenhouse.

http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/babaco.html
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