Growing papayas: Part 5

This article focuses on the post-planting care of papayas, and covers fertilisation, watering, dealing with suckers, and other requirements.

Immediately after planting, apply about 40g LAN around the base of each papaya plant. Water the plants frequently and thoroughly in the weeks following planting, especially during midsummer.

Once established, papaya trees are reasonably hardy. Where evaporation is excessive, mulching is recommended; any mulch may be used.

THINNING

Thin the plants as soon as you can determine the sex of the trees (six to nine months after planting).

When there are only male trees at a planting spot, select the earliest flowering male and cut down the others at soil level or slightly below. Equally, when there are only female trees in one spot, select the earliest flowering female, and do the same. Where both female and male trees occur together, select the earliest flowering female and cut down the rest.

Where hermaphroditic seedlings have been planted with more than one plant per planting position, select the earliest flowering plant and/or the plant that appears most true to type.

Remove all suckers on the stem below and between the fruit, as they could damage the maturing fruit.

Some growers keep the suckers near the top of the tree if the growing point of the tree dies.

Generally, suckers are not strongly attached to the main stem of the plant and can easily break off when allowed to bear fruit.

ECONOMIC LIFESPAN AND IRRIGATION