[Arid_gardener] Re: PAPAYA

[Dick Gross]

Jean, I assume that you have these Papaya trees in at least 5 gallon pots with adequate drainage holes so that you can flood irrigate them, soaking the entire root ball but letting most of the water go all the way through pulling air in behind. The root is like a big carrot that will rot readily without adeqiate air in the root zone. I have had trees ten feet tall rot almost overnight and fall flat on the ground. When the ambient temperature gets down in the 40s and especially in the soil, keep the root zone dry as a bone. The cold weather growth is almost zero and very little water is needed. If you feel you must, when you can detect a little wilt in the foliage, make a shallow trench out at the drip line, put a hose in it and run slowly until you can sink a hotdog spit to the hilt at the drip line. Then, shut off the water until that trench is bone dry at least two inches deep. Then repeat but keep that basin interior dry in cold weather.

Almost all papaya are done in with soggy soil at any temperature but the pathogens are most destructive in cold wet soil in anerobic (no air) conditions. 

When the temperature gets in the mid 40s, drag it inside and leave it there until all threat of frost is over. Papays are tropical and will not tolerate any frost. But I once saw a couple of papayas with fruit in a Jonh Deere show room in Denver in December. They were dragged out in warm weather to get more sun.

In the meantime, buy a papaya at Safeway for backup. clean and wash the seeds after breaking the gelainous bubble surrounding each seed, Dry them at room temperature, soak for 48 hours in clean water (get fresh each day), plant 1/2 inch deep in soil in pots and keep the temp about 80 degrees F. 

They should break the surface in ten to fifteen days. Good luck.

Dick Gross, Master Gardener Volunteer
University of Arizona
Maricopa County Cooperative Extension.

----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Jeannietu at aol.com 
  To: info at crfg.org 
  Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2006 9:12 PM
  Subject: RE: PAPAYA


  hi, my name is jean, i live in Louisville, Ky  i plant 2 papaya tree, from hawaii, and they r about 3 feet tall
  so far its been kind of cold lately, mature leaves r dying and theres a new shoot out, but i am afraid it will die soon , cos weather going to be very cold .plus might be snow

  my question is, how do i keep the tree alive for coming yr without transfer(kill the root)

  HELP!!!



  Jean Blanton
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