Growing Papayas

GROW YOUR OWN PAPAYA'S

The fruit of the Papaya is also called pawpaw and is eaten raw without the skin. The fruit is sweet, low in calories and high in potassium and vitamin A. Papaya is also used in drinks, jellies, salads, desserts and is also dried and candied.If you love the juicy and succulent flesh of a papaya, then why not grow a papaya tree at home. It is not a difficult tree to grow and all you need is lots of sunlight, fertile, well drained soil, and no frost and snow. Since it is a tropical plant, it thrives best in a tropical or sunny tropical climate. If you do not have a garden, you can still grow a papaya plant in a big pot indoors.

Sowing and Growing

• Growing papaya from seed is the easiest and most successful way to get started.
• Gather the seeds from a ripe papaya and wash them thoroughly. There is a jelly bag that covers each seed that must be removed completely in order for the seeds to grow.
• Dry the seeds in a cool place. Store them in a tightly closed container until December. This is the best month to plant them. 
• Pick a spot in your yard that receives an abundance of sun. Keep in mind that you shouldn't transplant your papaya trees, as they rarely hold up, so pick your spot with care. 
• Plant about five of the seeds in nutrient rich soil that is well irrigated.Allow germination. After a few weeks, you will notice your seedlings sprouting. They will be of varying kinds, with there being both male and female species. 
• Separate the male plants from the female plants. The male papaya plant bears no fruit. Determining the male papaya from the female can only be done when the plants begin to flower after several weeks.
• Female flowers are larger and grow closer to the branch than male flowers. If you are growing multiple plants save a few males for pollination, if not, discard them.
• Fertilize the growing plant with a bucket of compost or manure every other month. 
• Do not apply chicken manure to trees younger than two years. It will burn young papaya trees.Await fruit. With adequate sun exposure and watering, you can expect to have ripe papaya fruit in about 10 months.

Harvesting and Storage

• Generally, fruit is picked when there is 1/5 to 1/3 color change in the fruit. 
• Papaya is a fragile fruit that is easily damaged, so it needs careful handling to prevent skin blemishes and bruising. 
• After picking, keep at room temperature to fully ripen. Ripe fruit will keep 4 to 7 days in the refrigerator.

Few Health Benefits Of Papaya

• Rich in Vitamins- Papaya is rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin C that helps in boosting the body’s immunity and hence is very good for those who are suffering from fever, cold or flu.
• Menstrual Irregularities-Raw papaya helps in controlling the menstrual irregularities in women. Papaya helps to ease menstrual cramps and helps in promoting regular flow of menstruation.
• Inflammatory Enzymes-Papaya contains anti-inflammatory enzymes that help in relieving pain for those who are suffering from arthritis, edema and osteoporosis, and it also possesses anti-cancerous properties that can help preventing cancer.
• Helps in Digestion-Papaya helps in preventing constipation and aids in digestion. The enzyme papain is a digestive enzyme that helps in natural digestion.
• Weight Loss-It is low in calories and high in nutritional values. Hence, it is a good food for those who want to lose some weight.

Papaya Lime Soup Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 cups diced peeled papaya (about 2 medium papayas)
• 1 cubed peeled ripe mango
• 1 cup fresh orange juice $
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 2 tablespoons honey
• Diced mango (optional)
• Chopped fresh mint (optional)

Directions

• Place first 6 ingredients in a blender or food processor; process until smooth.
• Ladle 1 cup soup into each of 4 bowls; top with diced mango and mint, if desired.