Papaya Trees

Papaya trees (Carica papaya) are native to Central America and are grown commercially throughout the world in tropical and subtropical climates. If you’re interested in growing a new fruit tree in your yard, a papaya tree might be a great choice for you due to its rapid growth and fruit production. 

Papaya trees will start producing fruit in about 6 months after the seed is planted!

While papaya trees will grow and produce fruit quickly, fruit production only lasts a few years. Most farmers replace trees every 3 to 4 years, so it’s a good thing papaya trees are easily grown from seed!

Even though production decreases, a mature and healthy papaya tree can live for over 40 years.

In this article, we’re going to cover the growth timeline and provide details about what you can expect from each stage of your papaya tree’s life cycle. If you want to grow your own papaya tree, this article will teach you everything you need to know about papaya trees and how to grow them. 

What Does A Papaya Tree Look Like?

You probably recognize the large, yellow, pear-shaped fruit of the papaya tree you’ve seen at the grocery store, but what does the tree look like?

Papaya trees are tropical plants that can grow up to 30 feet tall. Generally, it has a single main trunk but can develop secondary shoots if the main trunk is damaged at the top or as it ages. 

The leaves are palmately lobed with leaf blades growing between 18 to 23 inches long. The petiole of a leaf can be 1 to 4 feet long and grows directly from the trunk.

Papaya Flowers: Male, Female, Or Both!

Papaya trees can either be male, female, or bisexual. Bisexual papaya trees have both male and female flowers on a single tree. 

Male flowers are small, yellowish to white, and grow in groups along a 10 to 40-inch-long shoot called a cyme. The stamens in the center of the flower are yellow due to the pollen they produce.

Female flowers are yellowish to white, much larger than the male flowers, and grow directly from leaf axils at the trunk.

Papaya leaves can also be both male and female at the same time. This leaf looks very similar to female flowers, grows from the leaf axils, and has a yellow stamen.

Papaya Tree Pollination: The Birds And The Bees Of Producing Papaya Fruit

As we mentioned above, papaya trees have both male and female flowers. How does that impact your papaya tree growing efforts?

Well, if you aren’t worried about getting fruit from your papaya tree then the flowers don’t really matter. But we’re guessing you’d like to reap the fruits of your labor while growing your papaya tree!

In order for the female flowers to produce an edible fruit, you have to have a male flower present to fertilize the female flower. Unfortunately, you can’t tell by the seeds if your tree is female or male.

That is why we recommend you plant at least 3 or 4 trees to ensure you end up with both male and female flowers so you can get fruit from your papaya trees. 

Where Can I Grow A Papaya Tree?

Papaya trees are native to Central America and therefore grow best in tropical to subtropical regions. In North America, papaya trees grow best in hardiness zones 9b through 11. 

If you’re not sure what hardiness zone you live in, you can plug your address into the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to find out! 

Don’t live in zones 9b through 11 but have your heart set on growing a papaya tree? You can try your hand at growing one indoors if you plant a dwarf variety, or grow your papaya tree in a greenhouse like the Ohuhu Greenhouse. This greenhouse is easy to set up and move if needed.

 For more information about where you should grow your papaya tree – head on over to our article about where papaya trees grow! Mainly, you need a spot with a lot of sunlight – and a spot away from other trees!

What Time Of Year Should You Start Growing A Papaya Tree?

The best time to start growing your papaya tree from seed depends on where you live.

Your papaya tree will need 6 to 8 hours of full sunlight per day and soil temperatures should be at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit. 

The two most important factors that will affect the time of year you start growing your tree are sunlight and soil temperature.

If you’re wondering how long your papaya tree will last, head on over to our article about how long papaya trees last to find out more information! Surprisingly, it’s less time than you think!

Growing Papaya Trees Outside

If you live in the right hardiness zone, you should have the right growing conditions for most of the year and can start planting your papaya trees at almost any time. 

Since papaya trees produce fruit during the first year, you can treat them like an annual plant if you don’t live in the right hardiness zone for them to survive winter.

Growing Papaya Trees Inside (Or In A Greenhouse)

If you don’t live in the correct hardiness zone, you will want to consider growing your papaya tree indoors or in a greenhouse. We discuss dwarf varieties which are best suited for this below.

When you’re growing your trees indoors, you can control your temperatures and sunlight. The temperature will be controlled by the thermostat in your house, or by the heat produced by solar radiation in your greenhouse. 

If you live in hardiness zones 1 through 6, a greenhouse may not collect enough solar radiation to heat your greenhouse to the required temperatures. While most commercial growers will install a heating system, this may not be cost-effective for you. Don’t worry, there are some other options to heat the greenhouse. 

If you need to generate more light indoors or in your greenhouse, you can use grow lights. 

We like this FRENAN Grow Light since it comes with an adjustable stand, 3 light modes, 10 brightness settings, and a timer. 

How Long Does It Take To Grow A Papaya Tree From Seed? (Full Timeline)

Now that you know where and when to plant your papaya tree, here’s what you can expect from your papaya tree growing journey!

Unlike most other fruit trees, you won’t have to wait too long until you have some delicious papayas you can enjoy from your very own tree!

Day 0: Choosing The Seeds And The Planting Site

Before you can start growing your papaya tree, there are two important decisions you will need to make: what seeds are you going to plant, and where are you going to plant them? 

If you’re lucky enough to live in the right hardiness zone, 9b through 11, you can simply purchase a papaya fruit from your grocery store and use its seeds to start growing a tree.

Papaya trees cannot survive freezing temperatures

If you live in colder hardiness zones, you’ll need to consider either growing your papaya tree indoors or in a greenhouse.

However, some papaya trees can grow up to 30 feet tall, which isn’t going to work for you in this situation (unless you have really high ceilings in your house), so you may need to plant a dwarf variety.

According to the Colorado State University dwarf papayas only grew to a maximum of 6.5 feet tall.

Whether you decide to grow your papaya tree outside, from seeds you collect from papaya fruit, or indoors, from seeds you purchase online, we will discuss the full growth timeline for both methods below. 

Day 1: Preparing Your Papaya Seeds

If you’re growing your papaya tree outside and collecting seeds from a fruit you purchase, you will need to prep the seeds before planting. After removing the seeds from the center of the papaya fruit, place them in a colander. 

There will be a gelatinous sac around the seed (the sarcotesta) that needs to be removed before you plant it. 

Press the seed against the side of the colander and it should pop out of the surrounding sac. After removing all of the sacs, rinse the seeds thoroughly and let them air dry on a paper towel that is not in direct sunlight. 

If you’re growing your papaya tree indoors, the dwarf papaya seeds you purchased online should be ready to go without any further preparation needed. 

Day 1: Planting Your Papaya Seeds

Whether you’re growing your papaya tree outside or indoors, you’ll want to start the seeds in 1-gallon pots.

Fill the pots with a sterile, well-draining potting mix and add 4 seeds, evenly spread out, in each pot. Cover the seeds with ½ inch of potting mix and water thoroughly. 

We recommend planting at least 32 seeds, in 8 different 1-gallon pots. This ensures you get enough germination, and healthy seedlings, to end up with 3-4 seedlings to transplant. 

Remember, you should plant 3-4 papaya trees to ensure you have both male and female flowers for fruit production.

Where To Place Them

Place your 1-gallon pots in the location where you will be planting them so they won’t have to acclimate when you transplant your seedlings. This should be a place that gets plenty of direct sunlight to ensure optimal growth and fruit production. 

Make sure you keep the soil moist but not too wet to give your seedlings the best chance of emerging. 

Now you just have to wait for your seedlings to emerge! This can take anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks.

Day 1 (Seedling Emergence) To Day 45: Growing Healthy Papaya Seedlings

Since there is such a large range of when your seedling will emerge, whenever you spot that first bit of green peeking out of the soil, consider that your emergence day (Day 1).

Papaya trees grow quickly so you’ll have to keep them well-fed with fertilizer for the best results. Once your seedling is 1-2 inches tall, start adding fertilizer to the water you water your papaya tree with every time you water. 

Use a mixture of ¼ teaspoon of a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer to 1 gallon of water. 

We like this Miracle Gro All Purpose Plant Food which comes in various sizes and can be used on a wide variety of plants you may be growing. 

Remove Any Weaker Seedlings

Once your seedlings start reaching 3 to 4 inches tall, you will notice some growing more quickly and looking healthier than others. You will want to start removing the weaker smaller seedlings from each pot at this stage by cutting them off at the soil line.

Make sure to cut these seedlings and not pull them up by the roots, because papaya trees don’t handle root disruptions well. 

The goal here is to end up with one healthy seedling in each pot by the time the seedlings reach 8 to 12 inches tall.

Day 45 To 4 Months: Transplanting Your Papaya Tree And Watching It Grow

Your papaya trees are now 8 to 12 inches tall and hopefully, you have at least 3 to 4 healthy seedlings. Now it’s time to transplant them! 

You can transplant as many seedlings as you’d like but remember, we recommend you have at least 3-4 to ensure both male and female flowers are present for fruit production. 

Preparing The Area For Transplanting Your Papaya Tree

If you’re growing your papaya tree outside, you’ll need to prepare your planting site. You’ll want to plant your seedlings 7 to 12 feet apart so they have enough space to grow. 

Papayas grow best in well-drained soil with a good amount of organic matter. 

If you live in an area with high clay content, you’ll want to dig a hole with a 3-foot diameter and 1-foot deep. Then, fill the hole with well-draining garden soil. Don’t use potting soil as it may retain too much moisture.

A 50:50 mix of regular potting soil and cactus potting soil works well. 

If you’re growing your papaya tree indoors or in a greenhouse, you’ll want to transplant it into a 20-gallon container filled with well-draining potting soil like the 50:50 mix mentioned above.

How To Transplant Your Papaya Tree

The most important part of transplanting your papaya tree seedling is to cause as little root disruption as possible. 

Dig a hole in the center of the planting area (either the soil you prepared in your yard or the 20-gallon pot if you’re growing indoors) that is slightly bigger than the pot your seedling is in. Gently remove your seedling from its current pot and place it in the hole. 

Don’t dig the hole too deep. The base of the seedling should not get covered by more than a ½ inch of soil when you fill in the hole after transplanting. Papaya trees have shallow roots and if you bury them too deep your tree will struggle. 

Fill in the hole with dirt, gently press down the soil around your seedling, and water thoroughly. Add a layer of mulch 3-4 inches deep to help with moisture retention and weed suppression, but keep the mulch away from the trunk.

Continue keeping your papaya tree watered regularly, every 3 to 4 days, and add a ¼ pound of complete (10-10-10 or 14-14-14) fertilizer every 4 weeks. 

4 Months To 6 Months: Papaya Tree Flowering And Pollination

If your papaya tree is healthy and happy, it should start producing flowers in 4 to 6 months.

You’ll finally be able to determine if your tree is male, female, or both at this point using our flower description at the beginning of this article. 

Male/Female papaya trees will self-pollinate. Female flowers have to be cross-pollinated by male flowers either by insects or manually using hand pollination. 

How Indoor Or Outdoor Papaya Trees Are Pollinated

If you’re growing your papaya tree outside, the flowers will be pollinated by a variety of insects. You can still hand pollinate them, to ensure pollination occurs, if your tree isn’t too tall. 

If you’re growing your papaya tree indoors, you’ll need to hand-pollinate your female plants using the male flowers. 

How Do You Hand-Pollinate Your Papaya Tree?

To hand pollinate your papaya flowers, gently remove several opened male flowers from a male plant. Remove the petals from the male flower by gently pulling them straight down.

The petals will detach just below the yellow anthers which are covered in pollen. 

Now, gently press the yellow anther of the male flowers into the white stigmas of the female flower which are sticking up from the middle of the open female flower. Make sure to thoroughly cover all of the stigmas with the anthers to fully pollinate. 

6 Months To 11 Months: Papaya Tree Fruit Production And Harvesting

If pollination of the female flowers was successful, you should start having fruit on your papaya tree at this point! Your tree will be several feet tall, depending on the variety you planted, and can produce up to 80 pounds of fruit each year. 

If insects become an issue on your ripening fruits, you can place a paper bag over the developing fruit and secure it with a rubber band to keep insects away. 

You can harvest your papayas while they are green, and use them as a vegetable, or wait until they begin to turn yellow. The more yellow that develops on the skin, while the fruit is on the tree, the more sugars the fruit will contain. 

Papayas are typically harvested once 1/10th to 1/3rd of the skin is yellow, then placed in a cool dry place to fully ripen indoors. You can allow your papayas to fully ripen on the tree, however, insects may become more of a problem as they become fully ripened. 

1 Year To 3 Years: Maintaining A Healthy, Productive Papaya Tree

Your papaya tree will grow 6 to 10 feet in the first year. If you planted a dwarf variety, the height at this point will depend on which variety you planted. Most varieties will reach their maximum height by the end of year 2 or 3 depending on how healthy the tree is. 

Remember to keep watering and fertilizing your papaya tree regularly to keep it healthy and growing. You can increase your fertilizer rate to ½ pound per month.

Some Papaya Tree Pests

There are also several insects and diseases that can impact your papaya tree as it ages. 

Insects of concern include papaya fruit flies, papaya whitefly, papaya webworm, nematodes, and two-spotted spider mites. Diseases include powdery mildew, anthracnose, papaya ringspot, phythoptera, and leaf spot. 

Since papaya trees are short-lived and easy to grow, we recommend you remove any infested trees and replace them with new healthy trees, however, if you want to learn about some ways to use plants to get rid of whiteflies – head on over to our article!

Year 3 And Beyond: Papaya Fruit Production Decreases

After 3 to 4 years, papaya tree fruit production will significantly decrease or stop altogether. You can still enjoy the beauty of your full-grown papaya tree or you can replace it with a new tree to keep producing fruit. Your mature papaya tree will live for about 20 years!

Papaya trees grown in perfect conditions have lived for as many as 40 years. However, most trees will either succumb to diseases such as root rot or be toppled over by the wind well before they reach 40 years old. 

Make sure you keep your papaya tree watered and fertilized to keep it healthy and happy! And, if you are unsure how to properly care for your papaya tree, we recommend checking in with a professional!

That’s A Wrap!

With this timeline, you now know how long it takes to grow a papaya tree and what to expect from each phase of the papaya tree’s life.

Papaya trees can be one of the most rewarding fruit trees to grow due to their ability to produce fruit in the first year!

Whether you grow your papaya tree outside or inside, we’re sure you’ll have plenty of delicious papayas for yourself and probably your neighbors too!

References

Nishina, M., Zee, F., Ebesu, R., Arakaki, A., Hamasaki, R., Fukuda, S., Nagata, N., Chia, C.L., Nishijima, W., Mau, R. and Uchida, R., 2000. Papaya production in Hawaii.

Salinas, I., Hueso, J.J. and Cuevas, J., 2021. Active Control of Greenhouse Climate Enhances Papaya Growth and Yield at an Affordable Cost. Agronomy 2021, 11, 378.

Storey, W.B., 1972. Why papaya trees fail to fruit.

Papayas, the delicious, creamy, sweet fruit can be found in most grocery store produce sections, but have you ever wondered if you can grow your own papaya trees? There are a few places you can grow them in the US, but where do papaya trees grow the best? 

Papaya trees are evergreen trees native to Mexico and South America. They typically grow in tropical and subtropical areas. In the United States, papaya trees are grown in similar climates such as Florida, Hawaii, southern California, and Texas.

Papaya trees can’t handle cold temperatures or soggy roots, and will grow only in the hottest zones in the United States; these Zones are 9-11. That doesn’t leave many options, but with the right conditions, you can grow your own papayas indoors or in a greenhouse as well! Let’s dive into more detail about where papaya trees grow. 

Where Should I Plant A Papaya Tree?

Papaya trees are tropical plants that don’t tolerate cold temperatures, and high winds can damage fruits and even topple papaya trees. If your area is hot enough year-round, you can plant papaya trees on your property and enjoy the fruits of your labor. 

If you do plant a papaya tree, you will need to plant it somewhere it will get plenty of sun, away from other trees. If there is a fence or building nearby, the papaya tree should be planted facing a southern or southeastern direction. 

Pick a place that does not flood or keep standing water. You’ll need sandy, loamy, or rocky soil that drains very well because too much water will cause root rot to your papaya which will kill it quickly. If you have thick clay soil, it will need to be broken up with organic matter and possibly some sand or gravel for better drainage.

Want to learn more about tropical plants? Check out our popular article: 9 Most Common Places That Coconuts Grow!

Can I Plant A Papaya Tree Anywhere? 

As we mentioned previously, papaya trees are tropical trees that do not tolerate cold temperatures. Many of you probably have tropical houseplants that you keep indoors and they do wonderfully. You can take these plants outdoors during the warm months, but an unexpected cold snap can quickly take them out; it’s the same with papaya trees. 

In the United States, you can plant papaya trees outdoors in Hawaii, southern California, Arizona, Texas, and Florida. Although southern Louisiana is in the USDA Hardiness Zones 9-10, this area is typically too swampy and wet to grow papaya trees.

Papaya trees grow in well-drained soil. If the soil around the papaya tree roots stays waterlogged for too long, root rot can set in. 

Papaya trees have shallow roots, and even in wet regions, you might be able to grow these trees if you build a mound above the water table. With that being said, let’s get into the next subject of planting papaya trees. 

Interested in growing more tropical plants? Check out our guide on how long it takes to grow an avocado tree!

The 6 Best Places To Plant A Papaya Tree (Where They Grow)

Okay, so now we know what it takes to grow these tropical trees, where do papaya trees grow the best? Keep on reading to find out.

Real quick, if you’re interested in learning more, check out our guide about how long papaya trees last and how long they take to grow!

Hawaii

The tropical paradise of Hawaii is a great place to grow papaya trees. This entire chain of islands seems to be made for these trees. The islands are between range from USDA Hardiness Zones 10-12. Right in the sweet spot for papaya trees!

Hawaii is a leading commercial producer of papayas for US consumption. The soil is usually sandy or rocky, which allows for easy draining. The temperatures stay warm and hardly dip in the danger zone for papayas, which is when it reaches at, or below 32℉.

Most likely, the only problem you will face growing papaya trees in Hawaii is if the wind gusts get too high. With the shallow root system, papaya tree roots can’t hold on very tightly to the ground. The fruits also grow at the top of the tree, making them very top-heavy. 

If you live in Hawaii, you should have no problem growing your own papaya trees and keeping a constant supply of these delicious, tropical, good-for-you fruits. You lucky dogs. 

Texas

Texas is another state where you can grow papaya trees. Since the state is so large, there are several Hardiness Zones, but the only area that is best for papaya trees is along the southern quarter of Texas. The areas around Houston, San Antonio, and farther south are more tropical in climate. 

Along the upper edge of this area, the temperatures may dip close to freezing. If you are planning on growing papaya trees in these areas you should think about how to protect them from the occasional dip in temperatures. You may have to cover them, or rig up some heating lamps so that your trees don’t get too close to freezing. 

Florida

Most of Florida has conditions conducive to growing papayas. Florida is another state here in North America that grows papaya trees for commercial production, especially around the Miami-Dade area. 

If you live in Florida, you shouldn’t have a problem growing papaya trees, just make sure to watch out for the water table and check your soil conditions carefully. Remember, papaya trees don’t like their roots sitting in water for long. If you dig into the ground and find standing water, or very wet soil, you may have to plant your papaya trees on a mound. 

You should also make sure the soil drains well. If you need to, add some sand to the soil mixture, however, papayas still need a lot of organic material to grow those delicious fruits. 

Another way to help with drainage is to throw a couple of inches of gravel into the bottom of your hole. This way the water runs through quickly and won’t sit on the tender roots for too long. 

Southern California

Southern California is another place you can grow papaya trees. You will just have to keep an eye out for the temperatures. For the best growth and fruit production, the plants need temperatures between 68℉ to 90℉. 

The southern tip of California usually hits these temperatures in late spring and into summer. If it’s going to be a cold winter, you will have to overwinter your trees. You can accomplish this by starting and keeping them in pots, or covering them if the temperature threatens to get too cold. 

Papayas are herbaceous plants that do not live for a long time. The average lifespan is about four years. You could probably grow more trees every year, as they tend to start fruiting 6 to 8 months in. 

When you harvest your fruit, keep the seeds from one fruit, start the seeds inside about December, then move the plants outside when it warms up. By mid to late summer you should be getting fruits on your new trees. 

Arizona

The desert heat of Arizona is a great place to grow papaya trees. Just be sure to keep them well-watered when the temperatures start reaching the triple digits. You don’t want the roots to swim in the water, but the tree does require plenty of water during long stretches of hot, dry weather.  

Don’t forget to add fertilizer during the growth times to keep your plants healthy and disease resistant. Something that is near equal straight across like a 10-10-10 fertilizer will work perfectly. 

For winter watering, the University of Arizona suggests making a three-inch trench around the drip line of the tree. The drip line reaches the outer edge of the leafy canopy.

Using a garden spade, dig three inches deep, and about the width of the spade, completely around the drip line of the tree. Fill the trench with water then stop. Don’t water again until the soil is completely dry in the trench. 

If you do encounter a cold snap during the winter there are things you can do to protect your trees. You can wrap them in burlap if the trees are not too tall.

Another way to try and prevent frost damage if the temps are going to drop is to use a high-output shop fan. Set the fan on the highest setting, and point it at the canopy. The freezing temperatures shouldn’t stick around for long and the wind prevents frost from settling on the tender green foliage.

Planting Papayas Indoors (And How To Do It)

If you live outside of the recommended growing areas for papaya trees, you can still grow the trees indoors if you follow the proper steps. They really adapt well to greenhouse growing, as long as you keep the papaya trees watered, and fertilized, and you keep it warm inside the greenhouse. 

Step 1

Start your seeds in large planter pots, that will become their permanent home. You’ll need about a 20-gallon planter pot with plenty of drainage holes. Use high-quality potting soil that drains well. You might even want to fill the bottom few inches of the pot with gravel for extra drainage. 

Step 2

Keep the room and the soil warm, especially when starting your seeds. The room itself should stay in the 70s and 80s, and the soil needs to maintain a temperature between 65℉ to 75℉. You can keep the soil warm during germination with a VIVOSUN Durable Waterproof Seedling Heat Mat.

Step 3

Place them in the sunniest spot you can find. Papayas need 6 to 8 hours of full sun. If there isn’t a spot bright enough, invest in a grow lamp to supplement the needed light. While they are growing, you’ll have to rotate the trees regularly to keep them growing straight. 

Step 4

Move your papaya outdoors when there is no longer a threat of freezing temperatures. During this time, you’ll have to water them frequently. The aim is to keep the soil moist, but don’t let the roots sit in any standing water. 

Step 5

If you don’t have a dwarf variety, the papaya tree could grow too tall to keep inside your house. If this happens you’ll have to prune the tree. Springtime is the best time to prune your papaya as it will heal from the cut in a day or two and start producing offshoots in no time. 

Cut the main trunk down to about three feet from the soil line. The tree will begin to sprout more branches just below the cut. After the new branches are 24-30 inches tall, cut the smallest branches off. You want to only keep one or maybe two branches or else the quality of the fruit will suffer. 

Step 6

Don’t forget to fertilize regularly during the growing months. Before long you should start seeing your own papaya fruits on your trees!

Papaya flowers need to be pollinated to produce big, ripe fruits. By placing them outside during the summer months, pollinators like bees and butterflies should take care of this for you.

But you can also do it yourself, using a small, soft paintbrush, dab at the stamens to pick up some of the pollen, then lightly brush the pollen onto the sticky pistil area of each flower.

How Do I Plant A Papaya Tree?

You can grow these fast-growing trees either from seeds straight from the fruit or from a sapling. To grow your own papaya tree from seed, scoop them out of the fruit, wash them, and break them out of the fleshy covering, then let them dry on a paper towel. 

Growing From Seed

Once the seeds are dry, plant them either in their permanent spot or in a pot. Cover them with about a quarter-inch of soil and water them. Keep the soil damp; not too wet, and don’t let it dry out. The seeds should start sprouting after two to four weeks.  

The soil needs to remain warm all the time, from 65℉ to 75℉ for the seeds to sprout and grow. Once you have plenty of plants growing, cull the weaker ones. You’ll need a few to keep growing because the trees could be male, female, or both.

Male trees have small clusters of thin flowers that grow on thin stalks. Female flowers are singular, bigger, and thicker, and grow very close to leaf stalks. The trees with female flowers are the plants that will net you this delicious fruit. 

For permanent placement, you’ll need a warm, sunny place that doesn’t get a lot of wind. The soil needs to be well-draining, and have a lot of organic matter. If you are in a wet area, you can still grow papaya trees but you’ll need to plant them in a mound that is above the water table. 

The mound needs to consist of existing soil, and be 2 to 3 feet tall by 10 feet in diameter. In clay soil, mix in potting mix or other organic matter that will allow for drainage. Next, you’ll need to water and fertilize your tree. 

Caring For Your Papaya Sapling

Papaya trees don’t like to stand in water, but they need to be watered regularly, because they are thirsty trees, especially when they are producing fruit.

In the summer, the soil around your papaya tree should be moist but not soggy, and in the winter it should dry out between waterings. 

Papaya trees need to be fertilized more than the average tree too. Since they are fast-growing trees, they need a lot of nutrients to keep them going well. During the growing season, a well-balanced fertilizer like this Nelson Citrus Fruit and Avocado Tree Plant Food should be applied about once every 4 weeks.

According to Texas A&M Agrilife Extension, Papaya trees can produce fruit in a year after planting from seed. A mature tree that is well cared for can produce up to 100 pounds of fruit a year!

How Deep Do You Plant A Papaya Tree?

Papaya trees have shallow roots and don’t like to be submerged in water. When planting seeds you want to just cover the seed with your soil with about a quarter of an inch of soil.

The main thing is to dig a hole three times bigger than the root ball so the roots can spread. They don’t need to grow deep, but they need to extend out. Also, make sure your soil is not thick and compact, keep it loose so that it drains well. 

That’s All For Now!

Papaya trees are a bit finicky, but they aren’t terribly difficult to grow, especially if you live in the more tropical areas of Florida, Texas, southern California, Arizona, or Hawaii.

Even if you aren’t lucky enough to live in a tropical paradise, you can still grow your own papayas, this way you can at least have a taste of the tropics. 

The biggest things to look out for with papaya trees are making sure the soil is full of nutrients and drains well, and keeping the temperatures above 70°F. Papaya trees like it hot!

We hope this has helped you in your papaya planting endeavors, until next time!

If you want to learn more about tropical plants, you check out our guide on full mango tree lifespan here!

References

Costa, Adelaide de Fátima Santana da et al. Advances observed in papaya tree propagation. Revista Brasileira de Fruticultura [online]. 2019, v. 41, n. 5 [Accessed 5 April 2022] , e-036.

Figueroa-Yañez, Luis, et al. “RAP2. 4a is transported through the phloem to regulate cold and heat tolerance in papaya tree (Carica papaya cv. Maradol): implications for protection against abiotic stress.” PloS one 11.10 (2016): e0165030.

Hafle, Oscar Mariano, et al. “Production of seedlings of papaya tree using Bokashi and Lithothamnium.” Revista Brasileira de Fruticultura 31 (2009): 245-251.

Serrano, Luiz Augusto Lopes, and Laercio Francisco Cattaneo. “Papaya culture in Brazil.” Revista Brasileira de Fruticultura 32 (2010).

If you are growing your own papaya trees or merely considering growing them, you probably want to know how long papaya trees last and where papaya trees grow. After putting in the time and effort to grow these plants will you be rewarded with beautiful, broad-leaved foliage year after year, as well as tasty fruits.

Papaya trees are tropical tree-like plants that are generally short-lived. With the right conditions, papaya plants can live close to 20 years. Papaya trees grow best in USDA Hardiness Zones 9-12 because they need a tropical climate to successfully grow and produce fruit.

Papaya trees can last for several years if they receive the right conditions. These finicky plants live life in the fast lane, require moderate care, but are relatively easy to grow. Keep reading! In this article, we’ll be going over how long papaya trees live, how fast papaya trees grow, and how to care for them.

Why Papaya Trees Last So Long

Papaya trees live fast, grow up quickly, and burn out just as fast. They may live for a few decades if the conditions are perfect, and there are reports of a very limited selection of trees that reach the ripe old age of 40. The lifespan of a papaya tree is also related to the weather, the climate, and what you are growing the papaya trees for.

Papaya trees will start producing fruit theIr first year. Compare that to apples, citrus trees, or other fruit trees, which take years for the first fruits to show up, papayas are a great choice.

The downside to that is, that papaya trees don’t produce fruit for nearly as long as actual woody trees.

Papaya trees may last for a decade or three if they are cared for very well, but they typically only produce fruit for a small amount of that time. Either that or the quality of the fruit starts to decline after 3 to 4 years.

If you are growing papaya trees for the fruit, you can expect them to last for a handful of years; even commercial papaya producers replace their trees every 3 to 4 years because of this.

The good thing is they are easy to grow!

You can renew your crop from seeds every 2 to 3 years. When you get great fruit, keep those seeds and grow some more papaya trees. That way, when the older trees start to fizzle out, you’ll have replacement trees either growing or ready to grow.

Papaya trees grow tall with a single trunk that often has a top-heavy crown. This makes wind a major factor in the lifespan of papayas. If a papaya tree reaches 20 to 30 feet tall and is laden down with fruit, a good gust of wind could knock the tree to the ground, thus, ending its lifespan early.

Too much rain or a sudden cold snap could end a papaya tree’s growth as well. These plants are quite susceptible to root rot as well as cold temperatures.

There are a few areas in the United States where you can grow papaya trees outside year after year. These places include most of Florida, south Texas, Arizona, southern California, and Hawaii. If you’re like me and the vast majority of the population, you probably won’t be able to grow papaya trees outdoors, unless you replant them every year like annual flowers.

Freezing temperatures will surely destroy papaya trees, as these tropical plants have not become accustomed to the cold. With proper care, you can protect them from a short cold snap, but prolonged freezes will finish them off.

So, if you live in an area that gets a typical winter, your papaya trees will be ornamental tropical trees that grow beautifully for a few months and then shrivel up during the first frost.

As Papaya Trees Get Older, They Get Weaker

Young, vibrant papaya trees are healthy, strong trees that are very resistant to most tree diseases and pests, but as the trees age, they get more susceptible to mold, rot, and pests. This is another reason papaya plants don’t typically live very long.

When growing papayas at home, they will probably only live for 5 to 7 years before either getting root rot, being blown over or some other disease that ends the tree’s life cycle.

Papaya trees do well for a short time, but then they begin to fizzle out in a few years.

Since they are very easy to grow from seed, it’s usually not prudent to try and fight a pest invasion or treat diseases in papaya trees; just get rid of the problem trees and grow new ones.

How Long Do Papaya Trees Bear Fruit?

Papaya trees will start fruiting in the first year, often 6 to 12 months after seeds have germinated. If they stay warm and well-tended, they should continually grow taller as they produce more fruit. They will stop producing fruit when the weather starts to cool down.

If you live in areas where you can grow papaya trees outdoors you will likely have better, longer yields of fruit. They thrive in hot humid temperatures and a lot of sunlight, which is a little harder to mimic indoors.

With optimal conditions, papaya trees will produce fruit for 7 to 8 years, but as the trees mature, the quality of fruit tends to decline. As the trees age, they are more likely to either get blown over by wind because they are always growing taller, or some other malady will strike them down. It’s recommended to replace your fruiting papaya trees every 3 to 4 years.

If you grow your papaya trees indoors, even if you can replicate outdoor, natural conditions it is still recommended they be replaced about every 5 years. This helps with fruit production, the height of the plants, and reducing the likelihood of disease in the trees.

What Is The Life Cycle Of A Papaya Tree?

Papaya trees grow fast, are easy to start from seed, produce fruit within the first year, continue to produce quality fruit for a few years then they quickly hit their twilight years.

Let’s put that into a timeframe so you know what to expect.

According to the University of Florida IFAS Extension, papaya fruit production depends on factors like climate and plant care. A healthy papaya tree will start producing flowers about four months in, and then 3 to 7 months after that it will likely start producing fruit.

Seedling: Starting a papaya tree from seed only takes about 2 to 4 weeks if you rinse them and break the outer coating off the seed. Cover the seeds with about a quarter-inch of soil and keep it moist, soon you’ll have seedlings pushing up from the soil.

Sapling: After a month or two, if you started your seeds indoors, it is time to transplant the papaya plants to their permanent areas. It could be outdoors or in a large planter if you’re keeping them indoors. They should be about a foot or two tall before transplanting.

Young Tree: Around the four-month mark you should start seeing flowers on the plants. Papaya trees can be either male, female, or both. The seeds you get from fruits at the grocery store are likely to be both male and female.

Male flowers grow in thin clusters, with thin shoots that extend off the tree a few inches. Female flowers are fuller and grow right above leaf stems. The female flowers need to be pollinated to produce fruits. If you are growing papaya plants inside strictly, you can pollinate these flowers yourself by using a cotton swab or a small paintbrush.

Fruiting Stage: After the flowering stage, if the flowers have been pollinated you should begin seeing fruits growing from the flowers after a few more months. About 3 to 7 months after the flowers you could be harvesting fresh papaya fruit for yourself. Depending on conditions and the vitality of the plant, you could get high-quality fruit from your trees for the next 4 to 5 years.

Mature Tree: During this time the tree starts to get very high. You may not be able to safely reach the fruits of the tree, it could break and fall with a high wind gust, or it could get something like root rot. As the trees mature they get weaker and more susceptible to disease. Around this age, it’s time to start thinking about replacing existing trees.

Papaya Trees Are Easy To Grow

You can go to the grocery store, buy a papaya fruit, and grow your own plant from the seeds. All you have to do is wash the seeds, break the outer sac that contains the seed—this outer shell inhibits germination—dry the seeds for a day or two, then plant them.

That’s basically it, no stratification is required. The seeds will start sprouting in a few weeks. You’ll just need to have well-drained soil, keep the soil moist, and make sure they are kept very warm. Papaya trees thrive in higher temperatures.

According to the University of Florida, to start growing papaya trees, remove the seeds from ripe fruit and rinse through a colander. Break the seed’s surrounding sac by pressing the seeds against the side of the colander. Rinse them thoroughly then lay them out on a paper towel to dry. Once they are dry, the seeds can be stored in a plastic bag and in the refrigerator for a few years for later use.

Papaya Trees Need Moist Soil

One of the biggest problems with papaya trees is that the roots don’t handle standing water at all. They love water but are finicky about it. The soil has to stay moist, and the plant can’t dry out, but standing water will cause root rot to set in quickly.

If you plan to grow papaya or other fruit trees, the FoxFarm FX14100 Coco Loco Potting Mix is the perfect soil to do so! The coconut coir in this potting mix can hold more water than its weight, while still being a well-draining soil.

Papaya Trees Love The Heat

Since they come from a tropical climate, papaya trees need it hot to grow and produce fruit.

If you live in USDA Hardiness Zones 9-12 you should be able to plant papayas outside as long as you protect them from freezing temperatures. If you live in cooler climates the trees will most likely be ornamental trees for one year, unless you can bring them inside during the cooler months.

Starting your own papaya seeds is easy with this 2 Sets Seed Starter Tray with Heat Mats. This will help to keep the seeds moist, and it offers the correct soil temperatures as papaya seeds need the soil temperature to stay in the range of 60-70°F for proper growth.

Papaya Trees Need Fertilizer

Papaya trees grow quite fast, so they require a lot of organic material such as compost, and/or fertilizer. Typical trees native to your growing zone only require fertilizer about every one or two years, whereas papayas will need nutrients about every month during the warm, growing months.

So while they are easy to grow, they do require a decent amount of your attention.

The Nelson Citrus Fruit and Avocado Tree Plant Food is a great fertilizer choice for your papaya tree. It has a balanced nutrient ratio specifically for fruit trees to properly grow fruit. Additionally, this fertilizer has added calcium to help improve the growth of the papaya tree trunk and limbs and added potassium to assist the tree during colder temperatures.

Papaya Trees Need Full Sun

Sunlight is crucial for the growth and development of your papaya tree. Papayas need a lot of sun. If you plant papaya trees outside, they need all the sunlight, so don’t plant them around other trees or buildings that might shade them. If you grow them inside you’ll need either a sunroom that gets 6 to 8 hours a day of full sun or a greenhouse.

Papaya Trees As Ornamentals

Some people like to grow papaya trees as annual, fast-growing, ornamental trees outdoors.

There’s certainly nothing wrong with this, and they can be beautiful specimens prized for their large, broad leaves and tropical look. Once cold weather sets in and they get a hard frost, it will finish them off for the season.

Once winter has played out, you can start seeds inside again, and once the threat of frost is gone, plant the papaya trees outdoors for a new round of ornamental trees. Papaya trees need consistent temperatures in the 80s and 90s to grow fruits, so areas farther north may not get the hot weather that will grow papaya fruit.

If you do end up getting green fruits but they don’t ripen, you can still use them. Green, unripe papaya is used in cooking or as a substitute for winter squash. There are a lot of recipes out there that utilize green papaya, so if that’s all you can grow in your area, don’t throw them away, cook them!

That’s A Wrap!

Now that you know how long papaya trees will last and how fast they grow, we hope you go out there and grow your own. These trees are easy to grow, but they are a bit finicky. Once you have everything figured out, it’s not hard to keep papaya trees growing.

In perfect tropical conditions, papaya trees will last for decades. If you are growing them for fruit production, then you’ll only want to keep them growing for 4 to 7 years, after that it’s best to replace them with new, vigorous growing papaya trees. You can keep your trees alive for years with proper care, but as they age it gets less prudent to keep them alive because they are so easy to replace.

We hope this has been of some help to you on your papaya tree journey!

References

Wang, Ren-Huang, et al. “Leaf age and light intensity affect gas exchange parameters and photosynthesis within the developing canopy of field net-house-grown papaya trees.” Scientia Horticulturae 165 (2014): 365-373.

Wadekar, Ashish B., et al. “Morphology, phytochemistry and pharmacological aspects of Carica papaya, an review.” GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences 14.3 (2021): 234-248.

Liao, Zhenyang, Qingyi Yu, and Ray Ming. “Development of male-specific markers and identification of sex reversal mutants in papaya.” Euphytica 213.2 (2017): 1-12.

Niklas, Karl J., and Thomas E. Marler. “Carica papaya (Caricaceae): a case study into the effects of domestication on plant vegetative growth and reproduction.” American Journal of Botany 94.6 (2007): 999-1002.