Grow papaya in Bay Area?
I could grow them in pots. This way I can bring them inside in winter to prevent root rot and move them outside against a wall in the summer. However, I've read somewhere that papayas have a tap root, so I'm not sure how big of a container I need.
So it seems to me that the best variety would be either a dwarf (for container) or a fast growing one that would set fruit before being killed the the winter. Any advice on good varieties to try? TIA!
The following thread was started by Dan on November 03, 2009 at 11:23 am PST
The babaco is the best type to grow since it will survive our winters in sheltered locations and you only need one for fruit. My babaco grew a ton this year though all of the fruit fell off.
I'm growing many papayas in my greenhouse in a 25gal container started from a store bought fruit. With normal papayas you need a male and a female or a hermaphrodite for fruit. We'll see if these survive winter and set fruit.
The above followup was added by Jason (z17, Palo Alto) on November 03, 2009 at 3:11 pm PST.
So I took the seeds of a mexican papaya to see if they would live just for the heck of it.
Indoors in my warm room they germinated and did fine until limited by the pot size.
Outdoors one did live until late August. The catch is it was extremely stunted. Down to about 2 inches with mini leaves ,etc.
I'm pretty sure papaya wouldn't grow outside here even if you ran heat cables in the soil or something.
The above followup was added by Brian on November 03, 2009 at 7:11 pm PST.
I did the same thing as Brian. The seeds germinated great and I took six of the best seedlings and planted them in one large tub, enclosing them in a chicken wire/poly sheet cylinder. They have "thrived" outside in a hot spot against the south side of the house--about 2.5 ft tall now, very leafy. But we have had a rather warm summer here, even for fog-prone Los Osos. Just about ready with the new little greenhouse to put those babies inside for the Fall and Winter.
We'll see. I'd like to at least get to flowering stage so I can try to select an hermaphrodite (if I got one).
Speaking of which, do the hermaphrodites still need pollination intervention (insects, paint brush, etc.) or do they just "do it" by themselves?
The above followup was added by Steve in Los Osos on November 03, 2009 at 8:25 pm PST.
My TR Hoveys have done great. Very healthy, green leaves. I bring them into a heated greenhouse during the winter, but they spend the summer outside. Currently they are in 15 gallon pots. They have not yet fruited so I don't know how the weather will effect that.
-Brett
The above followup was added by Brett Elicker on November 04, 2009 at 10:10 am PST.
There is an absoloutly bueatifull papaya seedling growing in the ground in woodland.
It is ~5 ft tall and looks very healty.
It is in a courtyard wich opens to the south, behind a local resturant (extremly protected location).
I will have to keep an eye on it this winter to see if by chance it survives the cold wet winter soil.
It is by far the best looking papaya I have seen here in the valley.
The above followup was added by Jeff (woodland) on November 07, 2009 at 7:18 am PST.