Buy 5 or more items and receive a 25% discount use coupon code: 25PERCENTOFF The papaya is believed to be native to southern Mexico and neighboring Central America. It is now present in every tropical and subtropical country. It is a large tree-like plant, the single stem growing from 5 to 10 meters tall, with spirally arranged leaves confined to the top of the trunk; the lower trunk is conspicuously scarred where leaves and fruit were borne. The leaves are large, 50-70 cm diameter, deeply palmately lobed with 7 lobes. The tree is usually unbranched if unlopped. The flowers are similar in shape to the flowers of the Plumeria but are much smaller and wax like. They appear on the axils of the leaves, maturing into the large 15-45 cm long, 10-30 cm diameter fruit. Papayas have exacting climate requirements for vigorous growth and fruit production. They must have warmth throughout the year and will be damaged by light frosts. Brief exposure to 32 F is damaging and prolonged cold without overhead sprinkling will kill the plants. Cold, wet soil is almost always lethal. Cool temperatures will also alter fruit flavor. Papayas make excellent container and greenhouse specimens where soil moisture and temperature can be moderated. Maturity period/ Harvest info Approximately 3-6 months after flowering. Harvest when the fruit skin turn yellowish. Nutrition Info : Good sources of Vitamin A C, high in dietary fiber, potassium, carotenes Health benefit and Uses :Protect colon cancer, its digestive enzymes cure sport injuries Cooking info :Steamed, boiled, mashed or fried for dessert. Eat raw as fruit We sell some different varieties : Tropical Dwarf Papaya is a fast growing papaya, it only reaches 3- 5 feet but bears fruits as large as 2 lbs in 6-8 months from seed. Its a great container plant. Khak Dam Papaya - one of the varieties favoured for making som tam salad Long Papaya - the other variety favoured for som tam salad making Sweet Papaya - Used exclusively as a fruit Growing the seed ******************* Mix the seeds, with a handful of peat moss. Spread the mix evenly over a tray containing 3 to 4 inches of a good planting mix. Cover that with inch of the same mix. Cover with Cling Film until they break the surface, keep the soil medium damp not wet. Sprouting takes from 15 days to six weeks or longer for some strange reason. Bottom heat always helps. Prick the seedlings out when they are about 2 inches tall and transplant into 4-inch containers in a potting soil that is drained well. You will lose a few to damping off. Don’t plant in the ground until the soil temperature is at least 55 degrees F; 70 F is better. Papayas like to be warm with both sunshine and reflected heat, so the hottest place against the house where nothing else seems happy is an ideal location. They also like to be as free from wind as possible, although this is not as critical as their need for sun. Papayas can be grown successfully in the shade, but the fruit is rarely as sweet. They are best planted in mounds or against the foundation of a building where water can be controlled.