Early European adventurer nicknamed the papaya ( Carica papaya ) plant , Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree melons , when they explored tropic field of the Americas . They were misguided ; however , because papayas are actually berries . grant to the University of California , only 10 countries spring up 75 percent of the humanity ’s papayas and the U.S. imports 95 percent of them .
Leading Papaya Producers
Of all the papaya grown in the world , India takes the lead in growing pawpaw . The 2nd highest producer is Brazil , and then comes Indonesia , Nigeria , Mexico , Dominican Republic , Guatemala and Belize , Costa Rica and Ecuador . The U.S. only grow 0.1 percent of papaya production . In the U.S. , the states that arise pawpaw are Hawaii , California , Texas and Florida .
Papaya Growing Climates
You might not have intercourse that papayas , which grow as grandiloquent as 30 foottrees , are herbs . These succulent grow in tropic and subtropical areas . They need temperatures from 70 ° (21.1 ° C ) to 90 ° F ( 32.2 ° C ) , as well as over 40 inch of rainfall annually .
Papayas do n’t tolerate freezing temperatures . They suffer severe scathe , if the temperature gets below 31 ° F ( -0.6 ° carbon ) . They also postulate full sun and well - drained , moist soil with neutral grime pH of 6.0 and 7.0 .
Papayas only last for about four age , even in the well quick and humid climates . you’re able to also plant papaia in USDA Hardiness zones 10 and 11 , if you have irrigation , but your papaya may not survive more than two yr .
Papaya Varieties
Most papayas are one of two miscellany . Hawaiian papaya tree are small and Mexican papayas are big . The most common small varieties are solo cultivar :
In Mexico , the most abundant large cultivar is Maradol , which boast pink to red yield with a very sweet savor . Another Mexican cultivar with medium - sized fruit is Tai Nung . Its fruit is a undimmed Salmon River people of color and very seraphic . The pelt is yellow unripened with spots .
Papayas Grown in the U.S.
The follow list describe which parts of the U.S. develop papayas . All of these Department of State have the climate conditions that make growing papaya potential :
Fruit Production
If youtake forethought of your papayaplants , feed them the required soil conditions , water and weather , then they ’ll produceflowerswithin four calendar month from planting . The fruit build up in seven to eleven month . The amount of fruit you ’ll be able to harvest depends on the papaya variety you planted and your weather conditions . If the conditions are good , you could harvest 60 to 80 Ezra Loomis Pound of papaya from each tree yearly .
