Author Topic: Papaya question  (Read 1694 times)

AndrewAZ

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Papaya question
« on: March 17, 2018, 12:17:11 AM »
I have a Papaya tree growing in Scottsdale,  AZ.  Been in ground 3 years.  At least 15 feet tall.  Constantly with fruit.  Bought it as an unnamed seedling at a garden event.
Problem is, I don't like the taste of the fruit.  Kind of has an unpleasant aftertaste.
Anyone have recommendation for easy to find varieties, that would be on the high end of the flavor profile?

shinzo

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Re: Papaya question
« Reply #1 on: March 17, 2018, 12:27:16 PM »
Did you try to pick the fruit at different ripening stages to be sure that you aren't tasing an overripe fruit?
For my first papaya fruits, i let them turn completely yellow on the tree and they had a bad taste, but last time i tried to pick them 1/4 or half yellow and the bad taste was gone, especially when you squeeze citrus over the fruit.

sahai1

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Re: Papaya question
« Reply #2 on: March 17, 2018, 08:04:08 PM »
can you check the flowers and check if they are 10 flower hermie, or 5 flower hermie?
I think I read the 10 flower hermie are bland. 

Maybe you can try some manure fertilizer also. 

PurpleAlligator

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Re: Papaya question
« Reply #3 on: March 17, 2018, 09:31:04 PM »
Squeeze lime on top, a great combo.

pineislander

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Re: Papaya question
« Reply #4 on: March 17, 2018, 09:48:22 PM »
can you check the flowers and check if they are 10 flower hermie, or 5 flower hermie?
I think I read the 10 flower hermie are bland. 

Are you speaking of 5 vs 10 petals or 5 vs 10 anthers?
I haven't heard this but am interested.

Mike T

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Re: Papaya question
« Reply #5 on: March 17, 2018, 09:59:16 PM »
I bet it is yellow fleshed,female and in climate a little too cool in winter.The unpleasant almost hydrocarbon taint is referred to as nasturtium. It is more prevalent in some lines. If someones' first papaya taste is one like that instead of a hermie red of say a solo type grown in nice warm Hawaii it might be the last time the person eats papaya.
Make sure the tree has excess Mg and potash and see if the fruit get better.

RodneyS

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Re: Papaya question
« Reply #6 on: March 18, 2018, 04:36:38 AM »
I recommend Sunrise papaya.  I obtained my seeds from the University of Hawaii at Manoa seed bank

fruitlovers

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Re: Papaya question
« Reply #7 on: March 18, 2018, 05:39:11 AM »
I have a Papaya tree growing in Scottsdale,  AZ.  Been in ground 3 years.  At least 15 feet tall.  Constantly with fruit.  Bought it as an unnamed seedling at a garden event.
Problem is, I don't like the taste of the fruit.  Kind of has an unpleasant aftertaste.
Anyone have recommendation for easy to find varieties, that would be on the high end of the flavor profile?
In your climate zone no papaya is going to taste very good in winter or fall. They need warm weather to develop good sweet taste. Good complete fertilizer will also help.
Oscar

sahai1

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Re: Papaya question
« Reply #8 on: March 18, 2018, 09:27:02 AM »
can you check the flowers and check if they are 10 flower hermie, or 5 flower hermie?
I think I read the 10 flower hermie are bland. 

Are you speaking of 5 vs 10 petals or 5 vs 10 anthers?
I haven't heard this but am interested.

yes the anthers, kind of like small flowers inside the flowers, was reading online about papaya gender, really quite complex, never gave it much thought until recently.