Author Topic: Red Lady Papaya - when to pick?  (Read 2810 times)

bradflorida

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Red Lady Papaya - when to pick?
« on: October 12, 2014, 04:51:48 PM »
When is this variety of papaya ready to pick?  Do I judge by softness of fruit or color?  How much color?  Will they ripen off the plant?


Brad

cbss_daviefl

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Re: Red Lady Papaya - when to pick?
« Reply #1 on: October 12, 2014, 06:19:40 PM »
Can be picked at 1/4 yellowing. Commercial growers pick at first sign of yellowing. It will continue to ripen after picking.
Brandon

Jsvand5

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Re: Red Lady Papaya - when to pick?
« Reply #2 on: October 12, 2014, 08:22:12 PM »
Thanks. Mine looks the same. I was starting to wonder if they were going to ripen before winter but I am seeing a tiny amount of yellow now.

gnappi

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Re: Red Lady Papaya - when to pick?
« Reply #3 on: October 13, 2014, 12:56:35 AM »
When is this variety of papaya ready to pick?  Do I judge by softness of fruit or color?  How much color?  Will they ripen off the plant?



I pick mine at almost full color and they are more sweet, and have a distinct overtone of cantalope flavor.
Regards,

   Gary

davidgarcia899

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Re: Red Lady Papaya - when to pick?
« Reply #4 on: October 13, 2014, 09:33:47 PM »
Have you been spraying? In Florida papayas get wasps
- David Antonio Garcia

BrettBorders

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Re: Red Lady Papaya - when to pick?
« Reply #5 on: October 14, 2014, 09:10:19 AM »
I pick about 30% yellow. I like eating papaya green and half-ripe.

Jsvand5

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Re: Red Lady Papaya - when to pick?
« Reply #6 on: October 14, 2014, 09:13:25 AM »
Have you been spraying? In Florida papayas get wasps

Any idea how far north the wasps are? I'm hoping that I am ok up here in ocala.

gunnar429

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Re: Red Lady Papaya - when to pick?
« Reply #7 on: October 14, 2014, 09:29:55 AM »
I have seen them in some of my fruit, but most of the ones left seem ok.  I won't know until they ripen, but I noticed that the ones that were invaded had a clearish white glue-like residue on the immature green fruit.  Once the spring ended, it seemed to die down a lot, and haven't noticed any signs of wasps in a few months.  Fingers crossed!
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davidgarcia899

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Re: Red Lady Papaya - when to pick?
« Reply #8 on: October 14, 2014, 10:00:28 AM »
I've never grown a papaya that doesnt have wasps. Attacks do die down, but usually they will show up at some point during the fruits growing cycle.

Idk if you have them in Ocala. My guess is they can overwinter in the fruit
- David Antonio Garcia