Big papaya tree

[sunny]

I like big papaya tree, you also have picture?

This tree was cut back many time but still grow more.

[simon_grow]

That tree is beautiful, thanks for sharing. I wonder if the owners are able to harvest the fruit since it’s so high up? That is the largest papaya tree I’ve ever seen!

Simon

[shinzo]

Interesting to see that a papaya tree can be refurbished many times in a backyard context, the majority of the info in the web says that for commercial context the trees are replaced each 3 or 4 years because too tall (harvesting costs), but for us backyard growers it is interesting to see that there is an alternative option to expand the period of productivity of the tree cutting it back each time 

[pineislander]

They grow so fast I still think it best to replace them more often by planting at least one new one every year. That can also be a backup in case of disease, toppling or dying off, and rotation of the soil to something different. Choose a full sun space and they don't grow as tall. Choose a space between young fruit trees and make use of that until they mature.

[shinzo]

It is true that it is always preferable to plant more trees, but for my case, i don't have additional spots in my garden, even for a papaya, that's why i am interested in optimizing the lifespan of my 2 papaya trees.

[greenman62]

ive had a few large ones, but man
that puppy is huge.

i have 4 now fruiting
1 is 4 years old, and the top either died back or froze every year
this last Jan we had one very cold night to 26F.
it froze to under 3ft tall
but, it produced 3 branches that now have fruit.
The trunk is as wide as my waist, or more.

none have ripened yet, but, it is a little more in the shade
than the one i have that gave me a ripe fruit last week.
and, i have another in full sun that still doesnt have any ripe ones.

i know they like soft very rich soil.and need excellent drainage, but still want moisture.
the deeper the roots can go (without rotting)
the more root mass the plant has in spring to start growing and fruiting again.
the ground temps are much more stable than air temps.
This is a key point to me, very good, deep, loose, rich soil.

[JeffDM]

I thought some of my plants were unusually tall, but I guess not.

[sunny]

The big papaya is more than 10 years old and on a hill. It gives fruit but too high for plucking.
 If it was not cut back would be bigger than now.

This is biggest papayatree i ever see so i hope somebody can show bigger one on picture.

[marklee]

This is one from my front yard surrounded by cement, that is the reason it has gotten so big here in southern California. I can't reach the fruit anymore on a six foot ladder. It came from Pine Island as a "dwarf red lady" It is mostly seedless. It will be getting the axe soon. The fruit is not that sweet either.

[shinzo]

This is one from my front yard surrounded by cement, that is the reason it has gotten so big here in southern California. I can't reach the fruit anymore on a six foot ladder. It came from Pine Island as a "dwarf red lady" It is mostly seedless. It will be getting the axe soon. The fruit is not that sweet either.

Nice looking tree. Did you top it before? or the tree grew multiple branches by itself?

[mangaba]

When my papaya trees get tall, I cut the top and cover with a plastic bucket. After some months side branches sprought. When they are about 6 inches length I remove some branches and replant them. My experience is that papaya trees  grow better in rocky soil compared to soft soil.

[marklee]

This is one from my front yard surrounded by cement, that is the reason it has gotten so big here in southern California. I can't reach the fruit anymore on a six foot ladder. It came from Pine Island as a "dwarf red lady" It is mostly seedless. It will be getting the axe soon. The fruit is not that sweet either.

Nice looking tree. Did you top it before? or the tree grew multiple branches by itself?

I never topped it, it has just grown that way naturally.

[greenman62]

this one is about 5 years old
the trunk froze last year.
you cant see it, but the main trunk is about the size of my waist.
it started re-growing with 3 stems



this is from another tree.



my secret to container papaya
(and container plants in general)
$ 0.99 cent store plastic buckets with holes in them
cheap air-pruning
about 2.5 gallon, good size for seedlings.
use a soil with a lot of sand and perlite for drainage
and sifted compost

[shinzo]

When my papaya trees get tall, I cut the top and cover with a plastic bucket. After some months side branches sprought. When they are about 6 inches length I remove some branches and replant them. My experience is that papaya trees  grow better in rocky soil compared to soft soil.

Do the the branches you cut and plant root easily? At which height do you cut the tall papaya tree?