Stawberry Papaya - Tasting

[sc4001992]

Question for you. Have you tried this tropical Strawberry Papaya fruit. I purchased a few fruits from the market, and it is very good tasting to me. Wondering if anyone else has tried this variety and if it is worth growing from seed.

I'll post a few photos later today.

[Kevin Jones]

Sounds interesting Kaz...
Chain grocery or local green grocery?
I'll try to find one.

Kevin

[SHV]

I’ve always enjoyed both the strawberry papaya and rainbow papayas that I get in Hawaii.  They make the Mexican papaya taste like puke by comparison.  Unfortunately , I’ve never had any luck growing these in San Diego, but the Mexican papaya does just fine. 

[MasOlas]

Can confirm Mexican grow very well in SD. I've got some Hawaiian seedling varieties I'm trying to nurse through winter before planting them in the ground in spring. Would love a few seed if you still have any?

[TheVeggieProfessor]

Best I've ever had.

[sc4001992]

I purchased the fruits from an asian market, but the label on the package say Melissa's which is a poplular supplier here in SoCal. I know when we have the OC fair with the CRFG booth, all of are sample display fruits are donated from Melissa's.

Yes, MasOias, I can send you some seeds (10-20) to grow out, send me a message.

[sc4001992]

I do remember having a large Mexican papaya tree in my son's yard, it was huge, as tall as the chimney on the house and the fruits weighed up to 8 lbs each. Taste of those Mexican papaya  was just ok, more watery than sweet. This big tree eventually fell over and died.

[sc4001992]

Here's the photos of the 2 fruits I purchased.

[RodneyS]

I've been growing Sunrise (aka Strawberry) Papaya for around a decade.  It's a vigorous grower, and bred to be mainly hermaphrodite.  No musk smell at all, unlike Maradol Papaya.  Very sweet

[sc4001992]

Ridney, your tree and fruits look nice. How old and large does the tree need to be before it fruits?

[RodneyS]

It'll flower within a year from sprouting in-ground.  They are vigorous growers

[sc4001992]

Ok, good to know, thanks.

[Mike T]

There are an awful lot of papaya varieties and vatiations. I have found as a general rule the redder the better, the more solid without space in the middle the better and bisex is better. The solo and long red types are good alright and broadleaf reds are good and firmer, The strawberry in the pic looks ok but would be better with better coloured flesh and more solid with thicker flesh. It is from a bisex tree and is what the older solo types look like.