Product Bio

To sprout papaya seeds, place them in seedling starting soil and keep moist and warm. Seeds sprout quickly, and the plants will begin rapid growth. Papaya plants grown from seeds should only be repotted once: from the container you started the seed into a larger permanent container. Unless you live in USDA Zone 9b or higher, your papaya is a single-season novelty plant. It's best to grow them in fairly large containers (at least three gallons) as part of a mixed container. At the end of the season, cut the papaya off at the soil level and let the other plants fill in. If you live in a warm enough climate (no frost), you might be able to transplant the papaya outside.

Papaya plants grow in similar situations to bananas, requiring bright light, humidity, heat, plenty of fertilizer, and water. Also, like the banana, it's an extremely fast-growing semi-woody plant with large leaves that are the very essence of the tropics. As the plant grows, the lower leaves will yellow and fall off, leaving behind half-moon shaped leaf scars. It's unlikely indoor papaya will flower, but if it does, you'll find out if your plant is male or female. Female plants have fragrant white flowers that emerge from the axis between the stem and leaf. Male plants have smaller yellow or white flowers that grow on pendant stalks. Papaya sap can be slightly caustic, so it's best to avoid the sticky white sap whenever possible. The plant itself is not toxic, but it is used as a digestive aid because of the presence of enzymes that help digest protein.