Fruit For Thought

Growing papayas is easy and very rewarding.  But it helps if you live in a warm climate all year around, like in Barbados.  Plant some small black seeds from the pulp of a sweet papaya in a small container with potting mix, spacing them out evenly in the pot to give them enough room to grow.  In about a week, they will start to germinate, and plant growth is fairly rapid once the seedlings get enough light and water. 

When the seedlings are about a foot tall, they can be separated and planted in the garden with loosely packed soil enriched with manure.  The seedlings will grow quickly and start to put out flowers within a few months.  After about 6 months in the ground, you will find fruits starting to emerge from the blossoms.  Some of the fruits, depending on the species of papaya, can get very large and heavy.  Since healthy papaya trees can put out multiple fruits at one time, it can become a heavy load for the tree to bear.  If the tree is not growing straight, it can be propped up with ropes or stakes to prevent it from bending over and breaking from the weight of all the fruit.  The trees produce fruit year round, which make it a joy to have as part of any kitchen garden.

Papayas can be allowed to ripen on the tree, although birds may peck at the ripening fruits, so picking them less than fully ripe may be a better option.  Once picked semi-green, they take about 1-3 days to fully ripen.  They can grow as large as 20” long and weigh several pounds.

Mature Papaya tree (Carica papaya; left); reaping a ripe papaya (centre; photo by Karen Wise Photography); papaya ready to eat (right; photo by Karen Wise Photography @ www.foodandart.com).

  

Papaya can be eaten as is, added to fruit salad, salsas, or blended in fruit drinks and smoothies.  The seeds are edible as well, and have a peppery flavour.

Papaya interior with black seeds (left); papaya sectioned for serving (right).

Papaya, also known in some parts of the world as ‘paw paw’, is a delicious tropical fruit with numerous health benefits.  They are a rich source of nutrients, including carotenes (vitamin A), vitamin C, and flavonoids, B vitamins, folate, pantothenic acid, potassium, copper and magnesium.  They are also rich in fiber and contain the digestive enzyme, papain. 

If you live in a tropical or sub-tropical area, papayas make a great addition to your kitchen garden and are so simple to grow.  You will enjoy growing them and reaping the benefits of this delicious, colourful, and healthy tropical fruit.