🌴 GROWING GUIDE – Papayas

🌴 GROWING GUIDE – Papayas

The papaya tree is a tropical fruit tree with extremely fast growth. It is easy to grow, but very sensitive to overwatering and cold. With proper care, it can grow and even produce fruit in Quebec, whether in a pot or a greenhouse.

🌱 1. Repotting

The papaya tree hates disturbed roots.

  • Repot only once when it is young.

  • Pot deeper than it is wide.

  • Ideal potting soil: Promix HP + 10–20% perlite.

  • No heavy or compacted soil.

  • Very good drainage is essential.

💡 Papaya trees do not like to be transplanted often: 1 repotting → final pot → let grow.

☀️ 2. Light

Criticism for its success.

  • Full direct sunlight 6–12 hours/day

  • South-facing window or greenhouse

  • Outdoors in summer after acclimatization

💡 More light = explosive growth.

💧 3. Watering

Most common mistake: too much water .

  • Water only when 4–6 cm of the surface is dry.

  • In summer: sometimes every 2–3 days

  • In winter: 1x/week

  • Never leave water in the saucer.

⚠️ Excess water = soft trunk = rapid death.

🌿 4. Fertilizer

Very greedy.

  • Summer: 20-20-20 or fruit tree fertilizer once a week

  • Spring: resumption with half the dose

  • Organic: Actisol excellent

  • Winter: no fertilizer

💡 Papaya trees love potassium → flowers + fruits.

🔥 5. Temperature

  • Optimal temperature: 22–35°C

  • Minimum: 12°C

  • Below 10°C: stress

  • Below 5°C: death

🌸 6. Flowering & Production

Possible in Quebec in a heated greenhouse or in a very bright indoor environment.

  • The males → flowers

  • The females → fruits

  • Hermaphrodites → the best (produce on their own)

💡 Fruits in 8–14 months if conditions are perfect.

❄️ 7. Wintering

  • Mild temperature 15–20°C

  • Very little watering

  • Lots of light

  • No fertilizer

🐛 8. Common problems

Soft trunk → too much water
Leaves falling → normal stress
Slow growth → lack of heat
Yellow spots → magnesium deficiency

⭐ Tropico-Québec Tips

  • Likes being alone in his pot.

  • Don't move it too much.

  • A heated greenhouse is ideal.

  • Add calcium to prevent necrosis.