Garden Blog - Top Tropicals
Date:
Carefree
Garden:
How easy is it to grow a Papaya tree?
Q: What is the easiest to grow fruit tree? It must tolerate, heat, rains, and hurricanes! I live in Florida.
A: Papaya is the easiest to grow fruit tree. In our garden in Florida, newly planted Papaya trees survived several hurricanes, frosts, drought and heat, and keep producing year around!
We all enjoy eating Papaya fruit every day. It is great for digestion and is a perfect naturally sweet, healthy snack. Even our PeopleCats love Papaya. Check out this short video how our cat Cash is begging for his daily Papaya treat!
Why do we love Papaya? Fun facts about Papaya:
Not a tree: Papaya is technically a giant herb with a single, straight trunk that can grow up to 30 feet tall.
Gender flexible: Papaya plants can change their gender based on environmental conditions. This complex mechanism ensures better adaptability.
Cold and wind resistant: Papayas can withstand light freezes and strong winds, making them surprisingly hardy for a tropical plant.
Solo cultivars: These smaller, round or oval papayas are incredibly sweet and less susceptible to fruit flies.
How to grow a Papaya Tree: Practical Guide
Papaya is one of the fastest fruiting plants to grow. Often starting production the same year from planting a seed, papayas are ideal for gardeners seeking quick rewards. Many dwarf varieties reach only 6-8 feet tall, yet produce large crops of full-sized fruit that are easy to harvest. Papaya trees are space-efficient, making it possible to plant multiple trees in even small gardens. Plant 2-3 different cultivars to enjoy year-round harvests of healthy, delicious fruit.
How Easy Are Papaya Trees to Grow?
Papaya trees are exceptionally easy to grow. Technically a large herbaceous
plant rather than a true tree, they are resilient and adaptable. They can
tolerate light freezes and even hurricane winds without significant damage.
Additionally, many varieties are self-fertile, but planting multiple trees
encourages better pollination and higher yields.
What Light Levels and Soil Types Are Ideal?
Papayas thrive in full sunlight, so choose a sunny spot in your garden or
balcony. They prefer well-draining, fertile soil enriched with organic matter.
Add compost or manure to improve soil quality and ensure healthy growth.
Avoid waterlogged areas as papayas are sensitive to standing water.
How Much Watering Is Required?
Papayas need some watering to thrive, especially during the growing and
fruiting seasons. Water deeply once or twice a week, depending on your climate,
ensuring the soil remains moist but not waterlogged. Mulching around the base
helps retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.
Growing Papayas in Containers
Papayas can be successfully grown in large containers, making them ideal
for gardeners in cooler regions or those with limited space. Choose a container
at least 7 gallons in size with good drainage. Use a rich, well-draining
potting mix, and place the container in a sunny location. Select dwarf varieties
to keep the plant manageable and productive.
Health Benefits of Papaya
Papaya is considered a superfood due to its high nutritional value. Rich in
the enzyme papain, it aids digestion and promotes gut health. Papaya is also
an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and E, as well as antioxidants that
boost immunity and overall wellness. Additionally, papaya leaves can be used as
wraps for cooking meats, naturally tenderizing them.
Papayas are a low-maintenance, high-reward addition to a Southern garden or greenhouse collection, whether in the ground or in a container. Their fast growth, year-round fruiting potential, and health benefits make them a must-have for gardeners and fruit enthusiasts alike.
Photo above: For small gardens, limited space, or container culture, choose dwarf varieties that remain compact and short (5-8 ft tall) while producing a tremendous amount of fruit! Most productive dwarf varieties: Red Vietnam, Lady Red, TR Hovey, Wan Deng. Semi-dwarf: Waimanalo, Sunrise.
How to have fresh Papaya fruit year around
- 🟠 Many people include Papaya fruit in their daily diet because of its healing properties for digestive system. You can eat Papaya fresh as a tasty dessert, add to salads ripe or green, use fruit and leaf wraps in cooking - possibilities are endless.
- 🟠 Buying papaya fruit from the store every day can become costly. So you can plant your own tree - Papayas are heavy producers. But like with many fruit trees, the question may arise:
❓ What to do with so many fruit at once, and where to get the fruit when it's out of season?
- 🟠 The answer is: plant several varieties. Different Papaya cultivars, similar to Mango and Avocado, have different crop seasons.
- 🟠 If you want to enjoy fresh delicious Papaya fruit year around, plant several Papaya varieties in your garden that have different ripening times.
- 🟠 Papaya tree doesn't take any room in your garden: similar to a palm tree, all its leaves/crown is up high, so you can plant as many trees as you want in a very limited space and still use the room under Papaya tree for other plants.
For example:
Waimanalo - ripens from July to October and sporadically throughout the year.
Sunrise - ripens from January through September and sporadically throughout the year.
Maradol - ripens from August through March and sporadically throughout the year.
🛒 Limited time offer: Papaya collection - 3 trees for half price!
Shop Papaya varieties
📚 Learn more from previous posts:
The secret facts of Papaya's private life
Top 3 most wanted Papaya varieties
#Food_Forest
🏵 TopTropicals
The truth about Papaya:
1) it is grass, and
2) it can go transgender!
The secret facts of Papaya's private life.
- 📌 Did you know that Papaya technically is not a tree? It is a large herbaceous plant, usually with a single, straight trunk that can reach 30 feet!
- 📌 Many dwarf varieties available in selection, reaching only 6-8 ft tall, but producing large crops of full size fruit - they are easy to harvest.
- 📌 Papaya trees have very complex gender mechanism, but the bottom line is - the tree can chance its sex based on conditions! Many varieties are self-fertile, but it always recommended to plant a few trees for cross-pollination and better yield.
- 📌 The sweetest Papaya is from so called "Solo" cultivars: the fruit is usually round or oval, on a smaller side, but super sweet.
- 📌 Fruit from Solo cultivars are not susceptible to fruit flies.
- 📌 Being officially a tropical plant, Papaya is pretty cold resistant and can withstand light freeze without significant damage.
- 📌 Surprisingly, Papayas are also hurricane-resistant plants and can take strong winds without damage. They still stand when other trees are down!
- 📌 Papaya is one of the Super-Foods thanks to papain - a natural enzyme containing in this fruit. Papaya fruit offers the best digestive aid! Eat some papaya after each meal to maintain healthy digestion.
- 📌 Try papaya leaf wraps for cooking meats - you won't need a meat tenderizer!
- 📌 Easy to grow trees, Papayas don't take any space in the garden, but bring so much goodness into your life!
🛒 Shop Papaya Trees
#Food_Forest
🏵 TopTropicals
What is the biggest papaya fruit on the smallest tree?
Papaya TR Hovey
🍈 We discovered an amazing Papaya variety. It is called TR Hovey. This dwarf tree is only 4-5 ft tall and yet produces giant sweet papayas size of a melon!
📚More about Papaya from earlier posts:
Carefree Garden: How Easy Is It to Grow a Papaya Tree?
Top 10 fruit you'll ever need for your health benefits: #4 Papaya
Top 10 fast-fruiting trees: #6. Papaya
How to have fresh Papaya fruit year around
Top 3 most wanted Papaya varieties
The truth about Papaya
Papayas contain a secret enzyme
🛒 Shop Papaya trees
#Food_Forest #Papaya
🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals
Top 10 fruit youll ever need for your health benefits:
#4 Papaya 🍊
🟡 Papaya is a popular ingredient in salads, smoothies, and tropical desserts.- 🟡It contains enzymes like papain that aid digestion and reduce bloating.
- 🟡It is high in vitamin C and vitamin A, the antioxidants in papaya may protect against heart disease and reduce cancer risk.
📚 More about Papaya from previous posts:
- 💋 How to have fresh Papaya fruit year around
- 💋Top 3 most wanted Papaya varieties
- 💋The secret facts of Papaya's private life
- 💋Papaya-Citrus Marinade
- 💋Top 10 fast-fruiting trees: Papaya (Carica papaya)
🛒 Plant a Papaya Tree
#Food_Forest #Remedies #Papaya
🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals
Date:
Libra Zodiac lucky plants
Libra - 9/23-10/22. Libra is an AIR sign, and is ruled by the planet Venus. Because Venus is the planet of beauty and love, Libra's plants often have light, lovely flowers and gorgeous scents.
Libra has been related to the endocrine system, the kidneys, and the bladder. Venus (which also rules Taurus) is responsible for the harmony between the various body systems, as well as the abdomen, kidneys and urinary tract, and thyroid. Libra's plants help to bring balance to these areas of the body. Libra's romantic nature appreciates a spice that cultivates love and sensuality. Cardamom is a spice known for its gently warming nature, so add a sprinkle when you want to heat things up slowly.
Libra Zodiac lucky plants: Jasmine, Gardenia, Euclinia, Pua Keni Keni, Randia, Beaumontia, Faradaya, Butterfly Ginger, Kopsia, Hydrangea, Montanoa, Aglaia, Dwarf Ylang-Ylang, Desmos, Clematis, Almond Bush, Brunfelsia, Four oclock plant, Juniper, Moonflower, Carissa, White Chocolate Jasmine, Night blooming jasmine, Fiddlewood, Honeysuckle, Orchid, Clerodendrums, Millingtonia, Parijat, Fried Egg Tree, Oxyceros, Phaleria, Tuberose, Cubanola, Portlandia, Rothmannia, Allamanda, Nasturtium, Rose, Camellia, Ephedra, Fuchsia, Ylang-Ylang, Magnolia, Stemmadenia, White Plumeria, Appleblossom, Needle Flower Tree, Tree Jasmine, Guaiacum, Epiphyllum, Amazon Lily, India Hawthorn, Stephanotis, Talauma, Pakalana vine, Wrightia, White flowers, Cypress, Lucky Bamboo, Dracaena, Bakul, Apple, Pear, Fig, Raspberry, Olive, Pomegranate, Apricot, Peach, Plum, Loquat, Grape, Blackberry, Mango, Cherries, Chrysobalanus icaco, Berries, Neem tree, Asparagus, Spices, Mint, Catnip, Bergamot, Thyme, Cardamom.
For other signs information, see full Plant Horoscope.
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Top 10 fast-fruiting trees:
#6. Papaya (Carica papaya)
Papaya is probably the fastest fruiting tree that can start production the same year from planting a seed. Many dwarf varieties available in selection, reaching only 6-8 ft tall, but producing large crops of full size fruit - they are easy to harvest. Plant 2-3 Papaya trees of different cultivars that fruit at different times of the year and enjoy heavy crops of healthy fruit year around! Another benefit - this tree doesn't take much space in the garden, you can plant as many as you want.
📚 Learn more from previous post:
- 💋 How to have fresh Papaya fruit year around
- 💋Top 3 most wanted Papaya varieties
- 💋The secret facts of Papaya's private life
- 💋Papaya-Citrus Marinade
- 💋Top 10 fast-fruiting trees
🛒 Shop Papaya varieties
#Food_Forest
🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals
How to eat a papaya?
😂 Cut it open, scoop out the seeds (they're not part of the fun), peel off the skin, and chop it up. Now enjoy the tropical sweetness – no passport required!
🎥 Or, if you are desperate and have no time for prep – do it like Cash in the video!
📚More from previous posts:
Why do we love Papaya?
How easy to grow is Papaya tree?
Top 10 fruit you'll ever need for your health benefits: #4 Papaya
Top 10 fast-fruiting trees: #6. Papaya
How to have fresh Papaya fruit year around
Top 3 most wanted Papaya varieties
The truth about Papaya
Papayas contain a secret enzyme
🛒 Shop Papaya trees
#Food_Forest #PeopleCats #How_to #Papaya
🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals
Date:
Taurus - 4/20-5/20. Taurus is an EARTH sign ruled by the planet Venus.
Venus is the planet that represents desire and beauty, regarded as the female embodiment of sexual love and human appetite, so Taurus plants often have gorgeous flowers and enticing fragrances and, occasionally, red fruit. It rules the internal sexual organs, the nose and sense of smell.
Because Taurus rules the throat and ears, the best plants for the Bull are often soothing to the throat, or may calm the digestive system after overindulging in the finest foods. Taurus is related to those things we want and value. It harmonizes various body systems, and influences the complexion and facial appearance. Also under Venus's dominion are the abdomen, kidney, thymus, and breasts. Venus-governed herbs are soothing and help to regulate the body's metabolism through the endocrine system. Taurus herbs are traditionally used to attract money and resources. Earthy Taurus sign is all about building a stable and comfortable foundation and can help you generate greater abundance and prosperity in your life.
Taurus Zodiac lucky plants - Aglaia, Cananga odorata (Ylang-Ylang), Artabotrys (Climbing Ylang-Ylang), Cerbera, Night blooming jasmine, Chonemorpha, Erblichia, Euodia, Hiptage, Iboza (Musk Bush), Anise, Lavender, Lonchocarpus Lilac Tree, Nutmeg, Parijat, Camphor Basil, Osmanthus, Funeral tree, Quisqualis, Satureja (Kama Sutra Mint Tree), Viburnum, Carissa, Murraya, Curry Leaf, Bunchosia (Peanut butter fruit), Eucalyptus, Lily, Vitex agnus castus (Blue Chaste Tree), Alstonia scholaris (Sapthaparni), Papaya, Maple, Jasmine, Guaiacum, Camellia, Ephedra, Fuchsia, Geranium, Spider lily, Gardenia, Magnolia, Plumeria, Paeonia, Verbena, Clerodendrums, Apple, Pear, Apricot, Peach, Plantain, Olive, Grape, Pomegranate, Mango, Neem Tree, Cherry, Cypresses, all Berries, Raspberry, Asparagus, Mint, Clove, Roses, Stagshorn fern, Catnip.
For other signs information, see full Plant Horoscope.
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Check out our Fragrant Plants for 15% off! 1-day deal only!
Date:
Scorpio - 10/23-11/21.
A WATER sign ruled by both Mars and Pluto.
Scorpio's plants are often found in remote places or on poor ground.
They will likely have thorns, can be red in color, and grow under adversity.
The good news is, most of these plants are nearly indestructible! This makes
them desirable for every gardener.
The reproductive organs are ruled by Scorpio, so these are plants that
balance the hormones, regulate the menstrual cycle, help with childbirth and
pregnancy. Until this century, Scorpio was ruled by Mars, and the herbs
associated with it had to do with the urogenital system and the colon. Many of the
herbs related to Scorpio are cleansing and revitalizing. Now, astrologers
assign Scorpio to Pluto, discovered in 1930 (Pluto is said by astrologers to be a higher octave of Mars). Physiologically, Scorpio involves the processes of catabolism and anabolism, the death and regeneration
of body cells. Diseases of Scorpio are often involved with the slow buildup of
toxic substances in the body (carcinogens, etc) or in the mind (anger,
jealousy). Scorpio loves a spice with depth and complexity. Camphor Basil adds
rich flavor to every dish it seasons, and its own aphrodisiac tendencies appeal to
Scorpio's lusty nature.
Scorpio Zodiac lucky plants:
Ceiba, Baobab, Pistachio, Nutmeg, Thunbergia, Combretums, Dragon fruit, Medinilla, Camphor Basil, Oregano, Vanilla orchid, Hibiscus, Various cacti and succulents,
Adenium, Honeysuckle, Peppers, Cordyline, Spider plant, Jasmine,
Gooseberries, Wild
indigo,
Bougainvillea,
Aloe vera, Raspberry
,
Palmetto, Horseradish tree, Camphor, Allspice and Bay Rum,Jujube, Sweet Mimosa, Agave,
Milkweed, Hong Kong
Orchid Tree, Pony Tail, Dwarf Poinciana, Bottlebrushes, Clusias, Crocosmia, Zig-Zag Cactus, Dracaena, Fire Bush, Hoyas, Jatropha
, Kalanchoe, Sausage tree, Devils Backbone, Pereskia, Red Plumeria, Firecracker, Rattlebox,
Rhoeo,
Calendula, Geranium, Thistles, Mint
, Sage,
Catnip,
Coriander, Sandalwood, Ginseng,
Euphorbias, Acacias.












