I have two large male papaya trees and last year one of them grew a female plant from the bottom of it's trunk. This is common in papayas, if there are only male trees, one will sprout a female tree, and if all female trees, one will sprout a male tree. This I've not seen before though, a male tree with fruit!! These are growing at the ends of the flowering stems. There are either 4 or 6 fruits, can't remember the exact number.
Hermaphrodites? (sp?)
Sure wish I lived where I could have fresh papaya... but not the heat!
I believe this is what you are referring to...."Carica Papaya male plant; Notice the single fruit hanging down from the center next to the trunk. Sometimes Papaya can have both sexes on same plant." http://www.texasriviera.com/greenthumbs/papaya7.html
This one has not had fruit before while the much shorter female has many fruits right up against the trunk. This male plant is 10ft tall and now has 6 fruits! The man at the tropical fruit nursery told me they do this sometimes. He showed me a stand of female papayas and one had grown a sprout from the rootzone that was a male plant. I just thought it was really odd.
I don't care if they fruit, I don't like fresh papaya. I love them for the scented flowers, and only the male plants have the long stems with fragrant flowers.
Cala ... i hope this url help u http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/papaya.html
in the orient green papaya fruit are pickled and taste so good. green papaya are also good in boiled meat like chicken or beef, similar to other vegetable u'd add in boiled dishes. whereas the ripe, yellow papaya do taste better if u squeeze some lemon juice as u eat them. we normally have them for breakfast.
Thanks MaVie for the link. I will try some lemon, but I think I need to look for the Solo papayas. My neighbor did tell me to look for a certain brand, then I couldn't remember which kind he said was sweeter.
While I love papayas, I cannot stand them if they are too ripe. I usually use lemon juice like MaVie, but my mother cuts them up with orange sections, also good. I've taken a like to the imported small red papayas showing up in the groceries here.
u're welcome Cala :). so far, i have not found a papaya i like as yet, except for the green ones... i used for cooking. i guess i was spoiled having them right off the tree in P.I. where they are picked ripe off the tree. the ones i find locally are way too riped, and they have some funny taste to them.
i am glad Darius find some to her liking, i have yet to find one!
MaVie, I know what you mean about the funny taste! Some I've tried here are pretty yuckie! I will try mine from the tree when they get ripe, see if they are any better. I do like dried papaya.
edited to remove double entry.
This message was edited May 8, 2004 1:09 PM
ripe off the tree, is the best so far Cala. i am pretty sure u will enjoy that fruit. just like other fruit or veggies, if they are allowed to 'sit' for a while, their essence and true flavor vanishes. u are lucky!!! makes me wish i could go to the orient or a farm nearby and pick them myself. wishful thinking hehehehe.
Happy Mother's day Cala!
Amaryllis 'Minerva'
Thanks MaVie, happy Mother's Day to you too!
