I never new that about the pepery flavor.! Yes I was very surprised and the sucess rate of papaya seedlings. I have so many trees - I've been treating them like annuals - If any die over the winter, I have several growing in the green house. They are fast growers.
Papaya trees
I just ordered the 18-8-28. I will let you know the resuts.
Can you use this fertilizer on all plants?
I use that on Brugs, Clerodrendrums, ...matter of fact...let me link you to my journal - have posted what this fertilizer is good on. I use it on most of my tropicals.
http://davesgarden.com/journal/ed/index.php?tabid=36
Well, I wiped out my whole category I had in my journal. am trying to get it back.
I use the fertilezer on Daturas occasionaly, Brugs, Bottle Brush, Chocolate plants, Clerodrendrums, Colocasa just a tad, some ferns, night Jasmine loves it, impatiens, Hibiscus of course, Pea Vines, Princess flower (just a small amount) Papaya .
I got notice that my fertilizer is on its way. Sat we are going to a Thanksgiving lunch. I am going to give the hostess a papaya tree. Hope she will appreciate it. Also I grow luffas and will give her one that still has the seeds intact. Hope she like gardening so I can eat!!
LOL, those are great gifts! Hope they care for the plant! I just fertilzed the trees today- it's so warm. I have one tree that I think is trying to go for a record -at least in my yard- it has about 9 growing on it. It's strange, because the tree is growing so fast, that the first papayas it began, are now in the middle of the tree. They are such cool looking plants.
I'll be interested to see what you think about the fertilzer.
Well we went to the Thanksgiving lunch. The papaya may be in trouble. It was about 3 ft tall. Her husband told my husband that she can kill a plastic tree!!! I will email her the care.
LOL, yeah...Papaya trees are probably appreciated most by other gardening enthusiasts.
I bet her husband ends up taking care of it!!
It got a bit nippy here last night. I had a couple of 12 inch papayas that look a little pekid today.
I have taken some pictures of my papayas and green house but am not sure how to get them on this website. I am not so computer sauvy. Can you give me some tips?
I finally got this figured out to post pictures. Here are my trees in my greenhouse.
Cool! They look pretty good! I've been dragging some of mine in and out of the green house. It was pretty warm today. I like your green house. Does the roof open? I planted alot of EE's and really didn't expect them to get going till spring, but they are growing like crazy in there. I think I have a Papapya that is getting ready to be picked. It has lowered to where it's pointed straight down at the ground!
This is a picture I took this morning of the Papaya tree on the deck. It is in a giant pot, and is also the first Papaya tree I've grown. All of the other trees I have are from the seeds I saved from this tree. It is outside my kitchen window.
How exciting. About how old is your tree. I had never seen one with fruit.
This one is about 5 years old now. They start fruiting in very late summer and early fall. They start getting ripe to pick late winter and early spring - at least that's been the trend in my back yard!
Lookin' good. I have one small fruit on one of mine from seed. The others have blossoms...will watch for more fruits. If yours keep going through the winter...that is encouraging to read. It's been so long, years and years, I wasn't sure if they'd keep developing throughout the winter months.
Yes, I was rather surprised as last year was the best year so far, every tree I had - developed fruit, I had lots of papaya- and it tasted delicious, nice and sweet. Unfortuneatly I lost all of the ones in the ground after last springs torrential rains, so I replaced them with new trees this year- but this time I heaped the soil up in a large mound for better drainage, and they're in raised beds on top of that.
Ether I have over watered or too much sun in the greenhouse, my trees are not looking good.
Most likely overwatering, and not too much sun....they are tropical plants, mine grown in full Florida sun, very well. The do however, get buggy from time to time, so look at the bottom of the leaves, and also for small holes along the stem/trunk....
MerryMary
Yes, I have an overwatering issue during the winter all the time. Because of this, I keep my Papayas in small pots. This does 2 things, 1 helps the root rot issue, and 2 - papayas really don't like their roots messed with- so when summer comes along the trees are root bound in the pot- pop them out and set them in the location I want them for the summer. My one giant papaya in a pot, ( I don't think I'll ever be able to duplicate this feat) did get into a problem with root rot a couple weeks ago when it rained buckets. I thought I was going to loose her, she has 6 big papayas growing- so I took a 1 inch round pipe and poked holes around the perimeter of the pot where the main roots are less likely to be- this allows more oxygen into the pot. If yours are in a plastic pot - then I would advise some sort of aeration. Also make sure the pots are raised, and not setting on a flat surface - I went so far as to put a small fan on the top of the pot pointed down - I'm happy to say she's going to make it. I should add - I was desparate enough to try my first peroxide treatment on it (H202) . It killed me to pour more water on it - and there was some stress- as the leaves fell off, but I believe there was cold temps and a little over fertilizing on my part.
If it's as nice there as it is here - 80 and sunny - I put a couple of mine outside to dry out. In the green house I water them in the small pots once every 3 weeks to a month. I can't remember if I put a picture in this thread of how small a pot I keep the guys in for the winter. I start them in the summer in 2 inch pots and transplant in the 8 - 10 inch plastic pot I save from the nursery (big holes in the bottom) I will leave them in that pot until they are so root bound that I will upsize them once more only if I have to to a 15 inch pot - each time not messing with the roots at all. The papaya is in the green house, the brother to it that I placed in the ground that was the same size is now 12 feet tall with 9 papayas growing- so it can remain small or grow very big. In truth they really don't like being in pots.
When I dug mine up out of the flower bed this fall, I put them in big pots. So I am really fighting a battle. I got the hibiscus fertilizer and used it once. I know I have over watered them. I moved them to the back of the GH so they can recover. They were in direct sun this summer but the heat that comes from the clear panels is burning some of the leaves. I will keep you posted as they are in the Intensive Care Unit right now..Thanks for your advice.
Two of them in intensive care gave up over the weekend. I just overwatered.............But I know how to start over again.
Yeah, they are really picky during the winter. I was on a bike ride today, and saw a papaya tree that must have been 20 feet tall. It went up to the second story of the house. I wonder what kind that one is..It's huge.
Hi, i haven't grown papaya yet, but if you are looking for a source there are hardy mountain types, from
http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/
This is a good website. However all you need to do is buy a papaya at the grocery market. As I understand it the seeds need to be planted before they get old.
I'm sure they do best when fresh from the fruit. But last year I dried some and planted about 6 or 8 months later. Most of them germinated.
This company sells seed fresh, mine were still wet when I got some last year, citrus seed that is, they mention the ones with short viability.
I also bought my orignal papaya at the store, and have been using the fruit off my own trees now, usually the seeds are a year old and the propagation is extremely high. Ironically I thought I had a batch that got moldy so tossed them out in the garden, and the darn things are growing. Did they mention the height of the trees Wallaby?
I wouldn't mind trying to grow different papaya trees though, especially after that 20 foot tree I saw in a neighbors yard.
Rj
I think they do with some, and if any are hardy they generally say how much frost they will take. They have several types, one I was going to order last night but they have a hiccup on another plant which I want, Iochroma cyaneum. it goes into the basket as hibiscus taiwanensus. I think the same thing happened with a passiflora manicata which I put in and changed to p. antioquensis, ended with 2, but that was OK I could cancel one. I emailed them and waiting for a reply. A bit niggling though, took me hours, had 16 items, and lost my basket, I really want the Iochroma! I've seen it ages ago and it is amazing.
The papaya I am ordering is Carica quercifolia, only small fruits but hardy to several degrees of frost, to 15F I think. They have lots to 32F, have another mountain one not in stock which is bigger fruited, I think if you look at the 'more info' on that one it is mentioned.
Take a look, they have the most amazing seeds, and cheap, you don't get a lot but enough.
Uh oh ..I know I may be in trouble for that web site. I will take a peak. I would like to try and grow the 32F one.
I just bought a Iochroma cyaneum last month, it is doing well in the green house, although rather small at about 1 foot tall. I'm looking forwad to growing this one!
Are you familiar with tropicals? I use to live in Liberia, West Africa, - I found a bunch of seeds my mother collected in the 1970's - and I thought I would try and grow some..I was rather stunned when one actually did grow. I think it's some sort of mimosa type tree, it is now about 4 feet high. If your familiar - you can check my journal - I have a pict posted in it. My mother did not identify any of the seeds before she passed.
rjudd, it must be a trip down memory lane for you, growing those seeds. I try to bring back the plants my Mum used to grow on our farm in Australia, we had a mediterranean climate, some frost at night but not that much, strangely enough I remember her sometimes having to cover the tomatoes up even at Xmas time. It could be cool or stinking hot, with winds from the West over the Great Australian Bight, or from the North down from the hot deserts. I grew up looking at the magazines full of tropical birds and plants, as Australia has a wide range of climates. I suppose this is why I have such a liking for tropicals. I am attempting to grow anything I can get away with, even if I have to overwinter them in the house! Many are actually hardy enough to survive our frosts, I have a billbergia nutans and beschorneria yuccoides in the cold greenhouse looking happy, musas in the house, greenhouse and garage for experiment, strelitzias, gingers, zantedeschias, cannas, palms etc etc. i grow mostly from seed, cheaper and the plants will be healthier, more likely to survive.
my aim is to try many things in the ground when I have enough to risk, there are many plants now able to withstand quite a lot of frost. Hibiscus hybrid 'Galaxy' I have grown, young plants in greenhouse, hardy to -20C (-4F). Also eriobotrya japonica, 5 young asimina triloba, caesalpinia gilliesii, proteas, agaves, crinums, the list is endless and gets longer all the time.
I don't know what your plant is, not quite an acacia, there are many African plants just getting noticed in other cultivation. It does remind me of one I saw on tradewindsfruit, the leaves look familiar, will look when and if I get back to order. I thought the plant interesting but not hardy enough. Haven't heard from said company yet.
I have looked through much of your journal, you don't want to hear the expletives as I was drooling over your tropicals! Love the chocolate plant, and the Sweet Memory sky plant, do you know their botanical names?
LOL, you sound like me, I have just started a whole bunch of seeds this week, using the H202 and baggy method I learned on one of the threads. I have run out of room in the back garden. I think I have been lucky so far in propagation, probably our ideal weather has alot to do with it.
The memory sky is Verbenaceae - Duranta - Erecta http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/60098/index.html
I was told by a visiting DG member that mine was a hybrid and it would not grow true from seeds, although ti is completly covered with them now. The chocolate plant was given to me by a friend and I do not know the name. It is a very interesting plant- The seeds are so small I don't even try to collect them, I simply pluck them out of the ground or pots when the begin growing in the spring and then place them wherever I want them. Some people complain about them because they do spread- If only all my weeds looked like that!
I did go to the tradewind sight and was pleased to see Tecoma Stans - I ordered all the varities offered there. I've been wanting them, but not wanting to pay the price, and like you I prefer to grow many of my plants from seeds. I also saw the plant you were talking about that looked like the seed I grew- golden cassia. I have put some more of the african seeds into propagation this week, so I've been eagerly checking everyday. I even put the tray outside yesterday - It has been the warmest winter EVER here. I took last week off as vacation to expand my front gardens because this is the coldest month here. Well, it was in the 80's and rather humid - I even abandoned the work for a couple of days because it was so hot. Better hot than cold for me though. I took all of my hybrid Brugs out of the green house too- all of the spring stuff is coming up. I'm going look up some of those plants your growing.
Rj
Thanks Rj, I haven't seen that here, and hardy to zone 8a too, it's a 'must have'!
I just can't get over the temps you are having inTx, 80's and humid not so comfortable. perfect in the mid 60's to mid 70's, we have so much COLD weather here, never seems to be warm. We did have an awful lot of humidity this autumn though, in the 90's and once was 100%, unbelievable, temps around 12-14C, everything in the house was going mouldy, now its low, recently 54% and with fires is very dry. The weather outside would not give the imression of low humidity, has been very cold since mid November, often only 2C, is rising next few days to 9C, WARM!!!.
I think I must be a bit more of the 'overboard' type than you, I end up with so many seeds I have to put a few in on a regular basis, and when I look around I don't know what I've done with them all! This year: 16 packs from tradewinds, 14 from ebay Australia, Chilterns a lot , 12?, 4 lots ebay USA how many?, more ebay here, 2 x bulb orders, other seed catalogue orders T&M, Dobies, Mr Fothergills...still want heaps from other places, silverhillseeds, mesa gardens....
How do you manage when it's really hot?
Janet
I too have developed such an interest in tropical plants. It all started with the papaya seeds. I bought the fruit for a salad and just couldn't throw away all those seeds. Our winters in NE Texas are not suitable for most tropicals. I also bought some palm trees that were mistreated and on sale at Walmart last summer. They look pretty sad after the winter frost. I am hoping they will return. My husband just wants me to grow the plants that will survive but that is just too boring............
raggins...Next time you have papaya seeds, sprinkle them on your salad! Fresh ones only, dried ones will break your teeth, but they have a crunchy peppery flavor. I've had them floating on fruit soup at Disney, and was pleasantly surprised!
Yes it is the kind of winter I use to dream about in my native city of Seattle, so I can relate to some of the weather there. Do you miss Australia? I've been there 4 or 5 times - but not to the tropics. It would be great to go there.
I'm afraid I'm in the same "overboard" boat you are. All the seeds you propagate you learn something new about different things. Never mind that I've run out of room in the back garden, my friends affectionately named the Jungle. When I lived in Liberia, our back yard litterally was the jungle, so I suppose that is where I was influenced.
We had a friend from Jamaica in Liberia who owned a chicken farm, and he grew Papaya trees that produced the largest Papayas I've ever seen, some as big as watermelons. He used the chicken manure on them.
Ragins, look at all the things Janet can grow there, there is no reason you couldn't grow them in east Texas. I must agree with you that standard gardening is a trifle boring for me. Hopefully you'll be able to modify your green house enough to help you along with your tropicals.
I picked my first Papaya of the season..I suppose it probably was a bit too soon, usually they are ripe more near spring, but it felt a bit soft. I have heard of using the papaya seeds for that peppery flavour. I did order some seeds from the tropical website. They had some great seed selections there!.
As far as the heat here, one gets use to it like living in Africa- I'm told thought Houston is the most air conditioned city in the U.S. oh boy do we pay for it too!
Rj
Oh no Rj, if you are 'everboard' then you are not IN the boat, but swimming like heck in the water trying to keep afloat!
Australia is now a long ago memory for me, tried going back in 1989, but that's a long story, life takes over. My parents had an extra abode right up top in Queensland near Cairns, my Dad like it, but at 30C (86F) in winter at times maybe a teensy bit warm, like Tx! A lot of jungle there, big country, I never did get there, only to Brisbane as a stop off on the boat. Funny though, the internet keeps me so busy in winter I don't mind it so much now, talk about air conditioning cost? Try over £100 for 4 weeks coal, and that's cheap. We use 6 bags a fortnight, £8.45 a bag. About $1.75 to £1, thats $175 in 4 wks. I suppose parts of America must cost more, the very low temps they get.
Yes I did notice how crowded your back garden was, that's what tropical effects are about, and where there is another plant wanting a home then there is ALWAYS a space somewhere. I DO envy your papayas, NOT FAIR, but I WILL attempt to grow some!
Now who's lucky then, put your order in hey? OK for some who ALREADY have an Iochroma cyaneum, I STILL haven't heard from them, might have a look to see if it's fixed.
I have visions of that juicy papaya trickling down your chin, No fair.
raggins, you just have to watch those sneaky papaya seeds, they are secretly encoded to trick you! Not too sure about other fruits either, just be careful. If you buy a plant that is on it's way out, yes tempting, but REMEMBER it WAS on its way out. I learnt that lesson. they are kept in ideal conditions and force fed like ducks for pate de foie, so a change isn't going to help them either. I have grown lots from seed, some will take a year to germinate, but it IS fun, I SAY so, and they are more likely to survive. Just think of that little baby seedling you can nurture, and you brought it into the world. There are hardy palms, Trachycarpus fortuneii to -20C (-4F) when bigger, I grew one from a plug seedling, put in the ground last Autumn, it is really thickening up now, and they say can grow 1' a year when gets going. I bought it in spring 1999, and her she is this December in the freezing cold
Yessss...I am swimming like heck to keep up. I fortuneatly have my front garden to occupy me in another experiment of landscaping, mulching and heat challenges.
Yes the energy is expensive! My heating is natural gas, which until this hurricane,tsunami,earthquake,flooding season hit us was rather inexpensive. Our electricity bill (which the company graciously allows) a balanced billing, where they take the year and divide the billing in more equal amounts. In the summer the bill can be $500.00, in the winter $80.00. My average is around 200 a month for the electricity, and 100 for gas. I don't think I'll complain much after hearing about the cost of coal though.
Honestly, I never HEARD of the Iochroma until a couple of months ago when I was just cruising through all the
plant scout section. Was going through They sell sensible size plants for sensible prices, and I must give them an excellent for plant condition on arrival. They are all doing excellent in the green house.
I haven't quite graduated to palm trees yet, although they are my favorite types of trees. I tried growing a fishtail palm last year, but they never sprouted. I expect to see a palm tree somewhere in the yard someday from where I tossed the dirt. I have many things growing, including Papaya trees, where I thought the seeds were too moldy and just toss them. I had the best tomatoes last year when I tossed an over ripe hydroponic tomatoe out in the garden last spring. Now were I to fuss over it I never would have seen the tomatoe!
Here's Karutz nursery link.. they feature some interesting plants - including the SOLD OUT Iochroma cyaneum "royal blue" Alot of things are sold out, they are working on 2006 offerings.
http://www.kartuz.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=SFNT&Store_Code=KG
Raggins, I'm sure you probably have lots of seeds, but in case. I have many to offer you if you wish. These are the bisexual plants and nearly all of them bear fruit.
Rj
This message was edited Jan 11, 2006 7:45 PM
Rj, I would love to have some of your seeds. I will email you my address. You have lived in some many interesting places. Is your family military related?
I would love to have a tropical yard but most of my 2 acres is full sun. I do have 6 palm trees that I bought about 3 years. I bring them in each winter. In the summer they live on my 12x50 front porch. I am going to plant some papaya trees in the yard to enjoy this summer. No need to worry about too much water since we are in a drought.
I can trade luffa, loco, holly hock, zinnia, or maybe an air potato. Just let me know.
Great site if you live in the States! What you pay in dollars we would pay at least in pounds, or more, for such plants, but i looked at the Iochroma and have never seen so many, the only one I have seen here is the I. australe, mostly seed, I saw the I. cyaneum once when searching for something else, it was on an AOL members site. The Royal Blue I think is in stock, it was the purple one above out of stock. Think I will do some searching!
I buy palm seed from
http://www.rarepalmseeds.com/index2.shtml
I have got some from ebay and other places, just ordered a second lot from the above, they stock heaps, if you look at the archives you can find info on approx 1000 types.
I must have at least 10 types already growing, some waiting on. I need to build a big dome. Or ship the lot to warmer climes!