Yep, that reminds me of the ones in Africa.
Papaya 101 "My Experiences"
About 15 feet is right Sylvain although it has lower branches too. We kept this plant in this spot when we saw it growing so that it would shade the windows that I have under the roof line in the living room. It's done rather a good job, the fruit is a bonus!
The papaya grow rather tall in my garden and every now and then we cut the tops off. Here are some in one of the wild corners of the garden, the dark blob almost in the center is my neighbors roof...ridiculous really, but they are my bird feeders!
rjuddharrison and Braveheartsmom, I keep getting thread reminders to this site but I'm glad I am.. Reading you talk of Tropicals is so intersting. I'm unfortunately in zone 7a but am lucky enough to be able to grow gardenias. Since, I live in N.E. Mississippi, I suppose it is apropos to have gardenias, Most people associate magnolias with Mississippi but I think it should be the gardenia. Hope you don't mind my butting in but I am so interested in the subject. Leeflea51
Aloha lee,
I love gardenia! One of my all time favorites! I have a few here and there in the garden, but they are still small yet. Will you post pictures of yours? Perhaps we can start a gardenia thread - did I tell you how much I love them?
Jenny
Jenny, Aloha to you. didn't know you were in HI. How exciting. I order some of my orchids fro HI. Havent't been to paradise since1972 was young then. I'm now 51..Re: photos. I must get a digital camera first. I'm behind on all new technologies. Oh, how I'd love to be able to see the beautiful sights and sounds of the Islands again. I do hop you know how lucky you are. Were you born and reared there? Lee p.s. what's the time there. It's 11:26 am here.
Aloha Lee,
No, I moved to Maui 6 years ago although we had been coming for 6 years before that. We had to wait to move until they lifted the quarantine restrictions for bringing pets in, no baby of mine was going to spend 30 days in a pound! It's 6.45 am here...
Jenny, didn't know about quarantine. What are your babies? Sorry I had to go eat. Owen, the friend with whom I live brougth in some good Southerm food from Pigg;y-Wiggly( a grocery store), fried chicken, squash casserole,stewed tomatoes and the ubiquitous corn bread. Since I don't know where your are from originally, I think I have to go into detail about things. That' fine. Am kinda quirky that way. He also broought in some fresh scuppernongs, a hybrid of our native muscadine grapes. They are a bronze color and wonderful. The skins are too tough to chew but the pulp is just too good! I saw Rudd's profile. He seems like an interesting person. Would like to chat with him at some time. I just hate to impose. Will end and go take my pain meds. Do be so kind as to respond any time. Warmly, Lee
Hi Lee,
that's what threads are for, the more ..the merrier....!
Oh my ..Piggly Wiggly..I haven't heard or seen that grocery store since I left Washington State. We had them there...and a target like store called Wig Wom...LOL
My Jenny, that Papaya tree is tall! One of the blokes in the neighborhood was able to grow a tall Papaya like that. I got all whiney when I saw that the tree was peaking in the second story window. I do believe I may bring back more Papaya seeds.
Ironically, most people here have no idea what the trees are.
Rj
I used to have a huge Papaya tree like that when I lived in Africa!
Rj, hello. As I mentioned to BHM, you have a most interesting profile posted. I do so get tired of the same old people whom I see and talk to day in and day out here in N.E.Mississippi. Didn't know Piggly Wiggly ( the Pig as we refer to it here) was in Washington State. I see you are posted as living in Houston, TX. Is that correct? anyway, I won't intrude on you two much longer but it's so interesting your being from Africa. Too, I'm curious about your accent, if you even have one but if you do, is it similar to that of South Africans oor Mamibia. I'm sure you think me silly but the people are all the same around here, except for some Mexicans. rsvp at your choosing. Kindly, Lee
Your not intruding :)
Yes, I am living in Houston now , in fact I've just set a record for living in one place for the longest span so far in my life. I've been in my House for 8 years now, and I really love that patch of earth and house. In fact it's difficult to pry me out of there these days, even though I pretty much have ticket to the world working for an airline.
Our family moved to West Africa, Liberia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberia
when my brother and I were in our mid teens, so we sport no South African like accents. Liberia was founded after freed slaves returned back to Africa. The countries flag is like the US but only sports 1 star, they use US currency, paper dollars with their own coinage, speak english albeit pidgeon english which is a variation. Once one of the most peaceful countries, became a battle ground for one of Africas most brutal civil wars rivaled only be East Africas Somalia. Liberia is now on a very slow recovery after achieving peace with the help of a diverted US aircraft carrier on it's way to the Gulf.under the elected leadership of the first woman president MS Ellen Samuels, affectionately known as Ma Samuels, a Liberian term of respect, and adoration.
My brother and I attended an American Cooperative School, or ACS that provide schools around the world with the intent of maintaining the mainland US education standards. All types of nationalities attended school, and many of us are still in contact with one another, with frequent school reunions.
Living in Liberia was very influential into evolving into who I am today..
Anyway I could just go on and on...so I've written a wee bit on transitioning from the US to a foreign country in my blog. I will continue to write about my experiences there. http://davesgarden.com/community/blogs/t/rjuddharrison/10183/
Rj
Jr, thank for the most intersting posting. Liberia. I got it confused with Namibia or another West African country. I'll go to the links you provided. Is the climate in Houston any thing like Liberia? I was born and reared in MS and am still not used to it. It's particularly difficult with this asthma. So kind of you to inform me. Warmly, Lee
Ironically, the summers are pretty similar. It wasn't until I moved to Houston that I began recognize alot of the same or similar trees and plants. Similarities end though during winter. In Liberia it's rainy season or dry season. In fact that area is where the Hurricanes start out. It's the rainy season now, and they have the most terrific storms I've witnessed.
Around noon or just after most activity ceases, shops and stores close until the peak heat of the day subsides. At the time, most shops consisted of a network of garage like area mainly operated by Lebanese
Rj, so the climate of Houston is somewhat similar. You know, my ancestors must have come from the very North of Europe as I find it hard to cope with the summer heat. Here , in the South, it seem we only have 2 seasons: Summer and a little less Summer. No, in fact, we can have rather harsh winters. It's thoses that can wipe out my gardenias if the temps. fall below 0F. What's the west African country that I'm thinking of with a female president with close ties to the US. Think the capitol is Monrovia or am I completely confused? It seems the country is in the north-west part. Lee
Yes..it's Liberia...Ellen Samuels Lady President extroidinaire.
Re the heat, it's amazing what we adapt too. Trust me, until I moved I grew up in the mild Northwest climate.
You are off tomorrow Randy, have a safe flight!
Randy, have a wonderful trip.
Is this a tiny little bud forming on my Papaya?
Hi RJ,
Very interested to read about your overseas experiences. I believe it is the best form of education you can get. I worked for 6 years in Saudi Arabia, but prior to that traveled all over the Middle East including Lebanon during a gap in the civil war there. Spent 2 years in the British Virgin Islands, then 6 years working in Spain (which is where eventually I retired to) followed by 2 years in the Czech Republic (where I developed my interest in bonsais), but mostly in Russia and former Soviet countries. Now I lead a quiet life enjoying my garden and plants, hill walking in the nearby mountains, enjoying the beautiful indigenous plants of the Mediterranean, painting, Tai Chi and local Spanish politics. So I have had very interesting exposure to plants and trees in the various countries I worked in. More recently have been travelling in Asia, - Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and last year China. Some fabulous gardens in some of these countries especially Thailand. Hope I haven't bored you all.
Aloha,
Lily - sorry to butt in, you got a flower bud for sure!
Welcome Ikebana, not boring at all! What an interesting well travelled life you have led! I hope you will visit again and share your vast knowledge with us, any pics from the places you have been to?
Jen
Thanks Jen. Ikebana, what an interesting life experience. Other can only dream of. Wooohooo, I've Papaya's bud finally! I'll keep y'all posted on how this one does in my zone.
Yes...I'm off today...and am puttering around...will go to lax stay overnight, and then on to the Islands tomorrow ...breaks it up nicely...oh alright...the truth you say!? There are more first class seats available out of LAX...
Yeah, Yekepa was so beautiful. My best friends at that school were from Spain.
Notice my oldest Papaya tree is getting pretty tall!
The double head came after a hard freeze...it actually had 3...but...lost one when the papayas got too heavy!
Rj, you papaya seems to be thriving in shade, is that right or just the photo's angle?
It was a bit cloudy, but yes, they all have at least a half days shade.
I'm in Hilo Hawaii right now at Carols Place (alohahoya) - Incredible. I'm going to bring back some papaya seeds from here.
I have baby papayas! From the sapling you brought in April. Oh yea!!!
Christi
Whooppee!!!
I have guavas. I don't like to eat them but I love their fragrance.
katiebear
You're kidding, Katiebear! Guavas are my favorite fruit ever! I bought a 4" guava the other day...I think it's going to be a few years until it bears fruit!
Oh, I am so envious of RJH! Enjoy your time on TBI and give Carol a kiss for me. Time spent in Hawai'i goes by so quickly. Have a great time and bring back loads of seeds.
Aloha.
Sylvain.
Thanks, I will.
Congrats Christi...yum yum Papayas!
Guys...I'm so excited! I have seedlings!!! It NOT correct that you have to wait for 6 months! Now...what do I do? Fertilize, plant in the ground? ...?
Congrats Katiebear on your guavas, Christi on your Papaya and Robc. on your new papaya seedlings. Zone 10b, do you get any frost at all there? Do tell.
Hello, everyone.
I'm in USDA zone 10-B. Do we get frost down here? I've been here 3 years and I haven't experienced anything that even closely resembles that. However, we do get some pretty decent drops in temperatures.
Just yesterday, the weatherman said we would be experiencing the coolest temperatures of the season after the passage of hurricane Hanna. The night time temperatures would fall to the high 60s/low 70s. We just put another blanket on the bed and didn't worry about it.
Sylvain.
Over here in San Diego we are practically frost free. Frost ? What's frost? lol
For you guys who plant your papayas in the ground...how do I know the seedlings are good to go to their final spot? This is my first time with papayas and I'm super excited! : ) I also have a 6 inch baby guava tree in a pot and a fig that is bearing fruit right now.
This morning I went to a gardening seminar, where I bought a Brazilian banana tree for 12 bucks! Did I say I'm excited?
Roberta : )
My little baby papaya tree seedlings SURVIVED Ike! I am sooooo HAPPY!
Most all of the plants made it....some of them just looked a little "worse for the wear"! YEAH!!!!!!!!
Randy, how did your Papaya trees do? Are they still standing? Your Carolina Jasmine is still alive.....but shows some wind damage but should make it!
I lost one tree. It had 10 inch long Papayas on it, so it was already leaning, but a huge branch dropped like bomb in that section. The papayas are on the front porch rippening now. The others look like they will survive. The front garden is looking alot better. Not sure if the banana tree with bananas on it is going to make it. It's looking a bit haggard.
Bummer! At least you can still have the papayas from the tree that fell off!
oh yeah..I have 6 in the front that are okay and 3 in the back including the big tree. It's getting pretty old, and looking a bit stressed.
Randy,
One of our banana trees that went down had bananas on it. They are still on their stalk, so they will ripen eventually.
I am still trying to get reorganized. It will take awhile. Got to wash out the Refrig and freezer tomorrow. Take more pictures.....many things to do! They just lifted the boil water ban, so now I can clean tomorrow.
Hope you are OK.
Jeanne
Still cleaning out here, waiting on power still. Have a guy coming out tomorrow to look at fence.
Looks like the bananas on the banana tree are still doing okay. The treen looks pretty bad though. I probably should cut off the yellow leaves?
You can, or just let them turn brown and then get them if you have other things to do. Most of mine don't have any leaves at the moment. I posted pictures on Chrissy100's thread on this Forum.
Jeanne
okay..thanks