Papaya is soft, fleshy fruit that can be used in a wide variety. It is among those fruits whose cultivation is increasing day by day. This fruit has become a part of our daily diet because of its health enhancing properties. Papaya is a good source of vitamin A and C. It is also rich in an enzyme called papain which helps in removing excess body fat. It is very easy to plant papaya because it takes very less space in the garden.
Cultivation of papaya
Climate Requirements
Papaya tree requires hot conditions.
Cultivate the papaya tree in the summer season.
The temperature should be around 40 degrees.
It arises exclusively from February-March to May to October.
Soil Requirements
Soil should be loam type.
There should be no waterlogging.
The pH of the soil is between 6.5 - 7.5is for its cultivation.
Nursery beds
Seeds should be sown 15cm high and 1 meter wide.
Sow the seeds by making a row at a distance of 3'x6 'at 1/2' depth.
Plant protection
To protect the plant from post-thawing disease, the beds should be treated with a 1:40 solution of formalin.
The seeds should be sown by treating them with 0.1% copper oxychloride solution.
Plantation
Choose the seeds of the papaya and the seeds of papaya plant should be of the female. For pollination, you mix one male seed in 15 female seeds.
Then treat seed with 0.1% copper oxychloride solution.
After treating the seed sow the treated seeds by making a row at a distance of 3'x6 'at 1/2' depth.
After sowing the seed then cover with a mixture of 1/2 inch dung manure and press it from above.
Cover the beds with hay or straw.
Water the plant in the morning.
The plant will start to germinate after 15-20 days.
Spray 0.3% fungicide solution when the plant reaches 15cm height.
If you have planted the papaya tree in a pot then transplanting should be done in the field after two months.
Fertilizers
Cow dung.
Nitrogen - 200 grams.
Phosphorus - 200 grams.
Potash - 400 grams
Harvesting
Once the papaya turns orange in colour, remove it from the tree.
