How to Grow Papaya at Home from Seed

In this video, I show you how I grow papaya or pawpaw from seed at home.

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Self Sufficient Me is based on our small 3-acre property/homestead in SE Queensland Australia about 45kms north of Brisbane - the climate is subtropical (similar to Florida). I started Self Sufficient Me in 2011 as a blog website project where I document and write about backyard food growing, self-sufficiency, and urban farming in general. I love sharing my foodie and DIY adventures online so come along with me and let's get into it! Cheers, Mark :)

[BobfmBali]

Hi Mark, I think the only couple of points I would add from my own experience of growing Papaya here in Indonesia (Tropical) is that you need to plant on a soil mound if you have a rainy season and rivers of water flowing through your garden as the roots do not like standing in water. The second point I would add is that if you allow the tree to grow and bear fruit and is too high, cut the tree down to around 4 feet and the trunk will start sprouting crowns all over the trunk that will eventually produce another generation of fruit but at a lower height. Really enjoy watching your videos.

[nwabuduuzodike]

Hey Mark! I'm a 13 year old who LOVES your channel. My dad grows papaya. The trees are HUGE and we got around 12 to 15 of them!
Have a great day!!!

[mediaapps]

Proof that long form videos do well as long as the content is engaging and the presenter is clear and credible. Well done.

[abedillion]

Hi Mark, another thing to use the seeds for is a pepper substitute. I dry the seeds then put them in a pepper grinder. Works and tastes like pepper.

[ArelArts]

I'm from Costa Rica and in my house we love ripe papaya juice just blender the papaya with some sweet ripe bananas, a sweet orange and sugar and is the best! also helps to clean your digestive system, that's why when you made the juice just drink occasionaly beacouse you will be a lot of time in the bathroom next day

[hmck]

Mark, imagine how pleased I was when I searched YouTube for info on how to germinate and grow papaya seeds and this video popped up. I knew I would get all the info I needed, and be entertained at the same time. Thank you so much. All the best.

[meilirlloyd]

this guy is a comedic genius, i dont know how he does it

[jaayswizzle]

I do compost on the little terrace outside my apartment. I’ve grown a nice sized papaya plant from composting one. I’m so proud of it and hope it lives through the winter 😊

[rh]

"This is becoming a really confusing video, isn't it?"
No, It became a really informative video actually!
Really love all these information and research put into it!

[suzanneribas]

hi Mark! the shape of the fruit determines the sex of future plants. Round papayas make female plants wereas long fruit gives male or hermaphrodite trees. if your tree gets too tall cut it down and put a plastic cup on the exposed end and it will branch out under it. Each branch will grow papayas on the stem if female or hermaphrodite. Green papayas can be used for candied fruit, like guava and coconut and taste wonderful with a slice of white cheese. Also in salads cut in thin slices or matchsticks and mixed with green mangoes cut the same.
Don't forget to let some of the male trees grow even if they don't produce fruit so they can produce pollen. I will be sending the recipe for the candied papaya next.

[kgal]

Thanks for the info. I planted 3 trees that I grew from seed. I planted the in November 2019. They are now about 3 feet tall with thick trunks. I'm not a fan of papaya either but my mom loves them. I'm hoping to see fruit this year.

8-2-20
As of today we 7 papaya fruit on the tree that appeared at the end of June. Hopefully they will mature and my mom will enjoy fresh off the tree soon.

[taylorlukasik]

mark, i aspire to be you when im older. living in austrailia, having endless fruit gardens, honestly just vibing

[artemisxw]

They are very hardy plants, I brought one and ran out of pots so put it into the ground temporarily, then forgot all about it. When I went to tidy up my yard a year later I found some 5 and 6 kilo fruits hiding and it had grown in height a lot. They tasted fantastic and they freeze really well. Well worth growing, love your videos!

[noradavid]

Hi Mark, this is Michael in northern Florida, I started planting my Papaya plants couple f months ago from seeds after watching your videos, very informative and helpful. Thank you.

[JonathanWellskcender]

Here in Okinawa, you'll only find papaya green. I'm not sure of the species, but it's considered a vegi here. My wife's favorite way to eat it is in a papaya, carrot, and egg stir-fry. (Ninjin Shirishiri) Maybe your family would find it a little more palatable.

[ahaielpatt]

Here in Belize, Central America people use papaya seeds for deworming humans and animals.

We also use it as a biological pesticide. Very useful for aphids and whiteflies.

Also thank you very much for your videos. My garden has improved so much thanks to you.

[zernandiaz]

Hi Mark! Really enjoy watching and learning from your videos!

We call it hermaphrodite instead of bisexual papayas in the Philippines, I think it’s a more accurate description for plants having both the male and female flowers.

A hermaphrodite plant is desirable for commercial farmers and the female accepted as well, but male papayas are generally avoided, most times even killed. But we know a couple tricks to convert a male to female two ways: first, when transplanting a seedling to its permanent container, trim the main root. Or second, when the plant is mature and starts flowering male flowers, we drive two sticks in the middle of the tree (where the hard brown trunk meets the soft green part) perpendicular to each other. This “threatens” the tree’s life and forces it to “survive” by putting out female flowers which leads to fruiting.

Looking forward to more quality content. Cheers mate!

[sctt]

Love your videos Mark. I've been experimenting with germinating papaya seeds and have found that you need to get the seeds from a whole fully ripe fruit (not a shop one that has been cut in half) and plant them straight away. No washing or drying of the seeds, just plant them straight from the fruit. This must be done during the warmer months and the soil must be kept damp. Don't let it dry out. The seeds will take up to 40 days to germinate so be patient. This will give you nearly 100% germination.

[DPirate]

I love papayas! I didn’t at one time until my husband taught me to take cold cut up papaya and squeeze fresh lime over the fruit and drizzle with some honey. Yummy!

[kirstenolson]

I've only ever heard of the Eastern US paw paw (Asimina triloba). Then again, I always get a giggle when you talk about possums in the garden, because our possums (technically an opossum) are no problem. In fact, they are the #1 tick eating animal, very rarely have rabies, and just fine to have around or living under your porch.