Papaya Cultivation Practices: The Ultimate Guide for a Rich Harvest

Papaya (Carica papaya) is a tropical fruit, ideal for growing in kitchen gardens. Papaya is a rich source of nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin A, minerals, and potassium. According to the Second Advance Estimate of the year 2020-21, the total area under papaya cultivation in India is about 1.48 lakh ha while total production is estimated to be about 5.88 million tonnes. In India, papaya is grown in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The crop is generally easy to grow and maintain, high yielding, longer fruiting period and it can provide a good income for farmers. Get a full understanding of papaya cultivation and managing pests and diseases through this detailed article.  

Papaya plants are woody tree-like plants that grow fast. The fruit is generally oval or pear-shaped and its flesh is juicy, sweet, and fragrant. The papaya tree is a fast-growing plant that can reach up to 10 meters in height. Papaya plants have separate male and female flowers that grow on different plants, a characteristic known as dioecious. They are highly dependent on pollination by insects to produce fruits. Some papaya types are hermaphrodites that produce both male and female flowers on the same plants which can self-pollinate. These hermaphrodite papaya types are more popularly used in commercial production. 

Soil Requirement for Papaya Farming

A well-drained sandy loam soil with adequate organic matter is ideal for papaya cultivation. Soil pH can range from 6 to 6.5. Papaya plants have shallow roots and are highly sensitive to water logging. In the areas receiving heavy rainfall, if the drainage is poor, it may even cause the death of plants due to continuous drenching for 24 to 48 hours. Highly fertile soil with good drainage is more desirable for papaya cultivation. 

Climate Requirement for Papaya Farming

Papaya is a tropical fruit that can grow well in warm and humid climates. It is highly susceptible to frost. The ideal temperature for papaya growth is 25 – 30°C. During winter, the night temperature below 12°C may severely affect the plant growth. Temperature below 10°C may inhibit plant growth, maturity, and ripening of fruits. A dry climate may induce sterility during flowering, but it contributes to adding sweetness to fruits during fruit maturity. It can grow in full sun but should be protected from wind and cold weather. Windbreaks can help to protect the plants from strong winds. 

Buy the Best Varieties of Papaya Seeds in India

Papaya Varieties/Hybrid	Specifications
Red Lady Papaya Seeds	Brand: Known You Seed Tolerant to papaya ringspot virus Fruit weight ranges from 1.5 – 2 kg Bears fruit at 60-80 cm height Produces over 30 fruits/plant in each fruit-setting season Fruit flesh is thick, and red with a 13% sugar content
IRIS Hybrid Papaya Seeds	Brand: IRIS hybrid seeds Suitable for all seasons Harvest time: 35 – 40 weeks Suitable for Home/Kitchen Garden
URJA Madhuri Papaya Seeds	Brand: URJA seeds Soft and sweet fruit flesh On maturity, it turns to a bright reddish-orange color Average fruit weight ranges from 1.5 to 2.0 kg
IRIS RC-315 Papaya Seeds	Brand: IRIS hybrid seeds Tall and vigorous type The fruit shape is oval Fruit weight: 1.5 – 2 kg Fruit maturity: 8 – 10 months Yellow colour fruit flesh TSS: 13 brix
Sarpan Solo-109 Hybrid Papaya Seeds	Brand: Sarpan Seeds Fruit flesh is dark orange in color The plant bears 120-150 fruits per plant per year Harvest: 7-8 months after planting Gynodioecious plants & every plant bear fruit
IRIS Hybrid Fruit Seeds Papaya RC-217	Brand: IRIS hybrid seeds Medium tall and vigorous type The fruit shape is round Fruit weight: 2 – 2.5 kg Fruit maturity: 9 – 10 months Colour fruit flesh TSS: 13 brix
Rise Agro Indus Honey Gold F1 Hybrid Papaya seeds	Brand: Indus seeds The fruit is reddish-orange in colour Fruit weight (kg): 2 – 2.5 kg Fruit maturity: 9 months after transplanting Suitable for long-distance shipping Tolerant to papaya ringspot virus

 

Seed rate of Papaya

Varieties: 200 gm/acre; Hybrid: 100 gm/acre 

Propagation

Papaya is generally propagated through seeds. Fresh seeds from fully ripe fruits can be used. Papaya seeds may lose viability very quickly within 45 –60 days. To facilitate good germination, remove the mucilaginous coating of the seeds by rubbing them with wood ash. The seeds can be washed off and dried in the sun before use.  

Papaya Seed treatment

Treat the seeds with Gibberellic acid at 1.25 ml/lit water to overcome dormancy and cause rapid seed germination and Bio fungicide at 10 ml/kg seeds or Carbendazim 50% WP at 0.5 – 0.8 gm/lit water to control fungal diseases like damping off, collar rot and stem rot.  

Nursery

The seedlings can be raised in nursery beds or polythene bags. 

1. Nursery beds: Raised beds 3 m long, 1 m wide, and 10 cm high can be prepared. The treated seeds should be sown 1 cm deep in rows, 10 cm apart, and covered with fine compost. Light watering is to be done in the morning hours. Cover the beds with polythene sheets or paddy straw to protect the nursery from adverse conditions.
2. Polythene bags: Polythene bags of 20 cm height and 15 cm diameter, 150 to 200 gauge can be used for raising seedlings. The bags should be filled with a 1:1:1 ratio of topsoil, FYM, and sand. Then, dibble 4 seeds per bag at 1 cm depth. These polythene bags should be kept in partial shade. Watering can be done using a rose can.

Planting Time of Papaya in India

June – September is the ideal season for planting papaya. But in Northeast areas, papaya can be planted from February to March to escape frost damage at fruiting time. Avoid planting during the rainy season.  

Planting

The seedlings will be ready for transplanting in about 45-60 days. In a well-prepared field, pits of 45 x 45 x 45 cm sizes are to be made within the required distance. It should be filled with topsoil along with 20 kg of FYM and 1 kg of neem cake.  

1. In the case of Dioecious varieties, plant 1 male plant for every 12 – 15 female plants for pollination purposes.
2. In the case of the Gynodioecious variety, plant one seedling per pit.

Give light irrigation after transplanting. 

Spacing

Planting distance varies from variety to variety. Tall and vigorous varieties are planted at more spacing while dwarf or medium varieties are planted at closer spacing. Generally, 1.8 x 1.8 m of spacing is followed. However, for high-density planting, a spacing of 1.25 x 1.25 m is recommended which can accommodate 2590 plants/acre. 

Fertilizer Requirement For Papaya Farming

The general NPK recommendation is 200:200:400 gm/plant/year 

Note: Top dressing of NPK fertilizers should be done at an interval of 60 days during the vegetative and flowering stages as mentioned in the table. Apply fertilizers in a trench 20 – 30 cm away from the stem around the tree, then fill the soil.  

Nutrient	Fertilizer	Dosage	Time of application
Organic	FYM	10 kg/plant	Basal
	Neem cake	1 kg/plant	Basal
N	Urea	108 gm/plant	1st month after planting
		108 gm/plant	3rd month after planting
		108 gm/plant	Mid of 4th month after planting
		108 gm/plant	6th month after planting
P	Single Super Phosphate (SSP)	626 gm/plant	At the time of planting
		626 gm/plant	3rd month after planting
K	Muriate of Potash (MOP)	250 gm/plant	At the time of planting
		250 gm/plant	3rd month after planting
		167 gm/plant	6th month after planting
Zn	Anand Agro Insta Cheal Zn 12% Micronutrient	Foliar: 0.5 – 1 gm/lit water	1st spray: 4th month after planting 2nd spray: 8th month after planting
B	Linnfield Boron 20% Micronutrient	Foliar: 0.3 gm/lit water

 

Papaya Irrigation Best Practices

Adequate irrigation is necessary to prevent drought and frost attacks. However waterlogging conditions should be avoided. Protective irrigation should be given to young papaya seedlings in the first year of planting. In the second year, irrigate the plants at 7 days intervals during summer and 10 to 15 days intervals during winter season, if there is no incidence of rain. During the summer season, maintain adequate soil moisture to avoid flower and fruit drops. Ring method, basin method, or drip irrigation are different types of irrigation methods for papaya. In the case of Ring and Basin methods of irrigation, we have to ensure that water doesn’t come in contact with the plant base. 

Papaya Intercultural Operations

Weeding

In the first year, deep hoeing should be done to check the weed growth. Weeding should be done regularly, especially around the plants. Controlling weeds within 3 – 4 feet of the papaya plant is important for optimum plant growth and fruiting. Organic mulching using straw is highly recommended for weed control and soil moisture conservation. 

Earthing up

Earthing up can be done before or after the onset of monsoon to prevent water logging conditions in the field and also to help plants stand erect. It can be after the 4th, 6th, and 8th months after planting the papaya seedlings. 

Roguing of male plants

In dioecious papaya variety cultivation, only 10% of male plants in the orchard ensure good pollination. After flowering, rogue out the extra male plants.  

Staking

To prevent the plants from lodging due to heavy wind or over-bearing of fruits, bamboo sticks or other sticks are used to provide support.  

Fruit thinning

When 2 – 3 fruits occur in the same pedicel, keep only one healthy fruit to ensure proper development. Carefully remove the extra fruits from the pedicel.  

Papaya Crop Protection Practices

Pests infesting papaya plants, damage symptoms, and its control measures:

Pests	Damage symptoms	Control Measures
Green peach aphids	They suck sap from leaves and cause leaf curling and distortion Causes premature drop of fruits Vector for papaya ringspot virus	Remove and destroy damaged parts of the plant Use Tapas yellow sticky trap at 4 – 6 per acre Spray Neem 0.3% at 2.5 – 3 ml/lit water Chemical control:  Benevia Insecticide at 1.5 – 2 ml/lit water Anant Insecticide at 0.3 – 0.5 gm/lit water
Whitefly	Yellowing, downward curling, and crinkling of leaves (vector for papaya leaf curl virus) Causes shedding of leaves Sooty mold development on leaf surface due to honeydew secretion	Removal of alternate hosts, maintain field sanitation Use Tapas yellow sticky trap at 4 – 6 per acre Spray Neem oil at 1 – 2 ml/lit water Chemical control:  Tatamida SL Insecticide at 1 – 2 ml/lit water Police Insecticide at 0.2 – 0.6 gm/lit water
Red spider mite	The presence of white or yellowish speckles on the leaf Webbing of affected leaf surface Causes scaring on fruits	Spray Bio-acaricide at 1 – 2 ml/liter water Chemical control:  Oberon Insecticide at 0.3 ml/lit water Meothrin Insecticide at 0.5 ml/lit water
Root-knot nematode	Yellowing and shedding of leaves Premature drop of affected fruits Presence of galls on roots	Select seedlings without root galls for transplanting Follow crop rotation Mahua cakes can be applied to control nematodes Mix well-decomposed compost with 2 kg of Multiplex safe root and broadcast in the field Chemical control:  Velum prime nematicide at 1.3 – 1.5 ml/lit water Drench PerfoNemat at 2ml/lit water
Fruit fly	Larvae feed on the internal portion of semi-ripe fruits by puncturing Presence of decayed patches and oozing of fluids on affected fruits Infected fruits turn yellow and fall prematurely	Dispose of the dropped-infested fruits Summer plowing to destroy pupa Use tapas fruit fly trap at 6 – 8 per acre Chemical control:  Alika Insecticide at 0.5 ml/lit water BACF Endtask Insecticide at 0.5 gm/lit water
Mealybug	Presence of white cottony masses on leaf, stem, branches, and fruits Infected portions become shiny and sticky due to honeydew secretion which causes sooty mold development	Uproot the infested plants, keep the field weed-free Spray solution of Sarvodaya soap to control mealy bugs Spray Anand Dr. Bacto’s Vertigo Insecticide at 2.5 ml/lit water or Kaybee Mealy Raze (Bio Pesticide) at 2 ml/lit water Chemical control:  Actara Insecticide at 0.5 gm/lit water Starthene Insecticide at 1.8 – 2.5 gm/lit water

(Note: Please check the product’s description before application to know the right time of application) 

Diseases affecting the papaya plant, damage symptoms, and its control measures:

Diseases	Damage symptoms	Control Measures
Damping off	It is mostly common in nursery beds and causes the death of seedlings The stem may start to rot at the soil line Infected seedlings may start to wi	Treat 1 kg seeds with 10 gm of Pseudomonas fluorescens mixed in 10 ml of water Chemical control:  Spray Tata Master Fungicide or Matco Fungicide at 1.5 – 2.5 gm/lit water Spray Hifield Ridomet 35 Fungicide at 1.5 gm/lit water
Powdery mildew	White or grayish powdery growth on the upper leaf surface, flower stalk, and fruits Severely infected leaves turn yellow or brown, curl, dry up, droop, and fall off	Spray Pseudomonas fluorescence at 2.5 ml/lit water Spray fermented buttermilk (1:3 ratio of buttermilk & water) twice or thrice with 10 days interval Chemical control:  Spray Roko fungicide at 0.5 gm/lit water Spray Contaf plus fungicide at 2 ml/lit water
Anthracnose	Affects leaves, flowers, and fruits resulting in drop-off Small, black, or brown circular spots appear on leaves Infected fruits may develop dark, sunken lesions later covered with pinkish, slimy spore mass Withering and defoliation of leaves	Spray Geolife recover nutri fungicide at 0.5 – 1 gm/lit water Chemical control:  Spray Bavistin at 0.6 gm/lit water Spray Dhanuka M45 at 3 – 4 gm/lit water
Collar rot and stem rot	Sunken, water-soaked lesions appear on the base of the stem or around the collar region Stem may become soft and mushy due to the rotting of the internal tissues Infected area may turn dark brown or black and rot Yellowing of leaves, stunted growth	Apply 5 kg Pseudomonas fluorescence & Bacillus subtilis mixed with 100 kg FYM in the soil Chemical control:  Seed treatment with SAAF Fungicide at 2.5 gm/lit water Drench the soil with Blitox Fungicide at 3 gm/lit water
Papaya ringspot virus Vector: Aphids  Transmission: Sap, grafts	Downward and inward curling of leaf margin, leaf distortion Mosaic pattern of light and dark green areas on leaves The presence of concentric circular rings on the fruit surface	Do not grow cucurbits around papaya field Plant sorghum or maize as a barrier crop Spray Geolife no virus at 3 – 5 ml/lit water or Spray VC 100 at 5 gm/lit water or Spray Terra virokill at 3.3. ml/lit water To control vector aphids, look the measures mentioned in the above table
Papaya leaf curl Vector: Whitefly	Curling and crinkling of leaves Downward and inward curling of leaf margin Affected leaves become brittle, leathery, and distorted	Do not grow tomato, or tobacco plants near the field Spray V-Bind Bio viricide at 2 – 3 ml/lit water Spray 2.5 ml/lit water of Multiplex General liquid Micronutrient which help to develop resistance to the disease To control vector whitefly, look at the measures mentioned in the above table
Alternaria Leaf Spot	Small, circular, or irregular brown spots with concentric rings surrounded by a yellow halo on the affected leaves Defoliation of affected leaves Circular to oval black lesions on the fruit surface	Spray Sun Bio Monus at 5 ml/lit water Chemical control:  Spray Indofil Z78 fungicide at 2 – 2.5 gm/lit water Spray Kavach at 1 – 2 gm/lit water

(Note: Please check the product’s description before application to know the right time of application) 

Harvesting

The economic life span of papaya trees is 3-4 years. Harvesting of papaya too early or too late might increase the risk of postharvest physiological disorders. The papaya tree starts flowering and sets fruits in about 6 – 7 months. The fruits become ready for harvesting in 10 – 11 months from planting. Fruit ripening is indicated by the change in fruit color from green to yellowish green. Harvesting should be done by hand using sharp knives. 

Harvesting indices:  

• Fruit colour changes from dark green to light green with a slight tinge of yellow at the apical end
• Fruits can be harvested when the latex of the fruit becomes watery

Average Yield

Average yield per plant: 30 – 50 kg 

Average yield per acre: 12 – 16 tons (1st year); 6 – 8 tons (2nd year) 

Extraction of Papain

Papain is a proteolytic enzyme that is commonly extracted from papaya fruit and widely used in the meat, pharmaceutical, food, textile, and cosmetic industries. Here are the steps involved in the extraction of papain from papaya: 

1. For papain extraction, tapping of latex is done in mature fruits which are 70 – 90 days old from the fruit set.
2. It should be done early in the morning before 10:00 am.
3. Using a razor blade or sharp pointed bamboo stick, give four equally spaced longitudinal cuts/incisions from the stalk to the fruit tip. The depth of the cut should not be > 3mm.
4. Tapping should be repeated on the same fruit four times at an interval of 3 – 4 days. Cuts should be made on places of fruit surface not covered previously.
5. Collect the latex from the fruits in an aluminum tray and shade-dry it. Drying can also be done rapidly using an oven at 45 – 50°C temperature.
6. Filter them using sieve mesh and then add 0.05% potassium meta bisulphite (KMS) to the latex to get better color and keep quality.
7. Dried latex is powdered, sieved through the mesh, packed in polythene bags, and sealed.