Starting Papaya Seeds – Waimanolo, Wild Papaya, Mountain Papaya

Papaya is a flavorful and fragrant fruit, and starting seeds is relatively easy. Provided the soil is warm and kept moist, the success rate for each seed germination is nearly 100 percent for most viable seeds.

• Wild Papaya – Carica cauliflora. Papaya from Central America. Fast growing plant, with fruit that is medium sized and a white pulp. Cool(er) hardy plants. Plant seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep in sterile potting soil in individual containers. Keep soil moist, not wet, and keep soil temperature between 75 to 85 degrees F. Once seeds have germinated, transfer outside with a 1 to 2 week hardening off time. Stem and roots are sensitive to take care when putting them in the final growing spot in the ground.
• Mountain Papaya – Carica pubescens. Papaya from the Andes mountains. Fruit is tart, smallish (3 to 6 inches), and is a fast grower. Mountain papaya is used to flavor drinks in its native growing area. This papaya is cold hardy to mid 20s F and -4 C. Male and female plants need to be planted together. Plant seeds 1/2 to 1 inch deep in sterile potting soil in individual containers. Keep soil moist, not wet, and keep soil temperature between 75 to 85 degrees F. Once seeds have germinated, transfer outside with a 1 to 2 week hardening off time. Stem and roots are sensitive to take care when putting them in the final growing spot in the ground.
• Waimanolo Papaya – Carica waimanolo. Papaya from Hawaii. Plant seeds 3/4 to 1 inch deep in sterile potting soil in individual containers. Keep soil moist, not wet, and keep soil temperature between 75 to 85 degrees F. Once seeds have germinated, transfer outside with a 1 to 2 week hardening off time. Stem and roots are sensitive to take care when putting them in the final growing spot in the ground.