New Orleans Eats Forums at NOLAEats.com

Isabella - sory we missed you but 10 AM is early enough for us!

Here are some photos of my papayas as of this morning:
The ladder is 8 feet tall....the dollar is not growing on the tree but for size reference....that tree is from last summer but did not flower until this spring
The tall one made it through last winter...even with snow on it.

It helps living a block south of the lake.

Thanks Jerry!

My papaya trees are growing rapidly!

A friend came over yesterday & wanted one so I was able to pull up 2 small ones that weren't yet firmly rooted (plus all the rain has helped & I had just watered) and gave them to her. She is so excited!

You were right, there are now 4 trees growing in one spot in each of those 2 spots. I tried moving one to see how firmly rooted it was & it is really in there. Now I don't know if I am creating a monster tree in 2 spots or what!

Any advice? I can't see digging them up now! And won't have time to do that either til next week.

Surely this happens when they are growing wild, right?

Isabella Maja wrote:

You were right, there are now 4 trees growing in one spot in each of those 2 spots. I tried moving one to see how firmly rooted it was & it is really in there. Now I don't know if I am creating a monster tree in 2 spots or what!

Any advice?

Surely this happens when they are growing wild, right?

I haven't tried this yet....they may all be okay but it might look weird.
You could always cut one out if it gets damaged.
You may have solved the cross pollination problem.

Jerry wrote:I haven't tried this yet....they may all be okay but it might look weird.
You could always cut one out if it gets damaged.
You may have solved the cross pollination problem.

Thanks Jerry, for your reply.

I appreciate your comments, I never thought about cutting one out later!
Great idea!

Personally, I think they will look more lush, but we'll see.
I did think about pollination.

I spoke to a woman from the LSU Ag Center Research & Extention at the Farmer's Market yesterday & told her about this situation.
Unfortunately she is not familiar with papaya trees and didn't have an answer for me.

I had a dream that I placed some bricks at the base of the trunks (on the inside ) to help spread them apart a little. Comments anyone?

I'll post the Ag Center info on a new thread.

Jerry, or anyone, did your papaya trees survive the freeze?
All of mine froze. Does anyone have any seeds to share?
I'd be ever so grateful! Thanks!

Mine didn't even make it to the ground. I have no green thumb

My son grew papaya trees from seeds he brought back from Brazil. The trees grew about 16' high ( in 1 season) with numerous arms. They produced hundreds of fruits, many too high to harvest with a ladder. The fruit was huge, easily 11'. We didn't save any seeds but lo and behold, volunteer trees shot up about 2 months ago, 10' from where the original was, and growing through a shrub. My son says they don't like to be transplanted. We moved it anyway. So far, so good. Should they survive and produce, I'll be sure to save some seeds.

My Papayas are doing well and just putting out flowers...
I haven't followed this thread for a while but will post if I get extra papaya to share.
The freeze killed them all but I got about 100 sprouts from the compost.

I've got 3 growing by our store on Severn 14th. St. - in the little plot on the corner by the dumpster pen. These are actually bigger and more bushy than my 8 at home!

The fence is 6 ft.

JAG, I told you you ought to let me give those you got to my mama!:whip:

Jodyrah, I'd love some of those seeds when the time comes!

Jerry, I passed by your shop on Friday & to my surprise saw the papayas!
It was too early tho & you weren't there yet. One of these days!
Did you plant all 100 sprouts? That is quite a bit, maybe you could start your own tropical island by the lake!

Any sprouts, plants or seeds up for the offering will be given a loving green thumbed home!
I told my lawn guy not to dig up the old papayas that froze . . . . but noOOOoooOOOooo!!!

Thanks y'all!

Isabella,

I have a few small back-ups in pots I could give you.
It's getting a bit late in the season but you could try and hope for no freeze.
I can bring them to the store - let me know when...

Your frozen ones were not likely to come back like bananas did.
I had no room for 100 papaya trees...