OUT-OF-SEASON PRODUCTION OF PAPAWS (CARICA PAPAYA L.) IN COOL SUBTROPICAL AREAS

P. Allan
Under subtropical conditions papaw (Carica papaya L.) fruit set is adversely affected during winter and spring, with a consequent marked drop in production late the following summer. The cooler the area, the more fruits borne, and the later into autumn that the fruits set, the longer their period of development and the greater the proportion of out-of-season fruits produced.

In cool subtropical areas a good proportion of the crop matures in the out-of-season period (February - April) if the plants are grown either:

  • from seed planted in mid summer two years previously, or
  • from cuttings transplanted in late spring the previous year.

These plants set fruit from late summer to early winter and possibly in spring. However cool conditions in late autumn and spring reduce the number of fruit set, while cold winters have an adverse effect on the initial cell division stage of fruit growth. Thus a rapidly decreasing number of small fruits mature through the scarce period.

A better out-of-season crop of more and larger fruits can be obtained in cool subtropical areas if large-fruited clones, with a slow average rate of fruit development, are selected and propagated vegetatively. These plants set many fruits during late summer and early autumn when conditions are more favourable for cell division. Cell enlargement continues at lower winter temperatures, and subsequently, and many reasonably sized fruits, of best quality, mature during the late summer/early autumn period when supplies from the main, hotter production areas are minimal and prices are high.

Plastic tunnels may be of value in some areas in providing more favourable conditions for fruit set and growth during the cooler months, provided there is adequate pollination with viable pollen.

Allan, P. (1976). OUT-OF-SEASON PRODUCTION OF PAPAWS (CARICA PAPAYA L.) IN COOL SUBTROPICAL AREAS. Acta Hortic. 57, 97-104
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.1976.57.12
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1976.57.12

Acta Horticulturae