How to grow Papaya
Updated October 2026
Papaya is a fast, tree-like tropical plant that can flower four months after planting and fruit within a year, cropping almost continuously in warm weather. It needs warmth, sun, shelter from wind and good drainage, and in Florida it is usually replanted every 18 to 24 months because of papaya ringspot virus.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Papaya
Not to be confused with: In the US, pawpaw usually means the American pawpaw, a hardy native fruit tree, not papaya. This page covers papaya, Carica papaya.
Where to plant
Papaya grows and fruits best where it stays between about 70 and 90°F. It is damaged or killed below 31°F. Temperatures below 59°F can stop flowering or give misshapen fruit, and above 90°F flowers may drop. Roots grow best when the soil stays above 60°F.
Plant in full sun, in a spot sheltered from strong wind, as heavily laden plants topple easily. Papaya grows in sand, loam and rocky soils, but the roots rot in wet ground, so good drainage is essential.
- Central and South Florida and Hawaii: grow outdoors. Plant 2 or 3 plants so at least one bears fruit.
- North Florida, the Gulf Coast, Texas and California: frost below 31°F damages or kills papaya, so the calendar does not recommend it outdoors. A large container moved under cover for cold nights is an option.
- Elsewhere: only in a heated greenhouse.
Choosing a variety
Important US varieties include 'Red Lady', 'Maradol', 'Tainung No. 1' and the small Solo types. UF/IFAS advises Florida gardeners to avoid seed from small, pear-shaped Solo fruit, which is more susceptible to ringspot virus than the larger, elongated fruit sold in many local markets.
Papaya plants are male, female or bisexual. Only female and bisexual plants bear fruit, so grow 2 or 3 plants.
How to plant
- To grow from seed, rub seeds from a ripe fruit against a colander to break the jelly-like sac around them, rinse, and dry them out of the sun.
- Sow 2 to 4 seeds in each 1-gallon pot of clean, fresh seed-raising mix, and keep them warm and sunny. Germination takes 2 to 3 weeks; thin to the strongest seedling.
- Plant out in full sun, 7 to 12 feet apart and at least 7 to 10 feet from buildings and power lines. Plant on a mound where drainage is poor.
- Mulch 2 to 6 inches deep, keeping mulch 8 to 12 inches from the stem.
Watering and feeding
Papaya needs regular water; drought makes it drop flowers, leaves and young fruit and gives small, bland fruit. On sandy or rocky soil, water every day or every other day in hot, dry weather and less in winter. On soils that hold water, water every 3 to 4 days in hot weather and never overwater.
Feed little and often. Give young plants about 1/4 pound of a complete fertilizer with magnesium every 14 days, increasing as they grow; from 7 to 8 months old, give 1 to 2 pounds every other month.
Pruning and care through the year
- Do not prune the top; papaya grows from a single terminal bud. If side shoots appear, keep the strongest one or two.
- Remove dead leaves to reduce fruit scarring, pests and disease.
- Bag young fruit with a paper bag or paint strainer cloth to keep out papaya fruit fly.
- Remove any plant with ringspot virus, and plan to replant every 18 to 24 months.
Harvesting
Pick fruit green to cook as a vegetable, or when yellow covers about a tenth to a third of the skin and let it finish ripening at room temperature. Fruit left longer on the plant is sweeter. Refrigerate once ripe. Well-grown plants can give 60 to 80 pounds of fruit in a year.
Growing in pots
In cold areas, papaya can be grown in a large container in full sun and moved somewhere warm and bright before temperatures drop below about 60°F.
Companion planting
Papaya is a fast, short-lived plant that fits into a tropical garden, but give it full sun and keep lawn sprinklers away from its roots.
Good companions
- Tropical fruit trees Papaya can fill space while slower trees such as mango establish, as long as it is not shaded.
Pests and diseases
Papaya ringspot virus is the most important papaya disease in Florida. Papaya fruit fly and mites are the main pests.
Pests to watch for
- Papaya fruit fly A wasp-like yellow and black fly; infested fruit yellows in patches and drops early. Bag young fruit.
- Spider mites Browning, skeletonized leaves and early leaf drop.
- Whitefly Papaya whitefly on leaf undersides, causing leaf drop.
- Root-knot nematodes Weak plants that topple easily; plant in clean soil.
Diseases to watch for
- Papaya ringspot virus Yellow mottled leaves, distorted, shrunken leaf lobes, dark streaks on stems and dark rings on fruit. Remove infected plants.
- Anthracnose Small water-soaked spots on ripening fruit that turn brown or black and sink.
- Root rot Phytophthora rots of roots, stem and fruit in wet soil; use clean potting mix for seedlings.
Common questions
Why isn't my papaya fruiting?
It may be a male plant, which rarely bears. Papaya plants are male, female or bisexual, and only females and bisexuals fruit reliably. Cool weather below 59°F also stops flowering. Grow 2 or 3 plants to be sure of fruit.
How fast does papaya grow?
Very fast. Well-grown plants can flower 4 months after planting and fruit 7 to 11 months after planting.
Why should I replant papaya every couple of years?
Papaya ringspot virus is common in Florida and eventually ruins plants. UF/IFAS recommends replanting every 18 to 24 months and removing infected plants.
When is a papaya ripe?
Pick when yellow covers about a tenth to a third of the skin and let it ripen at room temperature, or leave it longer on the plant for sweeter fruit. Green papaya can be cooked as a vegetable.
Can papaya survive frost?
No. Plants are damaged or killed below 31°F. Outside frost-free areas, grow papaya in a container or treat it as a short-lived plant.
Is papaya the same as pawpaw?
No. In the US, pawpaw usually means the native American pawpaw, a hardy deciduous tree. Papaya is a tropical plant.
Sources we checked: UF/IFAS EDIS: Papaya Growing in the Florida Home Landscape (HS11/MG054).
Loading sow calendar…