Update November 2023: we have commercial Red Lady F1 papaya seeds available to buy on TradeMe.
Are you looking for a delicious and exotic fruit that’s easy to grow in a small space? Look no further than the Red Lady papaya! This variety is perfect for growing in a container and produces an abundant amount of juicy papayas that are better than those found in supermarkets.
This variety ticks a lot of boxes:
- It’s a dwarf suitable for pots and smaller gardens
- self-pollinating
- disease resistant
- one of the more cold-tolerant papayas
- excellent fruit
In our over-wintering test, Red Lady was the only tropical papaya variety to survive outdoors without a tunnel house, greenhouse or other pampering. Great, huh?
One of the best things about the Red Lady papaya is its early and abundant fruit production. The tree can begin producing fruit within the first year when it reaches a height of around 1 meter. The fruit is oblong in shape, orange-red in colour, and has a non-astringent taste that is sweet and juicy.
To grow a Red Lady papaya in a container, you’ll need a good size pot or grow bag (45L and up is all good). It’s important to use a well-draining potting mix that is rich in organic matter, and consider adding sand or perlite to the mix to reduce the risk of root rot. Papayas hate sitting in cold, soggy soil.
Watering is crucial for the growth and fruit production of your Red Lady papaya tree. It requires regular watering, especially during the summer months, and doubly so if in a container. The soil should be kept moist but not waterlogged, as overwatering can lead to root rot. It’s best to water your tree in the morning or evening when the temperature is cooler, as this will help to prevent evaporation and ensure that the water reaches the roots.
If you’re growing in the ground, plant on mounds if you have anything less than very well drained soil. Try planting banana around the papaya as bananas are excellent water pumps.
Our seeds are germinating right now, so stay tuned for our own supply of these incredibly productive papaya soon!
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