Paw Paw Growing Guide

Carica papaya

Paw Paw

Crop Rotation Group

Miscellaneous ●

Soil

Fertile, well-drained soil enriched with plenty of compost.

Position

Full sun.

Frost tolerant

No. Paw Paws are tropical plants with little tolerance for cold. They are hardy only to about -1°C (30°F).

Feeding

Feed with a balanced organic fertiliser monthly during the rainy season to support steady growth.

Spacing

Single Plants: 1.80m (5' 10") each way (minimum)
Rows: 1.80m (5' 10") with 1.80m (5' 10") row gap (minimum)

Sow and Plant

Paw Paws are easily grown from seed sown in containers or where you want the plants to grow. Many selected cultivars have both male and female flowers, but others are either male or female. Only female flowers set fruit. Paw Paws often start blooming within a year, making it easy to cull excess male plants. Set out container-grown plants at any time of year in tropical climates except the dry season. Papayas need regular water and are easily stressed by drought. Paw Paws can grow to 20 feet (6 m) tall, with most of their large leaves at the tops of the plants. In containers, grow one plant per 14-inch (35 cm) wide pot. Paw Paws are often grown as ornamental summer foliage plants because of their large, showy leaves.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalised calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Notes

Native to South America, Paw Paws are fruits of the rainforest. The fast-growing, upright trees need weather that stays warm year-round. Paw Paws often start producing their second year after planting. Paw Paws grow so fast that they need little if any pruning. The trees are often short-lived and usually die before they are ten years old.

Harvesting

Most Paw Paws fruit throughout the year with peak harvesting times being Autumn and Spring, though it is not usual for plants to bear ripe fruits while continuing to bloom. Fruits are set along the main trunk and ripen gradually, from the bottom up. Paw Paws are ripe when the fruits change colour and feel soft. Refrigerate Paw Paws for longer term storage.

Troubleshooting

Several insects injure paw paw fruits, and paw paw ringspot virus is a serious threat in some areas. Paw paw are known to suffer from a fungal condition known as paw paw blackspot disease which if left untreated renders fruit inedible and will continually infect new fruit. Paw paw leaves are loaded with bitter sap that deters feeding by many pests. In Australia fruit fly are a pest of paw paw, make sure to take appropriate control measures in areas where they are present. It is important to dispose of any infected fruit and fruit has fallen to the ground by placing them in a sealed plastic bag in the sun for at least 7 days to kill the eggs and larvae. Do not compost fruit as this will lead to the fruit fly completing their life cycle and lead to the problem recurring.

Planting and Harvesting Calendar

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Pests which Affect Paw Paw