Papaya

Step-by-step method

1. 1
   Step 1

   Prepare the seed

   Soak in lukewarm water for 12–24 hours. Discard seeds that float.

2. 2
   Step 2

   Sow in bags

   Fill poly bags with soil, rotted manure and sand (2:1:1). Sow 1–2 seeds per bag, 1.5 inches deep, and keep in light shade.

3. 3
   Step 3

   Transplant

   Move 25–30-day seedlings (4–5 leaves) to pits 2 m apart. Mix 10 kg of rotted manure into each pit 10–15 days before.

4. 4
   Step 4

   Site & water

   Pick a raised, sunny spot — papaya cannot stand waterlogging. Water every 10–12 days in the dry season.

5. 5
   Step 5

   Feed & care

   Apply organic manure around the plant every 1–2 months. At flowering keep one male plant per ten female plants and remove the rest.

6. 6
   Step 6

   Harvest

   Pick ripe fruit once yellow streaks appear. For cooking, harvest while green.

🌱 General care: weed around the base once plants grow and water whenever the soil starts to dry.