12 Tips for How to Grow Papaya from Seeds (Get Fruit Within 2 Years of Planting)

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How To Grow Papayas from Seed

12 Tips for How to Grow Papayas from Seed 

We grow a lot of papayas, and over the years we've found many solutions to growing papaya here in zone 9b. Some years we encounter a frost or two in northeast Florida, but it is still possible to grow papayas, even though papayas don't like freezing temperatures. 

Papayas are one of the fastest fruiting fruit trees, and if you give them optimal conditions you should be able to get fruit within two years of planting. 

Tip 1 - Buy GMO-free papayas.

Buy organic papayas or look at the country of origin and check out the seller's website. 


GMO Papayas

  • Hawaiian papayas in the store are most likely GMO papayas. 
  • Rainbow papayas, Sunup, and Sunrise papayas are GMO papayas. 


Papayas that are non-GMO 

  • Kapoho papayas 
  • Mexican red papayas 
  • Caribbean red papayas 
  • Maradol papayas 
  • Royal star papayas 
  • Singapore Pink papayas 

Generally, if you buy a papaya from Mexico or Belize there's less of a chance that they're GMO papayas. 

Tip 2 - Use a ripe papaya and plant fresh papaya seeds.

Tip 3 - Start your papayas outdoors. 

We've never had much success with starting papaya seeds indoors. Start your seeds in the ground, in deep pots, or in large soda containers, as papayas have long tap roots.

Tip 4 - If you're in zone 8 or 9, start seeds in a pot in the fall or late summer. 

This way you can protect the small papaya plants against frost the first year by moving the pots closer to the house. Papayas may give you the first fruit within 10 months - 2 years. 

Tip 5 - If your area is susceptible to getting a frost or two every year, plant your papayas near the south side of your house.

If you plant your papayas at the southside (or the east side), you'll get protection from the house (the house gives off heat) and more sun exposure in the winter months. 

Tip 6 - Plant at least 3 papaya plants for cross-pollination. 

You won't know if a papaya plant is female, male or unisex until they flower. We recommend at least 1 male papaya plant to 10 female papaya plants. 

Tip 7 - Plant papayas close for better pollination. 

We recommend 4 feet between each plant. Some papayas won't survive, and you don't want too many male papaya plants, as these won't give you fruit. 

Tip 8 - Papayas hate transplanting. 

Because papaya plants hate transplanting, either plant the seeds where you want the plants to grow or disturb the plants' roots as little as possible when transplanting. Either seed them in large soda cups that you don't mind breaking, so you can cut these off after you have the hole prepared for your papaya, or just be careful when transplanting. 

Tip 9 - Papayas often drop their leaves after transplanting

Your papayas will likely lose their leaves after transplanting but keep watering and within a month they'll adjust and produce new leaves. 

Tip 10 - Feed your papayas. 

Just like bananas, papayas like to be fed often. We prefer using homemade compost and green manure, but you can also use an organic fertilizer. 

Tip 11 - Papayas love rainwater. 

Papayas love the chemical-free rainwater, so collect rainwater in rain barrels. This way you will always have extra rainwater on hand, even during times of drought. 

Tip 12 - Cut your papayas after frost

If your papayas are hit by frost, cut them low, and they may regrow with multiple trunks.

Bonus Tip: Feed your chickens papaya seeds, and you will soon have the healthiest volunteer papaya plants growing all over your garden. 



What's our How to Grow Papaya video below.



You can learn more about growing papayas here at Dancing Treetops. 

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