garden

Papaya

Carica papaya

EdibleMedicinalToxic — Use Caution

Edible PartsFlowers Fruit Leaves Seed

Overview

A fast-growing tropical fruit tree that can produce fruit within a year of planting from seed, papaya is one of the most rewarding tropical plants to grow. Its sweet, musky orange flesh is rich in papain, a protein-digesting enzyme used in meat tenderizers and digestive supplements. Green papaya is widely used as a vegetable in Southeast Asian cuisine, particularly in Thai green papaya salad.

Growing Conditions

LightFull Sun

MoistureWet

Hardiness Zones10b — 12

Height6.1m

Spread4m

Growth HabitTree

Bloom ColorWhite

Pollinator Valuehigh

Companion Planting & Soil

Good Companions

BananaSweet potatoBeansComfrey

Soil pH5.5 — 7

Soil TypeRich, well-drained, fertile soil; does not tolerate waterlogging

Planting Calendar

When to sow, transplant, and harvest by growing zone.

Zone	Action	Months	Notes
Warm (8-9)	Start Indoors	Jan — Feb	Start seeds indoors 2-3 months before transplanting; needs 70-80°F to germinate
Warm (8-9)	Transplant	Apr — May	Transplant after all frost danger; full sun; sheltered from wind
Warm (8-9)	Harvest	Oct — Dec	Harvest when skin turns yellow; fruits year-round once mature in ideal conditions
Hot (10+)	Direct Sow	Mar — May	Direct sow in frost-free areas; fruits in 9-11 months from seed
Hot (10+)	Transplant	Feb — Apr	Transplant seedlings; rich, well-drained soil; heavy feeder
Hot (10+)	Harvest	Aug — Dec	Continuous harvest once fruiting begins; pick green for cooking or ripe for eating fresh

Uses

Culinary

Ripe fruit eaten fresh or in smoothies
Green papaya in Thai salads (som tam) and curries
Seeds eaten as a peppery condiment

Medicinal

Papain enzyme aids protein digestion
Rich in vitamin C, vitamin A, and folate
Traditional use for intestinal parasites (papaya seed)

Other Uses

Extremely fast-growing tropical fruit (fruit within 1 year)
Papain extracted commercially for meat tenderizers

Safety Notes

Older leaves contain the alkaloid carpaine[ 298 ].