What are the latest methods for growing papaya seedlings?

Papaya has high medicinal value, and it also has excellent edible and medicinal value. In many regions it is also cultivated as a courtyard ornamental plant, with good economic returns. As more and more people grow it, how is papaya propagated from seedlings? Follow along with the editor to take a look.

1. Seedling cultivation

First, select fully mature fruit from a robust mother plant, remove the seeds and wash them clean, dry them in the shade, then place them in a well-ventilated bag and store them in a low-temperature, dry environment. For autumn sowing, the cleaned seeds can be sown directly in shallow furrows; for spring sowing, they must first undergo sand storage treatment. After sowing, the soil covering should not be too thick; three times the seed diameter is appropriate, as too thick a soil cover may cause the seeds to emerge slowly or even fail to emerge. After sowing, water to keep the soil moist. When the seedlings grow to 3 true leaves, thin them out; when they grow to 6 true leaves, increase fertilizer and water management, combining foliar feeding with ground watering. In addition, the new technique of bud seedling transplanting promoted in recent years has been widely welcomed. First raise the seedlings in a seedling bed, then transplant them to the field when the seedlings grow to 3 leaves. This seedling-raising method produces uniform emergence, well-developed lateral roots, and a high rate of established seedlings.

2. Grafted seedling cultivation

The scions for grafted seedlings should be collected from 1-year-old branches that are well developed and free of pests and diseases on plants of superior varieties. Scions used for spring grafting should be taken during the winter dormant period and, after collection, buried in wet sand for storage; scions used in summer do not have so many issues and can be used immediately after collection, with the leaves cut off and the petioles retained, then wrapped in a damp cloth. Spring grafting should be carried out 20 days before the rootstock buds, and methods such as tongue grafting and cleft grafting can be used; in summer and autumn, T-shaped budding or chip budding with wood can be used, and the rootstock plant height should be above 50 cm. After grafting, frequently check the survival rate, and re-graft any that have not survived in time. When the new shoots grow to 30 cm, untie the binding, while strengthening fertilizer and water management and controlling weeds and pests; they can leave the nursery the same year.

3. Cutting propagation

Somewhat similar to grafting, the branches used for cuttings should be selected from 1-2 year old branches with well-developed tissue and plump leaf buds on superior mother plants. Cut them into 15-25 cm lengths, keeping 2-3 nodes, with the upper end cut flat 1 cm from the terminal bud and the lower end cut at a slant near the axillary bud, then store them moist for later use. Green branch cuttings can be taken during the growing season; harvest semi-lignified branches, cut them into 15-20 cm lengths, and remove the lower leaves. Cuttings should be taken when the ground temperature reaches above 15°C. In summer, this is generally done from June to August, when appropriate shading and moisture retention are needed. Treating the cuttings with a rooting agent before planting can significantly increase the survival rate.

The above is an introduction to the seedling-raising methods for papaya. We hope it helps you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.