Papaya Planting, Cultivation Methods and Technical Key Points
Planting and Cultivation 1. Site selection and land preparation: Choose a sunny, fertile, moist and well-drained location for planting. It can also be planted at field edges and corners, on hillsides, and around houses. For block planting, dig holes at a spacing of 1 m x 2 m, and apply 5-10 kg of farmyard manure mixed with soil in each hole as base fertilizer. Seedling nursery land...
Planting and Cultivation
1. Site selection and land preparation: Choose a sunny, fertile, moist and well-drained location for planting. It can also be planted at field edges and corners, on hillsides, and around houses. For block planting, dig holes at a spacing of 1 m x 2 m, and apply 5-10 kg of farmyard manure mixed with soil in each hole as base fertilizer. For the seedling nursery, choose loose and fertile sandy loam soil, apply 3000 kg of farmyard manure per mu as base fertilizer, plow 25 cm deep, harrow fine and level, and make beds 1.3 m wide.
2. Propagation methods: Mainly use division propagation, and cuttings and seed propagation can also be used.
(1) Division propagation: Papaya roots are shallow, and its tillering ability is strong. Many young plants can grow from the roots each year. Before March, dig out the young plants sprouting around the old plant together with their roots. Smaller ones can first be planted in the seedling nursery, cultivated for 1-2 years, and then transplanted out for final planting; larger ones can be directly planted in place. This method flowers and fruits early, is simple, and also has a high survival rate.
(2) Cutting propagation: Before sprouting in February-March, cut healthy and relatively tender branches into 15-20 cm long sections, insert them obliquely in the seedbed at a spacing of 10 cm x 15 cm, provide appropriate shade, keep moist regularly, and after new roots grow, transplant them to the seedling nursery to continue cultivation for 1-2 years before final planting.
(3) Seed propagation: Sow in autumn or spring. For autumn sowing, in late October, when papaya seeds are mature, pick the fruit, take out the seeds, and in November dig holes at a spacing of 15 cm x 20 cm, with holes 6 cm deep, sow 2-3 seeds per hole, and cover with 3 cm of fine soil. For spring sowing, from early to late March, first soak the seeds in water for 2 days, then remove them, place them in a basin, cover with a wet cloth, and keep them in a warm place for 24 hours. Sow as above. Autumn-sown seeds emerge in spring of the following year, and spring-sown seeds emerge from late April to early May. When the seedlings grow to about 1 m, they can be transplanted out for final planting. Plant 2-3 seedlings per hole in a triangular arrangement, cover with soil, press firm, and water. Spring is the best time for planting trees.
3. Field management
(1) Cultivation and weeding: After the plants survive final planting, combine fertilization with cultivation and weeding 2 times each year in spring and autumn, loosen the soil, and remove all weeds. When loosening the soil in winter, earth up the soil to help prevent freezing.
(2) Topdressing: Apply topdressing once before flowering in spring. First open a ring ditch around the tree, and apply about 5 kg each of burnt mud ash and mixed soil manure per plant, or about 10 kg of human excrement and urine, to promote growth and benefit flowering and fruiting.
(3) Pruning: Pruning has a great influence on papaya flowering and fruiting, and should be carried out from December to March of the following year. Adult trees are pruned once a year, cutting off diseased branches, dead branches, senescent branches and overly dense young branches, so that the tree shape remains hollow inside and round outside, to facilitate more flowering and more fruiting. For old plants that are already over 10 years old and whose vigor has begun to decline, renewal should be carried out. Before the soil freezes, cut off all aboveground parts and let the old roots grow seedlings to cultivate new plants.