Papaw, Papaya growing in Aquaponics

[Murray]

I have seen a photo of papaw trees growing in a hydroponic system, I am thinking of giving that a try.
Does anyone have any knowledge in this area ?

[daniel]

Not specifically, but they pop up all over my garden and they LOOOVE compost rich soil. Just from that point of view alone it would be an interesting experiment as they require a lot of nutrients. They may be a good way of increasing fish stock levels if they really suck up the nitrogen. I dont really know.

Some varieties grow quite tall, so may not be appropriate for some greenhouses, but I think I have seen miniature varieties.

This is not Aquaponics based, but I am actually just about to try a permaculture technique called, a Papaya circle. It basically involves planting a ring of Papaw and banana trees around a compost heap (of about 1m diameter). Sweet potatoes can then be planted into the ring. Should be a nice productive little area of the garden.

[Murray]

Hi Daniel,

I googled "Papaya Circle" and came up with a heap of photos on the Permaculture Forum Photo Gallery, but I could not view any of them. Perhaps I have to be a member of the forum in order to view the pix. ?

Sounds like a really good idea. My father-in-law does a similar thing, his mound/s are approx 4 mtrs across with papaw trees and banana all around and a mango or avacardo in the middle. Around the outside he plants beans, cabbage etc.
Trouble is where I am towards Beaudesert we get 3 or 4 bad frosts each winter and I have tried papaw and banana many times out in the yard and they have always been knocked in winter. My new greenhouse will be 4.5 mtrs high right in the middle so a papaw will would be good.
Murray

[Murray]

At last I have my 2 pawpaw trees planted out. One red variety and one yellow.
They have been in the grow beds for about a week and appear to be doing fine. They are sending new leaves from the top and the bases are thickening up.
It will be interesting to see how they go.

[Hamish]

Those strawberries look like they are going good Murray. Mine have come back since FF advised me to quit salting my system.

[Murray]

Yes, The strawberries have been fantastic this season. Not too many get to the house !!!

[Murray]

Update on the PawPaw tree....or papaya as our US friends know them.

The "Red" variety is going like a house on fire.
See the little flower buds showing up on the trunk.....maybe there will be some fruit soon.!!!!
The "Yellow" can be seen in the next grow bed to the right and is healthy, but is growing very slowly compared to the "Red" variety.
The "Yellow" is sharing the bed with the strawberries and a visitor here recently told me that there is something given off by the roots of the strawberry that will inhibit the progress of the pawpaw. Don't know if it has any truth to it....but who knows......

[Outbackozzie]

VB grew a huge pawpaw in a bath tub, brisbane area.

[Murray]

Yes OB, I remember when he started that one but since I left the other forum I did not know of it's success or not.
It went well ?
Is it still going strong ?

[Dufflight]

Think he had to push it over a little to keep the roof on the green house. I've got on in my system. Only small, no transplant shock.

[Outbackozzie]

I believe that he ended up pulling the whole thing out when re doing the system. It was pretty large.

[Murray]

I have had a couple of unbelievers email me asking for the exact date of the plant out.

Planted out as a seedling on 14th September 2008
See photo earlier in this thread.


Look at it now on 12 January 2009.Four months of growth in an Aquaponics system.
http://aquaponics.net.au/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/pawpaw10-337x450.jpg (http://aquaponics.net.au/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/pawpaw10.jpg)

The piece of fruit at upper left is 70mm across, side to side.

The height is not what is amazing, in fact I hope it proves to be a short variety. I may have to lop the top off it. It is now 1800mm high in the 300mm deep grow bed.

it is how soon it has set fruit that I find amazing.
A google will reveal that “PAW PAW, Carica papaya Also known as the papaya these fast growing trees can commence bearing within 12 months of planting.”
This tree started to set fruit at 3 months. Maybe it is a freak.


Other pix in my blog here (http://aquaponics.net.au/blog/)

[David McPherson]

That is phenominal growth rate much better than I ever do in soil maybe height will be a problem too hard to lift roof I cut and branch pawpaw several times before replacing after many years David

[echidna]

David,

How do you branch paw-paws?

[Hamish]

Murray that is truly awesome - can you save some seed for me please. Is it in flood and drain? Clay balls?

[Hamish]

Hey Duff - how is your Papaya going?

[Murray]

Hi Hamish,
It was a seedling from the B shop and it is growing in a 3 year old gravel grow bed.

The Pawpaw is standing very firm in the grow bed. The 20mm drainage gravel has some weight to it providing an excellent base for the tree.

The bed has a good worm population and is supplied with nutrient by around 100 Murray Cod that are 12 months old this month.

The same grow bed has spring onions and button squash and a birds eye chillies bush. The birds eye chillie bush is being overshadowed by the Pawpaw.

The bed beside and part of the same system has another Pawpaw tree coming on.
It has not done so well because it was planted in amongst strawberries. Now that the strawberries have been removed that Pawpaw (a golden bi-sexual) is shooting up. The golden was planted on the same day as the red. No sign of fruit buds yet on the golden as yet.