Papaya Seedlings are Germinating!!!

 Papaya Seedlings

This is the second time that I have tried to germinate Papaya seedlings with my first attempt being a complete disaster and making me wonder if the imported Papaya plants are genetically sterile with their seeds not viable.

However on my second attempt I have gotten a really good germination rate (around 60% so far).

But before planting the papaya seeds (sourced from a shop purchased papaya) it is important to remove the seeds (no surprise there:>) and place them in a glass of water for a week or so. This is an important step to remove the gelatinous layer around the seed. The solution will actually start to ferment with the production of bubbles as the seed coat breaks down.

After seven days I removed the papaya seeds and place then in a seed tray with a fine layer of soil placed on top of them and placed the try in the greenhouse. After around seven days the seeds had started to germinate to my massive surprise and excitement!

So today (the 3rd of March 2021) I have started to prick out the largest seedling and not a moment too soon as the roots are pretty deep and they haven't yet started to produce true leaves yet!

Will be very interesting to see how they develop in the greenhouse. 

Papaya are normally either male or female, with one male plant recommended for around ten female plants however there are some that are hermaphrodite and I am hoping that this is my case otherwise will have to have a male plant in the greenhouse taking up space that could be used for a female plant!

Update:21/03/21

Disaster the papaya seedlings are really suffering with a large number succumbing to what I suspect is a fungal disease, not sure if they have been over watered but have placed the bags in different locations to see if they respond differently. I suspect that my placing them in the greenhouse immediately after transplanting them may not have helped the situation as they should have gone into a warm shaded place to allow them to develop in their new environment. Although having said this the seedlings that have been left in the seed tray are also dying! Urgh one consultation is that you always learn more from your failures than your successes:>)