Papaya-Inter cultivation

Keep the papaya plot free of weeds. Two hand diggings, one in the beginning of the rainy season and another in January- February are necessary.

Apply fertilizer at every two months in basins around the plant.

Papaya is susceptible to water logging and the orchard should have good drainage system.

When papaya is grown as the main crop, vegetables can be profitably cultivated as intercrop for about six months from planting of papaya seedlings.

Identification of male and female plants in papaya can be done only after 4-5 months from planting. At this stage, male trees should be removed maintaining one male tree for every 20 female trees for proper pollination and fruit set.

An occasional thinning of fruits is necessary to prevent overcrowding.

The crop should be irrigated in summer at 7-10-day interval. The ring system of irrigation is better than the basin system. The ring system prevents irrigation water coming into contact with the stem, thus preventing collar rot.