Papaya starts flowering after 6-8 months and fruits are ready for harvesting 8-10 months after trees have been planted.
The physiological development stage of fruit at the time of harvest determines the flavour and taste when the fruit is ripened.
Fruits harvested too early have longer post harvest life, but give abnormal taste and flavour. Fruits also tend to shrivel and suffer chilling injury when refrigerated.
Harvest when at least 2 yellow strips appear between the ridges of the fruit.
Harvest by cutting fruits from the tree, leave a stem 0.5-1 cm long on the fruit. The stem can later be reduced when packing the fruits.
Avoid latex flowing on the fruit by placing the stalks of harvested fruits facing downwards.
Place the fruits gently into the harvesting crates.
It is better to harvest the fruits early and leave them to ripen in shade.
Yields
Under good conditions fruiting starts within a year from planting and continues with a yield of 30-150 fruits per tree during its life span. A yield of 35-50 ton/ha can be realized per year. The fruits are available throughout the year provided water is adequately available. A pawpaw plantation can be productive for 4-5 years but the economical period is 3-4 years.
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