12

Aug

Nursery Care for Papaya
Agriculture
Comments Off on Nursery Care for Papaya

SELECT CULTIVARS FOR INTENDED MARKET

Local market:-medium to small fruit size.

Foreign market:-small fruits

Always use hybrid varieties to ensure true to type high yielding trees.

Sow seeds in seeding trays with 3inch x 3inch cells in disease free planting medium such as Pro-Mix or sterilized soil / manure mixes.

Seeds germinate in 8 – 15 days NB. Papaya can be pre-germinated.

Transplant into 4 inch x 6 inch plastic bags when seedlings are 4”-5” tail.

DISEASE CONTROL

  • Damping off complex :Phytopthora, Pythium, Rhizoctonia, Fusarium (Soil Drench)
  • USE – PHYTHON 27
  • RATES/4.5LTS-10mls/2tsp per gallon

INSECT CONTROL

  • Caterpillars, aphids, beetles, scales
  • USE-DECIS
  • RATES/4.5LTS-5mls/1tsp per gallon

FERTILIZER

  • (starter)
  • USE-20:20:20
  • RATES/4.5LTS-1tsp/4.5lts/gallon twice weekly

SITE SELECTION

Select well drained soils. Avoid areas prone to waterlogging. Plant on cumbered beds in heavy clay soil.

  • Plant seedlings in full sunlight. Papaya does not tolerate shade.

FIELD TRANSPLANTING

  • Always select healthy, vigorous seedlings with strong, erect stems. Do not use plants with roots emerging from the container or plastic bag.
  • Select seedling 30 cm /12 inches in height approximately 12 weeks old.
  • The planting hole should be at least twice the width and height of the plastic bag / container in which the seedling was growing.
  • Mix well discomposed manure with 30 g /1oz of 15:15:15 and place into the planting hole. Set the seedling in the hole ensuring that the level of the soil in the bag is slightly above the surface of the soil in which it is planted. Don’t forget to remove the plastic bag.
  • Maintain a weed free area of one meter or three feet around the seedling.

DISEASE CONTROL

  • Damping off complex Phytopthora, Pythium, Rhizoctonia, Fusarium)(Soil Drench)
  • Anthracnose
  • Powdery Mildew
  • USE-Phyton 27
  • RATES/4.5LTS/2tsp/gallon weekly

INSECT CONTROL

  • Mites, Aphids White-flies, Scales Caterpillars, Leaf Hoppers
  • USE-NEEMAX
  • RATES/4.5lts-10mls

The papaya leaf hopper adult is pale green in colour, wedge shaped and 3-3.5mm in size. It is the vector of the mycoplasma-like organism (MLO) which causes BUNCHY TOP DISEASE. Regular field Inspections and spraying with recommended insecticides is critical for control.

For most effectiveness apply insecticides and fungicides with a knap-sack sprayer or a mist blower set at lowest speed. CALIBRATION of equipment is also essential.

The leaves and fruits of Papaya are smooth and waxy and spray liquids run off very rapidly, so use a spreader at the recommended rates. This enhances the effectiveness of the chemical used during dry or rainy conditions.