Should You Prune a Papya Tree?

Should You Prune a Papya Tree?

According to a University of Florida webpage, Papaya plants are not pruned because their main growing point is terminal and branched trees may not produce well. But my experience has been different, though my reason for pruning was out of sheer necessity! But the webpage also mentions that if for some reason the main growing point is damaged, side shoots may grow. They also advise selecting one or two of the most vigorous shoots and removing the others, to facilitate growth and fruiting of the remaing shoots.

I have been following this second part of their advice. As I live in a city dwelling, undue growth of the papaya tree could disturb the neighbours. Moreover, when the tree grows beyond a point, it is difficult for me to get the fruits without damaging them. This is the reason why I have been regularly pruning my hitherto only papaya tree.

I have pruned it several times so far, with the latest one being to less than 3 feet height. I have tried several options of pruning like cutting of the top at the height of my shoulders initially so that I can pluck the fruits easily. I have also read somewhere on the web that one can prune papaya trees if they become too tall and poor in growth.

What I have also observed over the years is that when the tree becomes very tall, the fruits become smaller. As an unpruned papya tree has only terminal growth, this could be due to difficulties in transporting nutrients too high, or that is what I presume.

This I have noted for the trees in the neighbourhood also. Each time I prune my papya tree, it has grown back well so far, fortunately. I prune the papaya tree either when the height becomes unmanageable for me or if the fruits are becoming smaller than the size of an orange, sometimes the size of a lemon! I must confess that the only care which I give my papaya tree other than pruning is regular watering and intermitting feeding with kitchen waste, the only manure which I have found to be cost effective.

The University of Florida page suggests giving supports to the side branches if the fruits are heavy to prevent the side branches from breaking off. My practical way is to keep on plucking the mature fruits and use them for cooking. I seldom allow the fruits to ripen as none at home are fond of eating papaya fruits, though we enjoy eating papaya dishes!