When should I plant Papaya?

Sow seed indoors 8–6 weeks before your last spring frost. Move seedlings into the garden 2–4 weeks after your last spring frost. Sow seed straight into the ground 2–4 weeks after your last spring frost.

How far apart do I plant Papaya?

Space Papaya about 72″ apart. It grows best in full sun.

What grows well with Papaya?

Good companions for Papaya include Bush Bean, Cowpea, Marigold.

What zones does Papaya grow in?

Papaya is suited to USDA zones 9–12 and takes ~300 days to harvest.

How to grow Papaya (Carica papaya)

A soft-wooded giant herb that fruits astonishingly fast - sweet orange melons on a single trunk wherever frost stays away.

Quick tip

Fast but very frost-tender - start seed early and plant several, since you need males and females (or a bisexual type) to set fruit. Crops within a year in the heat.

☀️ Full sun↔ 72″ apartZones 9–12⏳ ~300d

When to plant Papaya

Start indoorsSow seed indoors 8–6 weeks before your last spring frost.
Transplant outMove seedlings into the garden 2–4 weeks after your last spring frost.
Direct sowSow seed straight into the ground 2–4 weeks after your last spring frost.

At a glance

Botanical name

Carica papaya

Companion planting

Plant near

🌱 A shallow-rooted quick fruiter - keep the root zone mulched and let low legumes feed it; marigold guards against nematodes.

Plan Papaya for your zone →