Time to Cut my Papaya Trees

[oslooskar]

Unfortunately, my two remaining papaya trees have grown so tall that I can no longer safely reach their fruit, even with a ladder. I’ve been advised to cut them back to between four and six feet above the ground, then cover the cut trunks with cans or old plastic milk bottles. This should encourage new shoots to sprout, and produce papayas that are within easy reach.

As for that bird that’s been feasting on my papayas, he’s certainly been enjoying himself, as you can see. I used to pick the fruit as soon as it showed a hint of orange and let it ripen indoors, safely away from my feathered friend.

 

[Tish]

Wow!

 

[RadishRose]

Hope you have success!

 

[GoodEnuff]

This area has many orchards, lots of apples. They do what they call a "pickers cut", keeping the trees short so it makes picking easier.

 

[hearlady]

Unfortunately, my two remaining papaya trees have grown so tall that I can no longer safely reach their fruit, even with a ladder. I’ve been advised to cut them back to between four and six feet above the ground, then cover the cut trunks with cans or old plastic milk bottles. This should encourage new shoots to sprout, and produce papayas that are within easy reach.

As for that bird that’s been feasting on my papayas, he’s certainly been enjoying himself, as you can see. I used to pick the fruit as soon as it showed a hint of orange and let it ripen indoors, safely away from my feathered friend.
View attachment 442881

For now, will the fruit fall off where you could get it?

 

[oslooskar]

For now, will the fruit fall off where you could get it?

Yes, but by then only the ants would want it. The problem is, once the papayas start turning orange, if the birds and squirrels get to them first they will start boring holes in them. If you look carefully, you will see a hole in that orange papaya that a bird made.

 

[OldOld]

Seems like more trouble than just buying the papaya from the market.

 

[oslooskar]

Seems like more trouble than just buying the papaya from the market.

That’s true for the moment, but only because the papayas are too high for me to safely pick. Once I cut the trees back and they start producing at a lower height, I’ll be able to harvest them easily right in my yard.

 

[gamboolman]

When we lived in Africa, we had Papaya, Avocado, Jackfruit, Bananas and Mango's all throughout the compound and folks yards.

We also had both Green & Black Mamba's - although rare, several were killed over the 20 year we lived overseas. One time a Python about 9' or 10' was killed by the locals in the compound. Several of the expat wives and husbands laid down besides the "dead" snake and had their pictures took. Then the snake crawled off as the men had apparently - only stunned it... ha ! ms gamboolgal was there but did not lay down beside the snake...good girl !

But I digress...

The fresh and vine ripened fruit were so good. We had Orchids growing all over the place, and many other beautiful flowers and all kinds of hummingbirds and birds.

Here is a couple of pics of a Black Mamba(s) that was killed right next to our house on the compound. Just posting the pictures gives me the heebeegeebee's...
A Green Mamba was killed on the Porch of the Bachelor Quarters. I can't find the picture now, but it was pretty color. I always was careful and watchful over there when I was on land.

 

[oslooskar]

When we lived in Africa, we had Papaya, Avocado, Jackfruit, Bananas and Mango's all throughout the compound and folks yards. We also had both Green & Black Mamba's - although rare, several were killed over the 20 year we lived overseas. One time a Python about 9' or 10' was killed by the locals in the compound.

I have all those fruit trees growing in my yard. Regarding snakes, we had a huge python in our community a while back and had to have the authorities come out and remove it. This Cobra was crawling towards my left leg before it had its head bashed in. (Note: you are confusing hummingbirds with Sunbirds.)

 

[GoodEnuff]

I hate snakes.

 

[oslooskar]

I hate snakes.

Me too!

 

[OldOld]

Me three.

 

[astralcat]

Now I wish I hadn't scrolled all the way down and seen those snakes. Shudders. Makes my skin crawl. @oslooskar - that bird will miss its free snacks.

 

[jujube]

I'd love to have a papaya tree. I do have a mango tree. We've been here six years and it was here when we moved in.

This year, it produced the first mangos. Two small and one large one. I let them get to where they looked ripe, but when I cut them open, they were solid green, hard and bitter. As they were at the top of the tree and out of reach even with a ladder, I couldn't check them while they were still on the tree.

I'm hoping for better luck next year.

 

[oslooskar]

I'd love to have a papaya tree. I do have a mango tree. We've been here six years and it was here when we moved in. This year, it produced the first mangos. Two small and one large one. I let them get to where they looked ripe, but when I cut them open, they were solid green, hard and bitter. As they were at the top of the tree and out of reach even with a ladder, I couldn't check them while they were still on the tree. I'm hoping for better luck next year.

There were only five or six mangoes on this tree in my side yard the first time it produced any fruit. However, there were more than a hundred mangoes on it when I took this photo earlier this year.

 

[OldOld]

That’s true for the moment, but only because the papayas are too high for me to safely pick. Once I cut the trees back and they start producing at a lower height, I’ll be able to harvest them easily right in my yard.

How much did it cost you to hire this tree cutter?

 

[oslooskar]

How much did it cost you to hire this tree cutter?

I have no idea why you seem to think I hired a tree cutter????? Perhaps your confusing redwood trees with papaya trees. That being said, I cut the tree down to about five and a half feet and put a plastic flower pot over its trunk.