Papaya is a fruit that does not need any special introduction to the Indians. Papaya is at the forefront of nutrition. Papaya is a rich source of Vitamin A, which is essential for children and adults alike. Let us know about the best papaya variety;
Red Lady Papaya
The Red Lady is the most popular hybrid papaya in popularity and cultivation today. As the name suggests, the inside of the fruit is orange-red in color. This short variety will flower within three months of planting and will be ready for harvest in about 4-5 months. As mentioned earlier, the fact that we can harvest this short variety by hand is also a fact that increases the popularity of this variety. Labor costs can also be saved by not requiring the help of workers. Young seeds are also used in other dishes
Cultivation method of Red Lady
Dig deep into the area to be cultivated. Papaya grows well in a place with good sunlight. Pits should be at least two meters apart. Depth should be one meter square. Cover the pit with cow dung, chicken droppings, sheep dung or any of these, mix with neem cake, bone meal and dolomite. Sow the imported Red Lady seeds in a specially prepared seedling tray. The seedling tray should be filled with a mixture of coir pith and compost in the soil. Papaya seedlings can be transplanted to a pre-prepared pit 15 days after germination. Organic farming is the most suitable.
Drip irrigation is preferred for commercial cultivation. Even basal manure can be applied through drip irrigation. If cow dung is available, it should be mixed with neem cake and peanut hull with water. The plant should be watered at the bottom every ten days, in case of organic farming. To solve the micronutrient deficiency, it is sufficient to add zinc, calcium, boron and magnesium and dilute it in water and spray. Doing so can help prevent fungal infections.
For yellowing of leaves during monsoon, Pseudomonas aeruginosa can be diluted with coconut water and sprayed for four hours. If there is no rain, daily irrigation is required. With good care it can be harvested well for up to two and a half years.
Nutritional and medicinal properties of Papaya
It also contains a lot of mineral salts and vitamins A, B, B2 and C. Green papaya is rich in calcium, phosphorus and iron. Papaya leaves contain the alkaloid carpine. The benefits of papaya are used in Ayurvedic treatment. Immediate removal of stains can be used to treat acne, warts etc. Green papaya stain is used in Ayurvedic treatment for psoriasis.
Harvesting of Papaya
Mature fruits should be harvested in 7-8 months. Yellowing of fruits is a sign of harvest. The nuts can be expected to weigh 2 to 6 kg. Due to its low height, the pods can be harvested easily from the bottom. Up to 50 fruits can be obtained from a single tree. It has a price of Rs.30 per kg in the market. Seedlings can be purchased from trusted nurseries or government owned farms. Or hybrid seeds can be used for germination.
