Yield of papaya - How much a papaya plant can yield?
Agricultural statistics indicate an average yield of 30 tonnes per hectare, but high variability exists depending on the country and cultivation system. A typical arrangement for the orchards gives a plant population of 792 to the acre at a spacing of 3 by 1.5 m. The expected yield is 400 to 1230 pounds per acre (890 kg per hectare) per week. Years 1 and 2 yield 0.8 cartons/tree and 5 cartons/tree, respectively. It is assumed Papaya takes 10 months to grow and is then picked for the following 14 months. It has a productive life of 6 years. Papaya is normally packed into 13kg cartons.
Harvesting Papaya fruit
Picking Maturity - When it is best to harvest papaya plants
The maturity of the fruit is closely related to the moisture content of the fruits The fruit is usually ready to be picked with a moisture content of about 80 % or less. The following procedure may be applied to determine maturity:
Pick a representative sample of fruit that has already attained the average mature size of the cultivar concerned. Store the fruit at room temperature until it ripens. Experience is an important factor in determining the picking maturity. Only some fruits on the tree will simultaneously reach the same degree of maturity. If there is doubt, it is better to wait than harvest prematurely.
Papaya fruits should be harvested when the color of the peel changes from dark green to light green and when one yellow streak begins development from the base upwards. Fruits in this condition will continue to ripen usually after harvest. If you harvest the fruits before this stage, they will fail to show complete ripening, and if you harvest them after, they are more susceptible to damage and bruising during handling.
How to harvest papaya plants - Papaya harvesting methods and post harvest handling
Papayas are mainly harvested manually. Depending on the tree's size and age, you can use specialized tools, or knives or collect the fruits by hand (manually). After harvesting, the fruits should be placed in single layers into shallow field crates, preferably containing a foam layer for cushioning. All stems should be trimmed after harvest to ensure no stem-to-fruit rubbing occurs during transport to the packing facilities. Fruits should never be thrown or dropped. Field crates containing the fruit should be kept in shaded conditions protected from the sun and rain while awaiting collection for delivery to a packing facility. Mesh bags, sacks or baskets are unacceptable for papaya transport due to the high susceptibility and bruising. Care should be taken during transport in field crates to minimize the movement of fruit.
Caution: Always handle fruit carefully during harvesting and packing because fruits are bruised and scratched easily. Fruit pickers should wear gloves when harvesting fruits to ensure that their fingernails do not scratch the fruits. The fruit should be cut off and not pulled from the trees. A section of stalk, measuring 10 to 15 mm, may be left attached to the fruit. Healthy fruit should be carried in canvas picking bags. The bags must be clean inside. Only carry a few fruits in such a picking bag at one time.
A tripod ladder may reach fruits high in the tree. Using suitable equipment will prevent unnecessary damage to the fruits, save labor, and be safer for laborers.
Fruit harvested and placed to ripen at the recommended harvest stage (one yellow stripe) will ripen to 60 to 70% yellow coloration within four to six days under room conditions.
For Further reading
Papaya Interesting facts, Nutritional value, and Health benefits
Papaya Soil Preparation, Planting, and Plant density
Papaya propagation and Pollination
Papaya Plant Care – Irrigation and Fertilization of Papaya plants
How to cultivate papayas for profit – Complete papaya production guide
Papaya Plant Major Pests, Diseases and Weed Management
Papaya Harvest, Yield and Storage
Papaya Handling, Grading, and Packing
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