72 Papaya
damp days. On hot and dry days, each plant must be protected with a leafy branch
or palm leaf stuck in the soil. Except hermaphrodite/gynodioecious varieties, the
plants are set out in 10–15 cm apart in enriched pits. After flowering, one female or
hermaphrodite plant is retained, the other two removed. At least one male is kept
for every 10 females. In hermaphrodite and gynodioecious varieties such as Coorg
Honey Dew, Surya, Solo, Red Lady, etc., one to two plants are required per pit
because they are 100% fruiting plants. Watering is done every day until the plants
are well-established, but over watering is detrimental to young plants.
5.3 PLASTIC BAG/DISPOSABLE GLASSES/
SOFT PLASTIC POT SOWING
Transplanting is more successful if polyethylene bags or disposable glasses filled
with enriched soil are used instead of raised beds. Two to three seeds are planted in
each bag but only the stronger seedling is maintained. Black coloured or transpar-
ent polythene bags of size (8–10 cm × 8 cm) are used with drainage hole for raising
seedlings (Figure 5.2c).
5.3.1 Tray Sowing................................................................
The use of plastic tray for raising seedlings is a new way of seedling culture to obtain
healthy seedlings and they are easy for transporting and transplanting. The tray size
100.0
90.0
80.0
70.0
60.0Average germination (%) Average temperature (°C)Month of nursery sowing50.0
40.0
30.0
20.0
10.0
0.050.0
45.0
40.0
35.0
30.0
25.0
20.0
15.0
10.0
5.0
0.0January
February
MarchAprilMay
JuneJuly
AugustSeptember
October
NovemberDecemberPune selection-3 Pusa DwarfTemperature (°C)FIGURE 5.3 Relationship between average germination (%) and temperature (°C) in papaya
cvs, Pusa Dwarf and Pune Selection-3.