In The Garden: Many uses for fruit from a papaya tree
Spring is the time for the luscious fruit of the papaya tree (Carica papaya). It is an exotic fruiting specimen that grows best in USDA Zones 9 and 10. Native to Central America, the tropical plant thrives in the subtropical areas of the Caribbean and throughout South Florida. The plant belongs to the Caricacae family that includes 27-30 species. The papaya can reach up to 30 feet in height and is characterized by palmate leaves that are deeply lobed.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, papaya became very popular with Spanish and Portuguese explorers and they quickly began transporting seeds throughout the Caribbean and Pacific Islands, and all the way to Southeast Asia in the 16th century. The ability of the papaya seed to remain viable for many years after drying even allowed the plant to reach the lands of Malacca and India.
The plant can be monoecious, which means having both male and female flowers. Some plants during certain seasons may change sex during high temperatures like the hot Southwest Florida summers. Once pollinated, the fruit the papaya bears is characterized by its melon-like shape that is elongated and club-shaped and can weigh up to 20 pounds when ripe.
The uses for the fruit are plentiful. The fruit of the papaya becomes aromatic and inside can range from yellow and orange to various shades of red. The flavor can be described as sweet and similar in flavor to cantaloupe. The fruit is often cubed or shaped into balls and served in fruit salads and fruit cups. It can also be made into sauce for shortcake and ice creams, as well as being cooked in pies, pickled or preserved as jam.
Papaya juice is another very popular method of consuming the fruit. In the East Indies, the young leaves are boiled and eaten for their high nutritional value. Overall, papaya is a fair source of iron and calcium. It is also a good source of vitamins A, B and G and an excellent source of vitamin C.
In The Garden is a joint effort by all at the local garden center, at 3889 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel. For more information, contact 239-395-5859 or visit www.facebook.com/rswalshinthegarden.