I had about 15 beautiful papaya plants that were about 2 mtrs high and just setting flowers and just after the rains started they started yellowing and dropping leaves. I pulled the smallest [and sickest] and found what i would commonly call root rot. I then took it into our local farm supply shop and they diagnosed it as having fungal and/or bacterial [because of the odor] rot and Rxed a systemic antibiotic that was quite expensive and I passed, as I think the plants are too far gone by now to be helped.
My theory is that I simply planted the trees too level to the ground and with our bad draining clay soil, they simply drowned.
But to prevent this in the future, as I have some true 'holland' type seeds comming up and I don't want to waste them, I will make a small hill or mound so that the water drains away and doesn't sit. maybe adding some sand, cocopeat and klab to help with drainage.
how does that sound????
how do the pros do it in a wet, poor drainage area??
hola dear friends
i have the feeling that nematodes, fungus, bacteria, root rod and maybe even the fruit fly (who might not like the smell of it) could 100% avoided by using wood vinegar. this is cheap, naturally organic, an actually growth enhancer and will produce more flowers.
wood vinegar is easy to make (we are right now burning a charcoal kiln for that and the char coal) you can find different methods in the net.
also there are at least two companies in thailand selling it in bulk. ask them to who they ship and buy small amounts. you dont need much.
use it for everywhere, its a great growth enhancer and seems to help the soil too.
if anyone is interested i can tell you how to make a very easy "kiln".
also, to avoid drowned roots, plant the papayas on a slope or in a row elevated. i do that in circles (3-5m diameter with 5-7 plants) where i make a hole in the center and dump all the organic material from the area and create therefor a perfect fertilizing system. the papayas stand on the rim elevated and will shut out thick roots to take the compost from the center hole
Papaya Problems
in Organic Farming, Smallholding and Kitchen Gardening
Posted
hola dear friends
i have the feeling that nematodes, fungus, bacteria, root rod and maybe even the fruit fly (who might not like the smell of it) could 100% avoided by using wood vinegar. this is cheap, naturally organic, an actually growth enhancer and will produce more flowers.
wood vinegar is easy to make (we are right now burning a charcoal kiln for that and the char coal) you can find different methods in the net.
also there are at least two companies in thailand selling it in bulk. ask them to who they ship and buy small amounts. you dont need much.
use it for everywhere, its a great growth enhancer and seems to help the soil too.
if anyone is interested i can tell you how to make a very easy "kiln".
also, to avoid drowned roots, plant the papayas on a slope or in a row elevated. i do that in circles (3-5m diameter with 5-7 plants) where i make a hole in the center and dump all the organic material from the area and create therefor a perfect fertilizing system. the papayas stand on the rim elevated and will shut out thick roots to take the compost from the center hole
enjoy papaya planting
patrick