I am sooo envious!!!!

Hmm, my red lady don't look like that, they are shorter and fatter, almost round, maybe I don't have red lady. Whatever they are, they are good.

You have a very nice papaya and will no doubt have delicious fruit for months. Don't really know what the optimum procedure is as far as thinning the fruit. I didn't do that myself. The fruit will ripen slowly beginning at the bottom and will get somewhat smaller as the season progresses. Some will fall off by themselves and you will be picking it as it ripens, so it is definitely not necessary to thin it out. Be sure you wait until it is VERY ripe before eating. It will look overripe but will be much sweeter.

If you happen to have a dehydrator, papaya is my favorite thing to dry. I like it dried even better that fresh. And from the looks of it, you will be wondering what to do with the excess.

Maybe I don''t have a Red Lady, but that's what the tag says. It is a dwarf plant and it has both male and female flowers. The fruit doesn't look like the one I saw last summer,but I thought maybe they get plumper as they matured. ;>) Oh btw, anyone know how to tell when they are ready to be used green? Green Papaya salad, Ummmmm!
john

Mine must be self polinating too, as I haven't another and fruited very short but now has grown taller, maybe 10 foot. Mine doesn't seem to have any seeds, which I thought was strange. Ones I have gotten from the store had lots of black seeds inside.

John --- Yes, it is a good idea to start removing all of the fruits that don't have much size on them. I found that it is time consuming to keep removing the new fruits that form once you begin this procedure but it should be done. In fact, I need to get busy and do it to mine.

The plant very much looks like a Red Lady. I get fruits that look like that and I get some that get as round as a ball, sometimes even on the same plant.

Katkin, you probably have a Red Lady too.

When anyone gets a great green papaya salad recipe that is good tasting, please share. Last year I was given a sample and it was delicious.

I would use them green around November or December depending on the maturity of the fruit.

Christine

Is there any way to keep from getting grubs in the center of the fruit? When I pick them and they have a little color, they always have grubs inside. The last one I picked when it was totally green and allowed it to ripen inside. When I cut it open - GRUBS! I am about to give up on papayas.

John, how old and big is your Papaya? I had one come up in my garden last year and it got to about 7 ft, then the freezes finally got it.(I had it wrapped in two frost blankets.) I thought I tore it out and this spring another came up from roots that I missed. It's about 4 ft. now. I wonder if I should again try to get it through the winter. It sure keeps trying.

judyk,
I bought mine at Lowes in a 3 gal pot last fall, $6.00. I kept in in my greenhouse last winter and planted it in April. It's a little over 6 ft now,but still growing. They are very tender, so I'm told.
john

Oukay, you need to put some old socks or paper-bags on the fruit early-on to keep the fruit-fly from laying eggs , that make the maggots inside.... old nylons or socks or anything to cover the fruit and will let it grow inside..... cover the fruit as soon as it sets on the stalk good, don't wait...... Silvia posted some pics awhile back how to do this, she showed hers with paper-bags fixed on with rubber-bands.... and yes, judyk, they will freeze but usually come back, you can cut off the frozen top-part down to green, but cover the open-cut with a piece of aluminum-foil and fasten it with a tie or a rubber-band, to keep the water out, or it will rot...I never remove the small fruit, I just let it ripen, they ripen from the bottom up... the plants will last for years, I have some that are several years old and have frozen and come back, several times........ sally

I've heard that papayas will only ripen one at a time, but not sure about that. Does that mean that you can store them on the plant until you're ready for them?

They are used as a vegetable when they are green, so you could thin some of them and eat green.

If you like Thai food, check out the recipe link below... I usually just make a vinaigrette or squeeze on some acid (lime, lemon, or vinegar).

Happy growing,
Michael

Here is a link that might be useful: Som Tum... Thai tomato, onion, papaya, cucumber salad

Thanks Michael,
I've had the Lao version of the Green Papaya Salad and got to watch it being prepared. It was delicious. No peanuts, which is good since I'm allergic to them. As soon as I have a green papaya ready I'm promised a Vietnamese version. I love the SE Asian food and I'm trying to learn the art. Just recently learned how to make Spring Rolls.
thanks john

When I was taking the paper bags and knee-hi stockings off of the papayas today and I accidentally knocked off a mature green one. So, now I have one to cook. John, let us know how you make out with the Vietnamese version. I want the one with the peanuts since I'm not allergic.

Christine

http://how2heroes.com/videos/salads/green-papaya-salad

This is a very well done video on how to make green papaya salad. What I learned is that there is a simple julienning tool that makes the shredding job real easy. I'm going to buy one.

Christine

Christine, I watched the video. Almost exactly like my Laos friend made it. Of course she used fish sauce instead of salt. Same ingredients, same herbs, and she pounded it in a big mortar and pestle like that. Oh yes, magrood lime leaves instead of the lime zest. I can't wait. ;>)
thanks,john