What city are you in? The hotter the summer and frost free the winter in soucal works best. The rest of us just try.

in the pasadena area. no frost. and it's definitely hot. haha.

and i'm about to threadjack myself here....i had a question about ringspot virus if anyone has any experience.

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/3145860/papaya-ring-spot-virus-pics-attached

i dont know why people insist on growing several papaya in a container...

some varieties need a male and female, but, most of the seeds you buy today have at the very least %66 chance of being herm or female, but, more often much higher.

many varieties will produce perfect flowers, and male and female flowers on the same plant as well. Its very rare to get a male plant that doesnt produce fruit.

look closely at the base, to make use it is 3 plants... it may have died back to soil level and came back.

Papaya do not like being transplanted. and especially would not like being separated.

i would transplant the whole root-ball, and cut the 2 smallest off at ground level.

do not "tease" the roots, keep as intact as possible.

i would also include coarse sand, or, at least perlite. they need fast draining soil. the garden soil i have used in the past, is one of the last things i would use for papaya (maybe yours is different ?) if it gets soggy when wet, i wouldnt use it.

thanks greenman62.

yea...thought it would be better if sold as single but was at a farmers market over the weekend and saw them potted 3 again.

thanks for the tip on not separating them.