Papaya – The “Fruit of the Angels”
The papaya is the fruit of the plant Carica papaya in the genus Carica of the plant family Caricaceae.
It is to the native to America and first cultivated in Mexico several centuries before. They are tree-like plants with long stems and spirally arranged leaves.
Usually, they have flowers and unbranched stems. The ripened fruit of this plant is sweet and soft. The fruit of the papaya is edible. The papaya fruit was called “fruit of the angels” by Christopher Columbus.
Benefits from a Papaya Plant:
- Papaya contains the digestive enzyme, papain.
- They are excellent sources of vitamins.
- The extracts of the fruit are used to make dietary supplements.
- They are rich sources of antioxidants, minerals, and nutrients.
- Papayas leaves are used as medicine for the treatment of malaria.
- They are fiber-rich which can lower down high levels of cholesterol.
- Are helpful in the prevention of colon cancer.
- They have anti-inflammatory effects and promote digestion.
- Since they contain vitamin C and vitamin A, they are useful for the proper function of a healthy immune system.
- They can protest against rheumatoid arthritis.
How to take care of Papaya Plant:
- Papaya plants can be grown from seeds.
- It grows in tropical and subtropical climates.
- Sunlight, water, and good texture of the soil are needed for the growth of the plant.
- They are fast-growing single stemmed plants with soft trunks.
- Papayas are easy to grow.
- The transplantation is not so good for the plant.
- Papaya plants can be male, female, or bisexual.
- The male papayas don’t bear fruit.
- Papayas have large soft leaves and need a lot of water. But overwatering can cause rotten roots.
- Fertilization can be done regularly.
- They can be infected by insects or pests. So proper caring is needed for the plant
- Papayas fruit all around the year. But the plant should be kept healthy for many fruits. Young plants are more productive than older ones.