Some pollen-bearing trees change to fruit bearing after having their tops cut off. You don't want to dwell on any of this for too long, but if you aren't getting a good yield, you may have only pollen-bearing flowers on your tree. No matter what the yield is, if your tree shows signs of the papaya virus, it must be destroyed. You can tell because the shoots at the top of the tree start getting smaller and smaller, and leaves turn a pale yellow-green and fall off. If you leave the tree in the ground, it will infect the other papaya trees nearby.
Growers looking for short cuts can buy seedlings in garden shops and at plant sales.
Look for the Solo varieties such as Waimanalo, Sunset, Kapoho Solo and Sunrise, which all give good fruit and are an easy crop. And you will have a free and endless supply of bubble blowers. Please be sure to include a phone number. Evergreen by Lois Taylor is a regular Friday feature of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. All rights reserved.