Papaya (Carica papaya L.) grows best in warm, humid, tropical regions and originated in the tropical regions stretching from South Mexico to the Andes in South America.10 According to their botanical characteristics papayas are perennial herbaceous plants, not trees.11 They grow to a height of six to nine meters and have a single stem (see photo). Papaya plants can remain productive for up to ten years but in most commercial plantations the plants are replaced every three years.11 Depending on the papaya variety and its surrounding conditions fruit formation can start between 6 and 12 months after planting. The fruits then need 5 to 9 months to fully develop.11 It is therefore possible to harvest papayas within a year and to replant them every year. In order to save on labor and new plant material this annual cultivation cycle is only used when disease and pests make multiannual cultivation impossible.