It was almost three years ago that a group of Apple Bee students began a project.
The idea was to attempt to grow Red Papaya plants from seeds. Red Papayas are high in nutrients and health benefits. The students first took the seeds from an organic Red Papaya. Second, they washed and separated the seeds. The seeds were then placed in dry paper towels for several days to prevent the seeds from rotting.
Third, the students placed the papaya seeds on paper plates and placed them outdoors to sun-dry for 2 days. Since papaya plants are considered a tropical fruit, we had to find the best location to plant the seeds and protect them from a cold frost and risk losing the plants early on. Since the soil in the area surrounding the school is tough clay, we dug an area of 12 inches wide and 6 inches deep along the eastern wall of the school grounds. The trench was about 18 feet long.
We removed all the poor soil and replaced it with good, softer soil to work with. Once the soil was ready, the students planted the seeds along the wall. About two weeks later we had almost 20 seedlings. We lost some plants, and some had to be removed to allow stronger plants to grow. We were not sure when the plants would reach maturity since papaya is not native to this area. To the student’s excitement, and surprise, the papaya trees began to flower about 6 months ago which then produced papayas. Throughout the long process, no fertilizers or pesticides were used to keep the fruit organic. The experience will last a lifetime for the students; teaching a valuable lesson about patience and the meaning of harvesting the fruits of your labor. Our Agriculture Program teaches water conservation, how to prevent soil and water pollution, teamwork, and having fun!
Director
Ed Medina
Apple Bee Math & Science Academy
