In Turkmenabat, 200 papaya trees flourish in the greenhouses of the S.A. Niyazov Chemical Enterprise, proudly nurtured by local horticulturists, as reported in Thursday's edition of the newspaper Türkmen gündogary.
Brought from Thailand, this exotic fruit, known as the "melon tree," quickly adapts to greenhouse conditions. Papaya trees begin bearing fruit as early as eight months after planting, reaching a height of two meters within the first year. After three years, the trees achieve peak productivity, yielding up to 100 kilograms of vitamin- and mineral-rich fruit per year.
Under the guidance of expert horticulturist Babaguly Garyagdyyev, who has over 24 years of experience working with tropical and subtropical crops, the greenhouse operation also cultivates lemons, bananas, and olive trees.
Currently, the greenhouse hosts 80 lemon trees, 25 banana trees, and two olive trees, proving the facility’s capability to produce diverse crops despite the region's challenging climate.
Papaya seeds germinate in 1.5 to 2 months at soil temperatures of 27–30 degrees Celsius, and the trees begin flowering in eight months. Five months after flowering, the trees produce their first fruits, with each tree yielding up to 100 kilograms in a single season.
Papayas are a valuable source of vitamins A, B1, B2, and C, along with minerals such as calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and iron. The fruit’s enzyme, papain, holds significant medicinal value and is used in various treatments.
