Requesting advice for planting out a Papaya tree

[Phoenikakias]

It is a marginal plant in my climate (and soil), since since the part of the plant connecting root sytstem to trunk lying in the soil is quite susceptible to rot during prolonged cool weather and combined with moist soil, which is almost always the case in my garden and climate thank to clay soil and proximity to sea (in winter during dawn air moisture drips off the foliage). Last attempt of culrivation failed exactly because of the described rot, despite that rest aerial part was healthy and about to bloom for the first time. In same spot grows now for several years a Pritchardia minor to get an idea of the microclimate. Now I want to give this sp a second chance, I am contemplating to this purpose to use as top fill in only leca (beside the anyway raised bed). My question is if this method has already been applied on this or other spp with similar sensitivity and my next question is how deep down from surface should this top layer extend...

[happypalms]

They can be touchy in my climate I gave up on them for years then one popped up in the garden only to die two years later to the rot you mentioned the raised bed you mentioned is the go there is another variety called the mountain papaw vasconcellea pubescens where you  eat the seeds like passion fruit I have them growing now in tubes they are cold tolerant so they might be your only option similar looking plant as well.

[SeanK]

Couple ideas.

1. Start one indoors in late winter indoors.

2. Amend the outside soil or plant on a berm with coarse sand or pea gravel added. If you have a south-facing wall, that may help.

[Zeeth]

You could attempt to grow an oakleaf papaya (Vasconcellea quercifolia) or mountain papaya (Vasconcellea pubescens) as the rootstock and graft the tropical papaya onto that. 

[Than]

Try oleanders instead. They are quite unique in our part of the world. 

[Silas_Sancona]

52 minutes ago, Than said:

Try oleanders instead. They are quite unique in our part of the world. 

Oleander = bad word on this side of the world, lol..  One of those " yesterday " plants people yank instead of plant intentionally. Super poisonous too.  

Some disease that they catch pretty easily is taking them out here too thankfully.

[Than]

2 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Oleander = bad word on this side of the world, lol..  One of those " yesterday " plants people yank instead of plant intentionally. Super poisonous too.  

Some disease that they catch pretty easily is taking them out here too thankfully.

I was pulling his leg. Oleanders here are native and omnipresent. They are the most predictable plant in any garden; unlike papayas