Solo

Solo is the classic small-fruited Hawaiian papaya that gave rise to many modern commercial selections. Introduced to Hawaii in the early 1900s, it produces small, pear-shaped fruit weighing about a pound with sweet, deep orange-yellow flesh and a central seed cavity. The name refers to its convenient single-serving size. Solo types are notable for including hermaphroditic plants that self-pollinate, so a single tree can set fruit reliably. The flesh is sweet and aromatic, ideal for fresh eating. Solo established the small dessert-papaya market and remains a reference point for quality. In frost-free permaculture gardens it is a fast-growing, quick-bearing fruit that produces within a year of planting.