Carica papaya - Papaya Plants

I have one large and 3 smaller 'Solo' papaya plants and one large and many small 'Maradol' variety. I need a ladder to pick the fruit on the large 'Solo'.

I cut down 4 plants this past Spring. They usually have to replanted every three to four years. Also, here the sow bugs love to eat the trunks and make holes in the trunks which kills the plants. And the ants love the hallow trunks. It's a never ending battle.

I didn't think they could get that large in California. Another San Diegan posted a papaya 3/4 that and said even they don't grow anyplace in soucal.

They look great I was wondering to how you manage to pick the fruit now I know a ladder ☺ when we see ants on our plants here we know they are attracting the aphids