Picking papayas

Introduction to Picking Papayas

In the vast world of Old School RuneScape (OSRS), players are always on the lookout for reliable and efficient money-making methods to fund their adventures, gear upgrades, or simply to amass wealth. One such method that stands out for its simplicity and accessibility is picking papayas. This method involves gathering papaya fruits from trees scattered across specific locations in the game, which can then be sold for a decent profit on the Grand Exchange. While it may not be the flashiest or most glamorous way to earn gold pieces (GP), picking papayas offers a steady income stream, especially for low-to-mid-level players who want a low-risk, low-investment option to build their bank. Whether you’re a skiller looking to avoid combat or a player seeking a relaxing way to make GP, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about turning papayas into profit.

Requirements

To start making money by picking papayas, you don’t need an extensive list of high-level skills or expensive gear, which makes this method beginner-friendly. However, there are a few key requirements and recommended items to maximize efficiency and profitability. Below is a detailed breakdown:

• Farming Level: No specific Farming level is required to pick papayas from trees, as this method relies on pre-grown trees rather than planting your own. However, if you want to grow papaya trees yourself (optional), you’ll need at least 57 Farming.
• Teleportation Method: Access to fast travel options is essential for efficiency. The most common teleportation methods include:
• Brimhaven Teleport (via the Teleport to House spell or tablets, requiring 40 Magic and a house in Brimhaven).
• Amulet of Glory (for teleporting to Karamja, near Brimhaven).
• Fairy Rings (code CKR for quick access near the papaya trees south of Brimhaven).
• Coins: You’ll need some GP to pay farmers to watch your trees (if growing them) or to cover teleportation costs. Around 50K-100K GP is sufficient to get started.
• Inventory Space: A minimum of 28 free inventory slots is ideal for collecting papayas, though you can work with fewer if banking more frequently.
• Recommended Items:
• Basket (optional, stacks 5 papayas per basket to save inventory space).
• Stamina Potions (to maintain run energy for faster trips).
• Graceful Outfit (optional, boosts run energy regeneration).

While combat stats aren’t necessary since papaya trees are in safe areas, having a decent Agility level (e.g., 40+) can help with run energy management if you don’t use stamina potions. Overall, the low barrier to entry makes this method accessible to nearly all players.

Location

The success of picking papayas hinges on knowing where to find the trees and how to reach them efficiently. Papaya trees are primarily located in tropical areas of Gielinor, with the most popular spots being:

• Fruit Tree Patch in Brimhaven: Located just south of Brimhaven, this patch contains three papaya trees. It’s the most commonly used location due to its proximity to teleport options like the Brimhaven house portal or the CKR fairy ring.
• Ape Atoll: After completing Monkey Madness I, players can access the papaya trees on Ape Atoll. This spot has multiple trees but requires more effort to reach and navigate due to the quest requirement and potential monkey aggression (bring a greegree to avoid combat).
• Catherby Fruit Tree Patch: A single papaya tree can be grown here, though it’s less efficient for mass picking unless combined with other activities in the area.
• Lletya Fruit Tree Patch: Accessible after starting Mourning’s End Part I, this location is another option for growing a single tree, but it’s not ideal for large-scale picking.

For this guide, we’ll focus on Brimhaven as the primary location due to its accessibility and concentration of trees. To get there, teleport to your house in Brimhaven (if set up), use an Amulet of Glory to Karamja and run west, or take the fairy ring to CKR and head north. The trees respawn relatively quickly, making it a hotspot for consistent gathering.

Method Overview

Picking papayas is a straightforward process that involves collecting the fruit from trees, banking or selling them, and repeating the cycle. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how to execute this money-making method:

1. Preparation: Equip your teleportation method (e.g., Amulet of Glory or house tabs), bring baskets if desired, and ensure you have stamina potions or enough run energy to move quickly.
2. Travel to Brimhaven: Teleport to your Brimhaven house, use the fairy ring (CKR), or arrive via Karamja and head to the fruit tree patch south of the town.
3. Pick Papayas: Click on the papaya trees to harvest the fruit. Each tree yields multiple papayas (typically 3-6 per pick, depending on RNG), and they respawn every few minutes. Fill your inventory or baskets as you go.
4. Banking: Once your inventory is full, teleport to a bank (e.g., Edgeville via Amulet of Glory or your house portal) and deposit the papayas. Alternatively, if using baskets, you can stack more before banking.
5. Repeat: Return to Brimhaven and continue picking until you’ve gathered your desired amount or run out of supplies.

For players growing their own trees, the process involves planting papaya saplings (purchased from the Grand Exchange or obtained via seeds), paying a farmer 200K GP to watch each tree, and waiting for them to grow (approximately 16 hours). Once grown, you can pick them indefinitely, though this requires more initial investment and planning. The standard picking method from public trees, however, is faster and requires no upfront Farming effort, making it the focus of this guide.

Profit Analysis

The profitability of picking papayas depends on several factors: the Grand Exchange price of papayas, your efficiency in gathering them, and the costs of supplies like teleports or stamina potions. Let’s break it down with some estimates based on typical OSRS market trends as of April 2025.

• Papaya Price: Papayas typically sell for 500-700 GP each on the Grand Exchange, fluctuating based on supply and demand (e.g., herblore training spikes). For this analysis, we’ll assume an average of 600 GP per papaya.
• Harvest Rate: At the Brimhaven patch, with three trees, you can expect to pick around 50-60 papayas per hour if efficiently banking and teleporting. This accounts for respawn times and travel.
• Gross Profit:
• 50 papayas/hour × 600 GP = 30K GP/hour.
• 60 papayas/hour × 600 GP = 36K GP/hour.
• Costs:
• Teleportation: House tabs (~1K GP each) or Amulet of Glory charges (negligible if recharged). Assume 2K-5K GP/hour in travel costs.
• Stamina Potions: 1-2 doses per hour (~5K-10K GP). Optional, but speeds up trips.
• Total Costs: 5K-15K GP/hour.
• Net Profit:
• Low end: 30K – 5K = 25K GP/hour.
• High end: 36K – 15K = 21K GP/hour.
• Average: 25K-30K GP/hour.

Here’s a summary table:

For comparison, this method rivals other low-skill money-makers like tanning hides or collecting ashes, but it’s less intensive and requires minimal setup. If you grow your own trees, profits increase slightly (since you avoid competition), but the upfront cost and time investment offset immediate gains.

Tips and Tricks

To get the most out of picking papayas, consider these practical tips to boost efficiency and profitability:

• Use Baskets: Each basket holds 5 papayas, effectively doubling your inventory capacity from 28 to 140 fruits per trip. They’re cheap (~1K GP each) and reusable.
• Optimize Teleports: Set your house in Brimhaven and use house tabs for the fastest travel. Alternatively, alternate between CKR fairy ring and Glory teleports to minimize downtime.
• Run Energy Management: Wear the Graceful outfit or sip stamina potions to keep running between trees and banks. Every second saved adds up over hours.
• World Hop: If the Brimhaven trees are crowded, hop to a less populated world to ensure you’re not waiting for respawns.
• Combine Activities: Pair papaya picking with other nearby tasks, like cutting teak logs in Brimhaven or fishing in Karamja, to diversify your income.
• Track Prices: Check the Grand Exchange regularly. If papaya prices spike (e.g., to 800 GP+), your hourly profit could jump to 40K GP/hour or more.
• Avoid Overcrowded Times: Peak playing hours might see more competition at public trees, so consider off-peak times for smoother runs.

For advanced players, growing your own trees across multiple patches (Brimhaven, Catherby, Lletya, etc.) can turn this into a passive income source, though it’s more of a long-term strategy. Stick to picking public trees for immediate, hassle-free GP.

Conclusion

Picking papayas in OSRS is a classic, no-frills money-making method that shines for its simplicity and accessibility. With minimal requirements, a straightforward process, and a steady profit of 25K-30K GP/hour, it’s an excellent choice for players who want a low-effort way to build their bank. While it won’t make you a millionaire overnight—methods like bossing or high-level skilling outpace it in raw GP—it offers a relaxing, reliable income stream that fits into almost any playstyle. By optimizing your setup with teleports, baskets, and energy management, you can push the efficiency even higher, making it a worthwhile endeavor for both newbies and veterans. So grab your Amulet of Glory, head to Brimhaven, and start picking—those papayas won’t harvest themselves!