How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Lychee Trees

I’ve a protracted record of fruit and nut bushes in my backyard. Macadamias, avocados, bananas, mangoes—I may go on. However one in all my favourite bushes (and definitely the favourite of anybody who visits my backyard) is the lychee.

The place I’m from, lychees (or litchis) are a summer time staple. There’s nothing higher than grabbing a bowl of them and peeling the pink pores and skin to disclose the tasty fruit beneath. And since they are often fairly dear, rising my very own has saved me some huge cash over time.

What Are Lychee Timber?

Lychees are scrumptious tropical fruits from the tree Litchi chinensis. Though they aren’t as broadly grown as another tropical fruits (mangoes come to thoughts), their distinctive taste makes them price rising. Additionally they aren’t the most typical fruit to seek out recent in shops, so for those who love lychees, it’s simpler (and much more budget-friendly) to develop your personal.

Lychee bushes produce small, spherical fruits with tough pink pores and skin. When you peel the pores and skin again, you’ll discover the scrumptious white or translucent flesh surrounded by a big seed within the middle. The flavour is difficult to explain, however it’s a sort of mixture of candy and floral, the proper deal with for summer time.

The fruits are solely round for a brief interval, so what’s there to take pleasure in for the remainder of the 12 months? Lychees have a lush and evergreen cover with a tropical look that provides spectacular decorative worth. The flowers might not appear like a lot, however the shiny inexperienced leaves are a characteristic on their very own.

There are just a few varieties to select from, however ‘Mauritius’ and ‘Brewster’ are the most typical.

Traits

Lychee bushes can attain spectacular heights of 40 ft or extra in the proper situations. Fortunately, they reply effectively to pruning for those who’re quick on area or wish to hold the tree at a extra manageable measurement. You solely want one to provide fruit too, so that you don’t have to fret about discovering area for 2 giant bushes.

These bushes, like many different fruit bushes, sadly, do take their time to provide fruit. If you are going to buy one from a nursery, you’ll be ready round 3 to five years in your first fruits. Ranging from seed might require a decade (or extra) of endurance.

In late spring, lychee bushes produce clusters of greenish-white flowers that appeal to lots of pollinators like bees. In spring, my lychee tree is the most well-liked plant in my backyard for bees, drawing so many which you could hear their buzz from inside the home.  

They’re thought-about self-fertile—I solely have one tree and luxuriate in extra fruit than I do know what to do with every year. However having a couple of can doubtlessly enhance the fruit set and high quality.

Native Space

These tropical fruit bushes are native to southern China. They’re happiest in heat, humid climates with gentle, dry winters and sizzling, wet summers. They don’t carry out effectively in coastal areas near sea stage.

Lychees thrive in USDA zones 10 and 11, however these in zone 9 can nonetheless develop them paying a bit extra consideration to chilly snaps. In the event you dwell in an space the place frost is widespread, take into account planting in containers so you may transfer your tree indoors or to a sheltered spot like a greenhouse when temperatures drop.

Planting

Early spring is usually the perfect time to plant lychee bushes. In hotter areas with gentle winters, you may get away with planting a bit earlier to assist them set up sooner, however it’s all the time a good suggestion to maintain an in depth eye on the forecast. You received’t be getting fruit within the first 12 months anyway, so concentrate on a powerful begin as an alternative.

Discover a location with at the least six hours of daylight every day. The soil needs to be well-draining, so keep away from low-lying spots the place water tends to pool. In case your soil is heavy, work in loads of natural matter earlier than planting to enhance drainage.

In the event you’re planting from a nursery-grown tree, dig a gap that’s a bit bigger than the present bag or container. Gently take away the tree and place it within the gap in order that it sits on the similar stage as within the container. Fill within the gaps with soil, agency it down gently, and water completely to assist the roots settle in. A layer of natural mulch across the base may even assist hold moisture in (simply don’t let it sit immediately in opposition to the trunk).

Ranging from seed takes a bit further effort and much more endurance. You additionally received’t get the identical kind of tree you planted from, so it’s enjoyable for experimentation, however not reliability. Plant your seeds as quickly as potential after eradicating them from the fruit. Soak in a single day and sow the seeds about an inch deep in a well-draining soil combine and hold the soil moist.

Apply constant heat and loads of brilliant gentle. You’ll hopefully see a sprout in just a few weeks. But when a faster harvest and reliability is your aim, I like to recommend selecting a nursery-grown tree as an alternative.

Find out how to Develop

Lychees usually are not tough to take care of as soon as established, however they aren’t probably the most beginner-friendly fruit bushes both. Attempt to match their most popular setting as a lot as you may by following these steps.

Mild

Lychee bushes want full solar for optimum fruit. Once you first plant your tree, decide a location that will get at the least six hours of direct daylight every day.

In case your younger tree appears a bit delicate to intense afternoon solar (particularly in very popular areas), you may set up momentary gentle shade throughout peak afternoon warmth. Because the tree matures and turns into extra resilient, it should deal with longer stretches of brilliant daylight with out stress.

In the event you’re rising your lychee in a container, rotate it often so all sides get sufficient sunshine. Whilst you can hold them indoors in entrance of a sunny south-facing window, they received’t develop significantly effectively or produce fruits. It’s higher to maintain potted lychees outdoors in most solar and transfer them in winter if wanted.

Water

After planting, constant watering is crucial to assist your tree develop a powerful root system. Water deeply to push the roots to develop downwards into the soil and permit the highest inch or two of soil to dry barely earlier than watering once more.

Overwatering can result in root rot, particularly early on. Goal to maintain the soil moist, not soggy. After the primary 12 months or two, your tree might be extra tolerant of occasional dry spells, however don’t let it dry out for too lengthy.

In the course of the fruiting season, hold an in depth eye on moisture ranges. Inconsistent moisture may cause the fruits to separate or dry up. Handle your watering schedule in step with the rain forecast to guard your harvest.

Soil

Lychees want well-draining, barely acidic soil with a pH of round 5.0 to six.5. They don’t develop effectively in alkaline soil or heavy clay.

When planting a younger tree, amend clay soil with compost to enhance drainage. Ensure you amend the bigger planting space, not simply across the gap, as you need the roots to unfold outwards. Sandy loam soils are perfect for a stability of vitamins and drainage, however so long as water can stream away from the roots rapidly and the soil isn’t too alkaline, the tree needs to be comfortable.

In the event you’re rising in containers, select a high-quality potting combine for acid-loving crops. As your lychee tree matures, proceed including natural matter to the soil every spring to keep up soil well being.

Temperature and Humidity

As tropical bushes, heat and reasonable humidity are important when rising lychees. Newly planted bushes are particularly weak to chilly snaps, so shield them if temperatures dip too low.

In the event you’re in zones 10 and 11, you most likely received’t have any bother. However in zone 9 (or decrease), container planting is a greater choice. Transfer your tree indoors or to a greenhouse throughout frosty climate. Mature bushes are extra forgiving of slight temperature fluctuations however nonetheless want safety from extended chilly.

Fertilizing

In the course of the first couple of years, concentrate on constructing sturdy roots. In early spring, apply a slow-release fertilizer for fruit bushes. As your tree ages (round three to 5 years previous and up), swap to a fertilizer that helps flowering and fruiting, in different phrases, one with a bit extra phosphorus and potassium.

Container-grown lychees require smaller, extra frequent doses of fertilizer to interchange what’s misplaced by watering. That is much more necessary if you would like your tree to provide fruit. High up with compost and feed with a liquid fertilizer all through spring and summer time, slowing feeding through the cooler months to present the roots a break.

General, feed with both natural fertilizer or compost each 8 weeks through the rising season.

Upkeep

In the course of the first 12 months or two, take away any useless or broken branches to maintain air transferring by the branches and create the form you need. As soon as your lychee is established, a light-weight annual prune in late winter or early spring helps preserve form and encourage wholesome new progress. I principally take away the decrease hanging branches rising downwards, leaving the highest to develop as is.

In the event you dwell in an space with excessive winds, plant in a protected space or set up some wind safety, particularly quickly after planting. As soon as established, wind is much less of a priority, however you’ll be cleansing loads of fallen branches and leaves for those who’ve planted in a high-wind space.

Harvesting

Most lychee varieties attain their peak in mid to late summer time, however precisely when yours might be prepared relies on your native local weather and rising situations. Fruiting will also be a bit erratic. One 12 months I had tons of fruits from early summer time to mid-summer, however final 12 months there have been just a few clusters that ripened in late summer time.

When the fruits are ripe, they’ll flip pink or pinkish-red. The pores and skin will give barely when pressed. Don’t decide prematurely—wait till they’ve totally coloured earlier than selecting.

When it’s time to reap, take away all the fruit cluster directly. Go away a small piece of stem connected to every lychee to guard each the tree and the fruit. Pulling or twisting the fruit off by hand may cause injury.

Deal with the fruits gently. Though the outdoors pores and skin is hard, it may be extra delicate than you count on.

Storage

My favourite option to eat lychees is straight from the tree, particularly on a sizzling summer time day. However you’ll doubtless harvest greater than you may eat directly, and there are just a few methods to stretch out that tropical taste.

For brief-term storage, place unpeeled fruits in a breathable container or plastic bag within the fridge. They’ll keep recent for a couple of week.

For long-term storage, freezing is greatest. Whilst you can freeze them entire, it’s simpler to peel them first, as they’ll defrost higher. Peel the rind, take away the pit, and lay the lychee flesh in a single layer on a lined baking sheet. As soon as they’re agency, switch them to a freezer-safe container or bag.

Frequent Issues

As soon as established, lychees are fairly powerful, however they’re not invincible. Pests are the most typical concern, however there are just a few different points to look out for.

Fruiting Points

It may be irritating to observe your lychee tree develop wholesome leaves however produce little to no fruit. A typical trigger is inadequate pollination, and for that, you want the assistance of bees. Planting one other tree can even assist.

Excessive-nitrogen fertilizers additionally encourage leafy progress on the expense of flowers. Watch your feeding routine as soon as the tree is able to fruit to keep away from inflicting any imbalances.

Fruit splitting is a serious problem. That is brought on by lengthy dry spells adopted by sudden heavy rains. The fruits swell too rapidly and cut up. Sadly, it’s usually out of your palms, however watching the soil moisture carefully can restrict your danger.

Pests

Mite pests may cause fuzzy patches and discoloration on the undersides of leaves, resulting in leaf distortion and sluggish progress. Neem oil or insecticidal cleaning soap sprays may also help handle these mites if utilized early. Scale is one other insect which you could deal with with insecticidal cleaning soap.

Weevils are one other wrongdoer, tunneling into the fruit or stems and impacting yields. Clear up fallen fruits and leaves to discourage these pests from settling in. Preserve an eye fixed out for any indicators of chewing injury or small holes, and think about using natural pest management strategies or traps for those who see proof of an infestation.

Ailments

Anthracnose is among the commonest fungal infections affecting lychee bushes. Darkish spots seem on leaves, flowers, or fruits, doubtlessly inflicting fruit drop or lowered yields. To fight anthracnose, guarantee your tree has loads of airflow by pruning away crowded branches. Copper fungicide can even assist management the unfold.

Root rot is one other concern early on, occurring when the tree is overwatered or planted in poorly draining soil. Affected bushes show yellowing leaves, wilting, or stunted progress. To keep away from root rot, be sure that your soil drains effectively. In case your space receives heavy rainfall, select your location fastidiously or take into account planting in containers.

Regularly Requested Questions