Their orchard contains six hundred lychee trees and, of the forty varieties grown in Australia, Chris and John grow four - Tai So, Bengal, Wai Chee and Kwai Mai Pink. I suggest sampling one of the fruit, you will know if it is time! This is a complete guide to growing a Lychee tree at home. When growing lychee trees, be sure to plant them in a protected area. When the buds appear, the growth is the highest. Do not Cut Too Far 5 5. Lychee trees are attractive 3-5 metre tall evergreen trees and you only need 1 to produce a crop. Form a raised or doughnut shaped ring of soil around the outer edge of the plant's root zone. Just remember that you always want to make sure that the trunk of the tree is in good condition. Lychee trees prefer a soil that is slightly acidic, so use fertiliser (and potting mix if growing in pots) thats designed for acid loving plants like. Prepare the soil for planting by digging a hole thats twice as wide as the root ball of your tree and the same depth. The edible flesh surrounds a single, dark brown, inedible seed that is 1 to 3.3cm long and 0.6 to 1.2cm wide (0.391.30 by 0.240.47in). Join the Yates Garden Community to receive personalised monthly emails, and hear about exclusive promotions and giveaways. There are recommended techniques for doing so. Use secateurs to cut the fruits from the tree in bunches to avoid damaging the skin. This is her method: It takes a bit of patience when growing a lychee tree because, as Chris says, "they remain dormant for about the first three years. Ringbark (cincture) a section about 1cm wide on the branch. Lychee trees are subtropical broadleaf evergreens that produce a sweet, exotic edible fruit. Being a seedling they will take longer to come into fruiting. The leathery, pinnate leaves are divided into four to eight leaflets. Wai Chee is a low vigor that is easily kept small. Seedlings have been grown from the popular Kwai Mai Pink and Wai Chee varieties. Different people have different opinions about how much to cut off or what to do with the leaves and branches after they trim the tree. Required fields are marked *. But over a few years, it just goes away. The tree can reach 30-40 feet (9-12 m.) in height. Watering: water regularly, especially during establishment and fruit development. Lychee Tree Care As mentioned, lychee trees need to be protected from wind. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . %%EOF If using products to deal with pests, diseases or weeds, always read the label, follow the instructions carefully and wear suitable protective equipment. I have a large lychee tree, about 6m high and across, that I would consider out of control. Needs protection from wind when young. Once the fruits have formed, use a wildlife safe, 4mm hole or smaller white netting thats pulled tightly over the tree and secured around the truck or set up a frame structure over the tree so you can easily place the net over this. You must expose the tree to cold temperatures for at least 100 hours in the winter if you want it to bloom and then bear fruit, and the female flowers have to be pollinated. Dig a planting hole twice the width of the rootball and to the same depth. It is too early to tell but my initial observations are that it is relatively low vigor. Their dense canopy can be caught up by the wind, causing the trees to topple over. They prefer an acidic soil of pH 5.0-5.5. /*--> endobj They grew really quickly and healthily until mid October when a new layer of leaves sprouted. I get more fruit from my little trees than many get from full size trees once the wildlife has had its share. The smallest lychee spacing I personally use is 4.5m between low vigor trees, but for most I use a minimum of 5m. Forgotten Password? Ripening to a gorgeous pink - red colour with a sweet flavour. John Patrick has some fantastic design advice for creating a garden bed, no matter what your garden size or budget. Mid season. Lychee and growing areas in Australia One person should be able to handle about 5 to 7 hectares of mature trees without the need for other staff, except during harvesting and packing. Your information is being handled in accordance with the. 0000003896 00000 n If you are unsure about what direction you should be taking to change the overall shape of your tree, you can find tips for pruning lychee trees that will help you do just that. Depending on the yield and spread of cultivars, up to five to ten staff would be required for harvesting over summer. The ten year is usually the time they're fully productive and a fully productive tree can produce up to 200 kilos of lychees. First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we Order here and select Pick Up. Prune Fruit Trees for Small Gardens: The First Cut. Lychees can be grafted, but the success rates are low and the process takes great time and care. Flowering and fruiting: panicles of small white, yellow and green flowers are produced in profusion in early spring, followed by aromatic, fleshy white fruits encased in a red pimply shell. Cover the bottom of the new pot with soil. One of the most common tips for pruning lychee trees is to use a hedge trellis to help shape the tree. It is best for the palm if green fronds remain intact. 0000001955 00000 n Trees that receive the appropriate pruning measures while they are young will require less corrective pruning as they mature. The benefits of trees extend beyond their beauty. Reliable producer, even in warmer areas. Trees planted too close to other trees or structures may not grow normally or produce much fruit due to shading. Lychee trees prefer a full sun spot in a well drained soil, with protection from strong winds. Be Patient 1. */ Soils Trees grow best in well-drained soils. Medium-sized, compact, rounded tree that usually matures fruit from mid- Dec. through Jan. Well drained, enriched with organic matter. 3. Cool winters with low rainfall and warm wet summers are ideal for lychees. [CDATA[/* >