What Is Lychee Fruit - Learn About Growing Lychee Trees

A beautiful specimen tree with its shiny leaves and attractive fruit, lychee thrives in deep, fertile, well-draining soil. They prefer an acidic soil of pH 5.0-5.5. When growing lychee trees, be sure to plant them in a protected area. Their dense canopy can be caught up by the wind, causing the trees to topple over.

How long does a lychee tree take to grow?

Harvesting. Lychee trees will take at least five years to mature before bearing any fruit. 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.

What is the origin of lychee fruit?

The lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonn) an important sub-tropical evergreen fruit crop belonging to family Sapindaceae, is believed to have originated in China, where it has been grown in Southern Guangdong state for thousand of years.

Where do lychees grow?

They grow best in the subtropical climates where temperatures are cool and dry for a short time in the winter months. Lychees do not like wet feet, so be sure to plant your tree in well drained soil. Trees can also be planted on a mound to ensure proper drainage.

How do you grow lychee fruit?

Sowing and Germination

Sow the lychee seed in the center of the soil at a depth of 1 inch. Maintain a temperature of between 75 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit and keep the top inch of soil moderately moist. Most fresh lychee seeds will germinate in one to four weeks, but some can take up to six weeks.

Do lychee trees fruit every year?

Tips on Getting Your Lychee Tree to Produce Fruit

Typically, a South Florida lychee tree will experience 4 - 6 annual growth flushes depending on the age and size of a tree.

Are lychees good for you?

Lychees are popular in Southeast Asia and China but less common in other countries. They have a sweet and flowery flavor and are a good source of vitamin C and several beneficial antioxidants. This makes them an excellent addition to a healthy diet.

How many lychees should I eat a day?

So, the best thing to do is to avoid eating more than 300 grams of lychee a day in order to avoid these negative implications. If you experience any allergic reaction after eating this fruit, or if you suffer from diabetes or hypoglycaemia, don't eat it at all.

What is another name for lychee?

Lychee, (Litchi chinensis), also spelled litchi or lichi, evergreen tree of the soapberry family (Sapindaceae), grown for its edible fruit.

Are lychee seeds poisonous?

It has been found that litchi contains certain natural toxins, mainly said to be in the seeds. Apparently, the toxic nature of litchi is not an unknown fact. ... The study also found that litchis, particularly the unripe ones, contain a certain amino acid that affects blood glucose levels severely.

Which lychee is the best?

If you only have enough room for 1 tree and you really want a crop every year, Mauritius is probably the best variety for you. This variety is rather small, both the fruit and tree size. Emperor Lychee has the largest fruit size, up to 1½ to 1¾ inch diameter.

Can Lychee grow in pots?

Because lychee is a tropical tree, it isn't an option for many gardens. However, although this tree can be quite large outdoors, it is possible to grow lychee in pots.

What is the best fertilizer for lychee tree?

Young trees (less than 4 years old) should be fertilized with 0.25 to 0.50 lbs (0.11 to 0.22 kg) of a complete fertilizer every 8 weeks (Table 3). Fertilizer mixtures containing 6 to 8% nitrogen, 2 to 4% available phosphorus, 6 to 8% potash, and 3 to 4% magnesium are satisfactory.

Are lychees easy to grow?

Since the tree is subtropical, it can be grown in USDA zones 10-11 only. A beautiful specimen tree with its shiny leaves and attractive fruit, lychee thrives in deep, fertile, well-draining soil. They prefer an acidic soil of pH 5.0-5.5. When growing lychee trees, be sure to plant them in a protected area.

Is there a dwarf lychee tree?

Planting & Care. The Emperor Lychee Tree (Litchi chinensis 'Emperor') is a beautiful tropical dwarf tree that produces large, juicy fruit larger than that of the regular Lychee tree. ... They are commonly planted in USDA growing zones 9-11 but can be brought indoors during the colder seasons.

How often does a lychee tree bear fruit?

Probably the most obvious answer to why a lychee isn't fruiting is timing. As with every fruiting tree, the time must be right. Lychee trees don't begin producing fruit for 3-5 years from planting – when grown from cuttings or grafting. Trees grown from seed, may take up to 10-15 years to fruit.

What month do litchi bloom?

These litchi trees produces flowers in the month of August –September and fruits mature in the month of December and January.

How can I make my lychee grow faster?

The rule of thumb for fast growth is "once a month" applications of a balanced fertilizer during spring and summer. We have doubled the size of some of our trees in a single growing season through aggressive fertilization.

Do lychees make you poop?

Dietary fiber in lychee supports the digestive system in the material movement and adds bulk to the stool which is helpful for those having the irregular bowel function or constipation.

What are the 3 foods to never eat?

AVOID: Refined Grains

White flour.
Bread.
Pasta.
Rice.
Baked goods.
Snack goods.
Breakfast cereals.

Is Lychee good for hair?

Since litchi is an excellent source of copper, it helps stimulate the hair follicles and makes your hair grow.