Anyone planted Lychees?

IVAN

I have two vacant places in my garden and I thought to plant lychee trees.

Anyone has any experience with those?

Since I didn't see lychee trees sold in Croatia, it will have to wait either my next trip to India, or plant it from a seed (but I wonder if there is a hybrid issue, making such seed sprouting useless?)

The climate where I live is hot in the summer (peaked at 33 degrees Celsius this summer) and can be sub zero cold in winter, but usually not too much and not for too long periods.
Watering is not a problem.

How about the sun issue, does it like sun or shade? What kind of soil?

Any info from personal experience particularly appreciated, even about eventual failures.

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johnyoga2

Hi Ivan

Lychee's are sub-tropical plants. They need 100-200 hours of temperatures below 68 degrees F in order to bloom, however they won't survive periods of sub freezing weather. So it you wanted to grow them, you'd have to provide winter greenhouse type protection for them, much like you would citrus trees, like oranges and lemons.

crvlvr

We have 2 subzero nights in los angeles last year and I was surprised how many huge trees died.

IVAN

Damn!

I bet they would grow in Southern Dalmatia though, as tangerines and other citruses grow quite well there.

Unfortunately I live on the northern part of the Adriatic...

So, no particularly resistant "Himalayan" variety?

wonderwomanusa

The only time I found lichee in India was when driving throgh Bihar; somewhere south of Patna a woman broke off a small branch that was loaded with fruit and gave it to us. What a treat!

I've managed to get lichee seeds to sprout using the avocado method -- stick toothpicks in the sides of the seed (they are very soft) and suspend into a container of water. I had a sprout that was about 15cm high in New York, but it froze, and I've been unable to get another seed to sprout since then... though I have grown a couple of mangoes (it's too cold for them here in Northern California).

Good luck with your project!

jyotirmoy

The best lychee grows in Mujjafarpur in Bihar followed by Dehradun in Uttaranchal. Himachal Pradesh also produces them. Most of the good crop is acquired by the fruit processing industries now to make juice & concentrates.
Ivan I have been to your country and had excellent Strawberries & Cherries but I am doubtful about Lychee tree surviving the weather over there.

AvidTrekker

The famous FRI [Forest Research Institute] at Dehradun houses a spectacular variety of plants and trees on its vast sprawling lawns.

Maybe they could have developed a lichee hybrid that can withstand a few days of sub zero temps [??]

Its worth asking them. Here's the link:

http://www.icfre.org/

Happy planting !!!

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edwardseco

Would be interesting to know. In the last freeze in SoCal it was surprising how many of my affected trees came back (some of my hibiscus, all of the ficus and even my prize Plumeria which I forgot to cover..

I have seen Lychee in Austin, Texas..

IVAN

The Forest Research Institute! Of course!

Excellent idea AvidTrekker, thanks.

rab

IVAN - a good thread and an interesting question. I would love to plant a lychee tree here in SA. We have some gaps in our orchard!

We get a Med climate of wet mild winters and hot dry summers. Here at 300 m above sea level we do get one or two frosts each winter.

Can anyone advise what soils, aspect, temperature and rainfall are required for this plant to succeed?

I am also interested in whether growing from seeed would produce trees that would provide a crop of fruit.

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AvidTrekker

Even otherwise, Dehradun is SO FULL of Lychee trees that many private nurseries / shops will give you the detailed info AND sell you the hybrid cutting.

It can't compare with sound advice from FRI, but something is better than nothing.
.
.

edwardseco

Okay, my wife is laughing at me as the trees I saw in Austin were not Lychees..

lalooprasadyadav

Anyone know of private or govt nurseries in Mumbai or Pune where I can buy lychee and other fruiting trees?

IVAN

I see on a Wikipedia page that they grow lychees in East Australia.

It seems that it likes humidity in summer, and that would mean regular watering.

AvidTrekker

I know one farmer in Khopoli who has grown a flourishing lychee tree. (maybe he can give you a cutting?)

Nuts !! This thread has me drooling ! I just happen to luuurve lychees