Lyla Lindsey
Lychees are a tasty treat, but did you know that you can grow your own lychee tree in Australia? The process of growing lychees from seed can be a fun project, but it requires a lot of patience as it can take up to 10 years for the tree to bear fruit. In this guide, we will explore the steps to grow lychees from seed, the ideal conditions for their growth, and the different varieties of lychee trees that you can choose from. We will also discuss the common pests and diseases that affect lychee trees and provide solutions to ensure the healthy growth of your tree. So, get ready to embark on a journey of growing your own delicious lychees!
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Climate | Warm, humid, subtropical |
| Soil type | Humus-rich, sandy to loamy potting soil mixed with expanded clay |
| Soil pH | 5.5-6.5 |
| Soil moisture | Moist |
| Soil drainage | Well-draining |
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Fertilizer | High-potassium fertiliser |
| Pruning | Remove side shoots up to 1m to encourage a strong central leader |
| Propagation | Seeds, cuttings, air layering, marcotting |
| Germination time | 4-5 days |
| Seed pretreatment | Soak in water for 3-4 days, or in a 50 °C water bath for 20 minutes |
| Seed depth | 1 inch |
| Time to sprout | 1-2 weeks |
| Time to fruiting | 3-10 years |
| Pests | Mealybugs, aphids, mites, moths, scale insects, root weevils, nematodes, fruit flies, birds, bats, flying foxes |
| Common issues | Wind damage, fruit splitting, male flower predominance due to high temperatures |
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What You'll Learn
Soaking and germinating seeds
Lychees are tasty fruits that look like large strawberries, with dimpled, rough, inedible skin and a smooth, brown, inedible seed. They are native to tropical regions of southern China and require a subtropical climate. In Australia, they grow well down the east coast, from Cairns to Lismore.
Lychee seeds do not have to be discarded and can be used for growing a lychee tree. To grow lychee plants from seed, first, carefully remove the flesh and then pickle the clean seed. To pickle lychee seeds, soak them in a 50 °C water bath for 20 minutes. Alternatively, you can simply soak the seeds in water for 3 to 4 days until they start to split. Once the seed has been removed, it has only four to five days to germinate, so it is critical to plant it as soon as possible. The ideal growing medium for lychee seeds is less fertilised than regular potting soil.
To sprout seeds, first, soak them for three days in water. Then, plant the soaked seeds in a 12-inch-tall pot filled with well-draining potting soil. Cover them with 1 inch of potting soil. Keep them warm and moist. Wait for sprouts to emerge (this can take one to two weeks). Once they've sprouted, move them to a sunnier spot after a few weeks. Keep a lookout for mealybugs, aphids, and mites. Signs of infestation include tiny webs on plants, clumps of white "powdery" residue, or visible insects on the plant.
Lychees can be grown from the seeds of purchased fruits. You can also try germinating fresh lychee seeds from store-bought fruit. However, it is important to note that a tree grown from seed may not produce fruit, may not produce the same fruit, or may take many years to fruit. It can take three to five years for a lychee tree to bear fruit, and ten years or more if grown from seed.
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Planting and potting
Lychee trees require a subtropical climate with warm temperatures and high humidity. In Australia, they grow well down the east coast, from Cairns to Lismore. They can be grown outdoors in a full-sun location, protected from wind, as lychee trees are susceptible to wind damage. They also grow well in a heated greenhouse or conservatory.
To grow lychee trees from seed, start by removing the flesh from the seed and then soaking it in a 50 °C water bath for 20 minutes. Alternatively, you can soak the seeds in water for 3 to 4 days until they start to split. After soaking, you have only four to five days before the seed needs to be planted, so it is critical to prepare the planting site in advance.
Plant the seeds in a pot with well-draining, humus-rich, sandy to loamy potting soil. Cover them with 1 inch of soil. Keep the soil warm and moist. Sprouts should emerge within one to two weeks. Once they've sprouted, move the pot to a sunnier spot after a few weeks.
To pot the sprouted seeds, fill a small plastic bag with moist peat moss and seed-raising mix. Slit the bag and wrap it around the roots of the seedling. Tie it off tightly above the roots and squeeze out any excess moisture. After a few months, when the roots have grown, cut the seedling off the tree and pot it in a new container. Use a potting mix with a pH of 6.5, which is perfect for lychees. Place the plant in the pot and put potting mix to the top of the roots. Once it's firmly in place, water it. Place it in a sheltered, sunny area.
Lychee trees can also be grown directly in the ground. Position the plant in a hole and backfill with soil, gently firming it down. Form a raised ring of soil around the plant to create a well for water. Water it well. Keep the soil moist as the tree establishes itself. Applying mulch will help retain soil moisture.
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Feeding and fertilising
When growing lychees from seed in Australia, it is important to note that it can take three to five years for the tree to bear fruit, and up to ten years or more if grown from seed. Therefore, when it comes to feeding and fertilising, patience is required.
To begin the process of growing a lychee tree from seed, you must first obtain a seed from a lychee fruit. You can use seeds from homegrown or store-bought fruit, but it is important to note that due to hybridisation, the resulting fruit may not match the parent plant. Soak the seed in water for three to four days until it starts to split, then plant the seed in good organic soil with vermiculite and perlite at the bottom of the pot. Place the pot in a sunny location to prevent the tree from becoming leggy.
In terms of feeding and fertilising, it is recommended to avoid fertilising your lychee seedling for the first year. In the second year, you can start applying complex mineral fertiliser solutions a couple of times. It is important to use a natural, balanced fertiliser and avoid giving the tree too much nitrogen, as this can inhibit flowering. A high-potassium fertiliser is recommended to promote flowering and fruiting. You can use a specialised fruit fertiliser like Yates Dynamic Lifter Fruit & Citrus Plant Food Pellets, or a weak liquid fertiliser. Fertilise once or twice during the growing season (spring and summer) and water deeply once or twice a week, depending on weather conditions.
Lychee trees also have specific environmental requirements. They need cool nights to promote correct flowering and fruiting, and they thrive in warm and humid climates with high humidity. However, they can be damaged by strong winds and rain, which can reduce your harvest. Lychee trees also need cold temperatures (32°F to 45°F) for at least 100 hours to bloom.
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Pruning and training
Lychee trees are slow-growing and can take a long time to bear fruit, especially when grown from seed. They can take up to 10 years to produce fruit, and even longer if grown from seed. Therefore, pruning and training are important to ensure healthy growth and fruit production.
When grown from seed, lychee trees reach mature size at about four years old but do not produce fruit until they are about five. In the first few years, while the tree is not yet producing fruit, it is important to focus on shaping the crown. Regular pruning during this time will promote a full, rounded shape. Select branches should be pruned from the centre of young trees to open up the canopy, allowing for good airflow and reducing the risk of wind damage.
Once a central trunk has formed, you can encourage bushier growth by removing the tips of stems. To keep the tree at a manageable size, further pruning can be done annually, ideally immediately after harvesting the fruit. This allows new shoots and leaves to develop before the weather cools down. If the tree doesn't fruit, pruning can also promote fruiting the following year. Pruning after harvesting also ensures that a new fruiting branch tip will form in the same spot for the next crop. When pruning, cut off about 4 inches (10 cm) of the branch tip that bore the fruit, leaving enough room for the new fruit-bearing branch to grow.
To keep the plant smaller, more aggressive pruning can be done by pruning the main growing trunks annually. This will encourage a smaller, bushier plant. Heavy pruning, however, should only be done on young, immature trees to shape them or on old, mature trees to rejuvenate them. As lychee trees age, they may begin to produce less fruit, and rejuvenation pruning can help encourage a few more fruit-bearing years.
When pruning, always use clean, sharp tools to avoid the spread of disease. After pruning, seal large open cuts with pruning sealer or latex paint to protect the tree from pests.
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Harvesting and storage
Lychees are very perishable, especially if they are warm. The fruits will only keep their bright red colour for three to five days at room temperature. As soon as they are picked, they should be chilled to between 30 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit (-1 to 7 degrees Celsius). They can be stored at this temperature for up to three months.
Lychees do not continue to ripen after they are picked, so it is important to time your harvest well. Ripe lychees are slightly more swollen, causing the bumps on the skin to spread out and take on a flatter appearance. A more trusted method of testing for ripeness is the taste test. Ripe lychees are sweet, but with a slightly acidic flavour. When they are under-ripe, they are more sour, and when they are overripe, they are sweeter but bland.
The best way to harvest lychees is to cut off clusters of fruit using secateurs or pruning shears. Harvesting individual lychees is not recommended as it is hard to remove them from the stem without damaging the skin and reducing shelf life. As the fruits mature at different rates, you may want to harvest every three to four days over the course of several weeks.
Lychees can be stored in packages that maintain high humidity around the fruit. However, this increases the risk of rots. To control rots, refrigeration is the most effective method. Fungicides can also be used but are more effective when combined with refrigeration. With precautions against dehydration and rots, along with sensible orchard management and post-harvest handling, fruit may keep for two to three weeks. The optimum temperature for the storage of lychees is approximately 5 degrees Celsius, although fruit stored at 10 degrees Celsius can last almost as well, with less risk of condensation in the pack.
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Frequently asked questions
It can take 4-5 years for a lychee tree to bear fruit, but it may take up to 10 years or more if grown from seed.
Lychee trees require a subtropical climate with warm temperatures and high humidity. They grow well in sheltered locations down the east coast of Australia, from Cairns to Lismore.
First, carefully remove the flesh from the seed and then pickle it in a 50 °C water bath for 20 minutes. Soak the seed in water for 3-4 days until it starts to split, then plant the seed in a 12-inch pot filled with well-draining potting soil. Cover the seed with 1 inch of soil and keep it warm and moist. Sprouts should emerge within 1-2 weeks.
Once a central trunk has formed, remove the tips of the stems to encourage bushier growth. Keep the soil moist and apply mulch to retain soil moisture. Water deeply once or twice a week, depending on weather conditions. Feed the tree every 8 weeks with a specialised fruit fertiliser.
