Lychee Trees: A Guide to Growing and Fruiting
Introduction
Lychee is a delicious tropical fruit that is native to southeastern China. It is a drupe, which means it has a hard outer shell and a single seed inside. Lychee trees are hardy in USDA zones 10-11, but they can be grown in other zones with some protection from frost.
Why Isn’t My Lychee Tree Fruiting?
There are a few reasons why a lychee tree might not be fruiting.
- Timing: 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. So if your tree is young, it may simply need more time to mature.
- Chilling hours: Lychee trees need a certain number of chilling hours in order to set fruit. Chilling hours are the number of hours that the temperature is below 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius). In general, lychee trees need between 100-200 hours of standard chilling. If your tree is not getting enough chilling hours, it may not produce fruit.
- Dormancy: Lychee trees grow in regular cycles of growth followed by dormancy. During dormancy, the tree needs to be in a state of rest in order to develop flower buds. If the tree is not getting enough dormancy, it may not produce fruit.
- Pollination: Lychee trees need to be pollinated in order to produce fruit. Bees are the most common pollinators of lychee trees. If there are not enough bees in your area, your tree may not be getting pollinated.
How to Make a Lychee Tree Fruit
If your lychee tree is not fruiting, there are a few things you can do to try to get it to produce fruit.
- Prune your tree: Pruning your tree can help to promote new growth and flowering. The best time to prune a lychee tree is in the middle of July.
- Fertilize your tree: Fertilizing your tree can help to provide it with the nutrients it needs to produce fruit. The best time to fertilize a lychee tree is in the spring and fall.
- Pollinate your tree: If there are not enough bees in your area to pollinate your tree, you can hand-pollinate it. To hand-pollinate a lychee tree, you will need to collect pollen from a male flower and transfer it to a female flower.
- Cross-pollinate your tree: Cross-pollinating your tree with a different cultivar can help to increase fruit set and production.
Other Factors that Can Affect Fruiting
In addition to the factors listed above, there are a few other things that can affect fruiting in lychee trees.
- Frost: Lychee trees are not tolerant of frost. If your tree is exposed to frost, it may damage the flowers and fruit.
- Water: Lychee trees need regular watering, especially during the fruiting season. If your tree is not getting enough water, it may not produce fruit.
- Sunlight: Lychee trees need full sun to produce fruit. If your tree is not getting enough sunlight, it may not produce fruit.
Conclusion
Lychee trees are a delicious and rewarding fruit to grow. By following the tips in this article, you can help your tree to produce a bountiful harvest of fruit.