Lychee Growing Round 3.

17 years ago

I am again trying to grow those delightful lychees, this is my third year trying.

First year - Nothing, I think they got dried out.

Last year success until the squirrels discovered the plants and hijacked/killed all but 1, that is living in my kitchen.

This year I'm trying something different and I would like some input. I started by first soaking the seeds in tea/water for about 2 weeks to see if they would germinate.

Of course every last one did, but few died off.

I know that lychee like growing in acidic conditions so I saved teabags for a few days, when I had enough I opened them and put then into styrofoam cups, which I poked drainage holes in the bottom and doubled up on them so they have a kind of reservoir. I placed them in the window with ziplock bags over them to keep the humidity up.

The plants seem to be LOVING it! In a matter of days one plant went from looking like a little sprout to a 1 1/2 inch plant with about 6 little pink leaves.

Is there anything else that you guys can think of to keep them doing well?

I am all for suggestions.

Thank you in advance.

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Comments (3)

jsvand5
17 years ago
You should do fine as long as you keep them watered correctly and keep the animals away. I have a few seedlings and they seem to be pretty tough. Just be careful with the fertilizers. I would only use half of the normal recommended dose. I pretty much ignore mine and they seem to do well. If I were you I would have broke down and ordered an air layered "Emperor" lychee long ago. They really do seem to be great for containers. You would probably be eating fruit by now instead of sprouting seeds. But I'm impatient. Good luck with them. How large is the one you have from last season?
candie1230
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks, I'll be sure to try to keep the critters away. I use organic fertilizer so I don't have to worry about burning.

I've been on this growing things kick for the past few years, only thing is everything seems to die after a year. I've had pomegranates, coffee and bananas. All gone to that great big greenhouse in the sky, lol. I'm looking forward to getting a hold of a theobroma cacao later when it's vastly warmer around here.

Oh my plant from last year is a puney 6 inches... yeah I know huge, eh?
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User
17 years ago
Keep trying, it can be done.

The little 3" coffee tree I got from Logees 3 or 4 years ago is about 4 feet tall and has red coffee beans on it right now.

SB