Heya!

So I won't lie…. I'm new. If I ask a dumb question or post in the wrong forum, please forgive me.

So I'm from up north – got a job around the Tampa Bay area (Brandon). Up north I love to do vegetable gardening... as a hobby only. Always wanted to try my hands at fruit trees (my stone fruit trees were growing… until deer decided to eat them or something… set them back years)

Anyway – I LOVE LOVE LOVE Lychee. Had it a few times and I love them! I want a Lychee tree… a couple of concerns.

- They only start producing fruit 7-10 years from seed – assuming all is well

- They are mostly in south Florida… which I am confused about a bit. I know they have a hardiness zone of 9-11. Tampa/central FL should fit the bill. It also provides cool nights and has adequate "winter"-ish months required for the fruit to develop. Am I wrong? Do Lychee trees grow/fruit in the Tampa Bay area? I know they hate low temps.

- I am currently on a short term lease – I have a balcony. I plan on eventually (within the year) buy a house… Is it wise to buy it from a website, keep it in a pot then transplant it into the ground? Or should I just wait until I get a house? I'm thinking 7-8 months of growing a pot is still a lot of time!

- Any advice on where to order them from? The "older" the better? I know there is fastgrowingtrees website – they have 2-3 feet plants. I assume those fruit within 3-4 years?? Thoughts?

I do plan on getting a lot more fruit trees eventually (depending on what house I can afford… we'll see)

Thanks!

PS. Please be honest…. I can take it. Any thoughts/advice/comments are appreciated! Yes I'm excited for the move and I might have my head in the clouds!