Growing Longan and Lychee Fruit Trees in Cold Climate

[@shauna77]

So happy to catch a new upload! This is the first year of my Kohala longan in the ground. It is doing great despite of one night dipped down to 32f. However, after the weather warms up recently, it got some purplish patches on the edges of the leaves even with the protection of frost cover. Hope it will get accumulated to the winter gradually in the following years and stay green like yours:)

[@TropicalCentralValley]

That’s awesome. Specific to your longan, I’d give it one more year before it is fully acclimated to your climate.

[@shauna77]

@@TropicalCentralValley Yeah, so looking forward to it! Thank you

[@tylerjones1574]

I got some longan seeds from a friend growing them near the Oregon coast. I was so surprised they could survive. I now have 3 little plants. I'm also zone 8b but further inland so I guess this is kinda experimental. Thanks for the info!

[@TropicalCentralValley]

That’s awesome. Longans, especially if grown from seeds can actually take the cold pretty well, though, USDA Zone 8b is really pushing it. I know folks are able to grow them with minimal frost protection in USDA Zone 9a.

[@terra448]

I have a Brewster in a pot here in 9a FL and it has some blooms on it! I'm so excited. I think I might put it in ground this year after it decides to fruit or not. It took 29F no problem and I have a sheltered place for it. I always thought they needed full sun but that could just be for commercial production. Thank you for the videos, they always brighten my day.

[@TropicalCentralValley]

Concerning the sun requirement, you may be able to get away with putting yours in full day sun due to your higher humidity. The problem with my climate is the desert-like summer which strips away any moisture from the trees.

[@gardengainzz9191]

I always look forward to your videos. Keep up the good work and Keep pumping out the videos.. Very informative!

[@TropicalCentralValley]

Your garden too is looking phenomenal. Awesome collection of jaboticabas.

[@gardengainzz9191]

@@TropicalCentralValley I so need to update my KZbin channel to reflect what has changed in my garden.

[@Fr3ddyFazbear87]

You have a really great and informative channel. I have a lychee but im not sure on what type of fertiliser to use?

[@TropicalCentralValley]

Practically any organic fertilizer will do. I briefly touched on this topic in my most recent video: Spring Time Preparations for Tropical Fruit Trees kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHrOZXSan6ZlY5o

[@Fr3ddyFazbear87]

@@TropicalCentralValley ok thanks, I'll look into it 👍

[@TropicalCentralValley]

You’re very welcome.

[@thavylor]

Thank you for the video. I live in East Texas, zone 8b. It's much colder when it's cold here, but I am thinking about growing Longan in pot. I see you have some in pot there. What size pots have you planted them in? Do they produce fruits also in pot? I check longan availability, I found most online shops carry Kahala. I want to try to grow 2 or 3 varieties, or maybe start with one. Which varieties are better, in your experience? Again, thank you for the video and thank you in advance for your answers.

[@TropicalCentralValley]

Many of mine are in the ground but I do have some in containers, in 15 gallons and 25 gallons. They absolutely produces fruit, though, as with all container grown trees, they do require consistent watering and fertilizing.

[@thavylor]

@@TropicalCentralValley That's hopeful for me. Also, which varieties do you like more whether better fruits or easier to grow or better production?

[@TropicalCentralValley]

I have had great success with Kohala, as are the Biew Kiew and Sri Champoo varieties.

[@thavylor]

@@TropicalCentralValley thank you

[@TropicalCentralValley]

You’re very welcome.

[@MaMaMae_]

Really appreciate your videos and range of information you provide! Seeking some advice again please! I'm in zone 9b, bought a lychee from mimosa nursery last year, and it WAS doing well in container. We put it into the ground back in March this year, was doing well until the latest heat wave, likely dehydrated and dropped all leaves. It is hanging in there and has regrowth but is struggling, and is less than half the size it was before :( I put up a shade to protect it from further burn/heat and a thick layer of mulch, pruned the dead branches (minor). Any tips on nursing it back to health - fertiziler, mycorrhizae, move to greenhouse, or build a mini greenhouse around it? Think you touched upon some tips, i'm trying to decide if the sappling is too far gone :(

[@TropicalCentralValley]

My Brewster lychee too got knocked down by the sun, during an intense heatwave. In my case, I simply placed a shade clothe over the stressed out tree and lowered the water to the tree as well as eliminating fertilizer to it. In my case, I did not yet prune the damaged branches and instead, will do so when I start to see new growth. Beyond that, it’s mostly up to the tree to hopefully recover. Good luck.

[@MaMaMae_]

@@TropicalCentralValley did your tree recover? There's definitely new growth, its just slow. I put a mini popup greenhouse over it along with 40% shade cloth! Thanks for the advice! Fingers crossed!!!

[@TropicalCentralValley]

Mine hasn’t really shown any sign of recovery, though, it’s still very much alive. Lychee trees do grow very slowly, so I do expect the recovery to be a slow process.

[@melbournesubtropicfruits9474]

In our cooler climates you need them to be early to flower so they have plenty of summer to complete - mid and late CVs are useless - I have Kohala and Chompoo longans and B3 and Thai So lychees - Salathiel may be early too - well done there

[@TropicalCentralValley]

That’s an awesome collection.

[@acidnut]

I only have a Kohala in ground since last February. Taking last winter and winter just fine. I am in San Leandro SF Bay area. Looking to get add a Biew Kiew this Spring.

[@TropicalCentralValley]

That’s awesome. You really can’t go wrong with any variety of longans.

[@sampsuns]

I am also in Bay Area. I saw another video that Biew View die in the winter in Saratoga. So I end up with planting a kohala

[@TropicalCentralValley]

Saratoga is USDA zone 9b - 10a. All varieties of longan trees should do well there. The Kohala is perhaps the most resilient variety. From a taste perspective, I can’t tell them apart.

[@patricktoscano5362]

Bel vidéo complimenti....

[@TropicalCentralValley]

Grazie

[@fernandomorales4307]

How cold has it been so far this winter in your area? everything looks awesome. great job

[@TropicalCentralValley]

Luckily, due to this year’s La Niña weather pattern, we’ve only experienced 4 frosts, with temperature down to 29°.

[@huotlor255]

You have a lot of fruit trees in your yard, do you have Pram Kei Mea (svay ktis) too?. I love your garden!.

[@TropicalCentralValley]

If referring to the Thai variety mango, I do not, though I do have the Keo Savoy and Nam Doc Mai.

[@Thesky-w7q]

Hii can this be grown here ? here in Lesotho is highland area with high altitude ,ranging from about 1,400 to over 3,400 meters Summer temperature around 20_30°C. (68_86°F) during the day Winters get quite cold sometimes dropping to _5°C(23°F) or lower specially in higher places Most of our rainfall happens during The summer months , with winter being pretty dry Can this be grown here pls tell me

[@TropicalCentralValley]

Your climate is a bit on the extreme end, but with some microclimate protection, I’m certain you can grow them. In extreme winter days, it may require some heating, if grown outside in the ground.

[@bobbyphaypaseuth5519]

Thank you for tell me where to get the Lychee an Longan I also got a Sapodilla tree an a gooseberries

[@TropicalCentralValley]

That’s awesome. It’s a very nice collection you’ve got.

[@vuarizonagarden]

I've decided to put in more Longan as well, 6 trees now. Getting rid of some mangoes, too finicky to soils and weather. As for pruning, I saw a video of the owner of Mimosa Nursery said you needed to prune Longan hard, it may skip a year after u prune it hard, but the next year it will give you 5 times the amount of fruits.

[@TropicalCentralValley]

That’s great advice, though I have not heard of that specific one. To me, as the longan trees are super slow growers, if pruning too hard, it simply won’t get a chance to grow.

[@vuarizonagarden]

@@TropicalCentralValley everyone said that Longan is slow. But I have a biewkiew that bought as a 3gal, 1/2in trunk 3ft tall. It even has some leaf wrinkle issue. I planted it 10months ago. I feed it some micro nutrient, fixes all issue and now it's 6ft tall and twice the width.

[@TropicalCentralValley]

Biew Kiew being the exception. It is a fast vertical grower. I’d definitely not prune a Sri Chompoo.

[@zuotingchen4983]

Thanks for the video. I have a 5 year old kohala longan in a pot. And I saw most of the female flowers turned green, but dried after that. Do you have any suggestions? I am in San Diego. Thank you.

[@TropicalCentralValley]

It’s hard to pin point the cause, however, I have noticed mine occasionally does that, however, in my case, the tree simply blooms again and will generally produce fruits the second time. I’m assuming you cut back on the nitrogen while increasing phosphorus and potassium when the tree is in bloom?

[@zuotingchen4983]

@@TropicalCentralValley Thanks for the reply. I am using 4-12-0 every month and gave triple 15 slow release once. For your second blooms, when did that happen?

[@TropicalCentralValley]

Generally a few weeks after the first bloom.

[@valterzc8187]

Is longan more resistant to frost than Lychee?

[@TropicalCentralValley]

Yes, though all of my longan and lychee of various varieties do great, even in 26°F for several days, and several times of the winter months.

[@valterzc8187]

@@TropicalCentralValley thank you! I am planning to grow it here in Brazil, but I was worried about some light frosts that occur here.

[@TropicalCentralValley]

I wouldn’t be too concerned about the light frost. Your climate has many things going for it, including the frequent rain, humidity and generally good soil.

[@sandyii09]

can they actually bear fruit if they're grown in a cold climate, or a pot indoors?

[@TropicalCentralValley]

I’m not entirely sure about fruit production when grown indoors. All of my in ground and container grown lychee and longan trees are all outdoors, including during winter time, as they can handle my winter. The primary challenge when growing indoors would be the intensity of the growing lights required to shine on the tree. Your average room (CFL, LED) or grow light won’t do, though it may be enough to keep the tree alive. For this reason, I would recommend taking the tree outdoors during the warm season then indoors during the cold season. Doing so may allow the tree to bloom and set fruit during the summer months.

[@ProGamer-nm1ey]

Hi i live in canada and do you think i can grow Kwai Mai Pink Lychee plant here? it can get -10 to -15 here, please let me know!

[@TropicalCentralValley]

Yes, but I would strongly recommend you grow them in containers and bring them inside during the cold months. Make sure to use half sand and half peat moss as the growing medium.

[@ProGamer-nm1ey]

thank you! i will dop it for sure if i want the plant to get big and have fruit then how many gallon pot will i need? @@TropicalCentralValley

[@annatian2006yoube]

⁠@@ProGamer-nm1eythe bigger the better, ideally 20 gallon……but change it gradually, I bought mine in a gallon pot, replanted to a three gallon pot for a year then move to a 15 gallon pot, and will move to a 20 gallon pot In the future.

[@TropicalCentralValley]

Just be careful with the growing medium used in larger containers. I say this because water tend to flow towards the outer walls; causing the inner roots to not get any water. In all of my larger containers, I thoroughly water my containers twice. Simply fill it to the top, let it drain and repeat.

[@nicholascugini1770]

I have had issues with Mimosa Nursery's labeling too. I bought a lemon guava from them and it turned out to be a strawberry guava.

[@TropicalCentralValley]

I too had experienced labeling issues with trees purchased from Mimosa. In addition to the lychee being a longan, I had purchased a GA-866 jujube which turned out to be a Lang jujube.

[@beautifulsongs4052]

What is that tree at nine and a half minutes into the video?

[@TropicalCentralValley]

In the foreground around that time mark, the Sunrise Papaya.

[@teffyvargas5916]

What zone are you

[@TropicalCentralValley]

California’s Central Valley, USDA Zone 9b

[@fangyuke2261]

Hi I am considering planting one of them ... can you give a rank of growth speed and cold hardniess among Kohala, Biew Kiew and Sri Chompoo longan trees? for example growth speed: kohala>biew kiew> Sri chompoo (not sure if this is true)

[@TropicalCentralValley]

Cold hardiness, from my personal experience, all three are relatively unfazed by the frost. The same is true of the summer heat. Although I mentioned it in the video, the Biew Kiew is the fastest grower, followed by the Kohala and Sri Champoo.

[@fangyuke2261]

@@TropicalCentralValley than you. So for biew kiew and kohalo. Which one do you think has more upright growth habit? My space is less than 10ft width

[@TropicalCentralValley]

Biew Kiew. It just wants to grow vertically.

[@fangyuke2261]

@@TropicalCentralValley thanks you for your prompt reply! how about mangos, from your experience, are they more tender than logan or not? and are they ok with container?

[@TropicalCentralValley]

Specific to mango trees, I made a video covering this topic: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJbInYt5rJyfars

[@annle5786]

Which varieties of Longan taste the best ?

[@TropicalCentralValley]

It’s hard to say, I personally like the Kohala, however, you also can’t go wrong with the Biew Kiew or the Sri Champoo.