The Tropical Fruit Forum

Tropical Fruit => Tropical Fruit Discussion => Topic started by: behlgarden on May 24, 2012, 05:19:36 PM

Title: Taking care of my Longan Tree - What do do?
Post by: behlgarden on May 24, 2012, 05:19:36 PM
Here is my Longan Tree, its older picture but now its in full bloom.  What can I do to ensure I get decent fruit set and if I can influence on size of fruits?

Last year, I got fruits as big as a quarter, some bigger and sme smaller. I also found splitting of shell in some fruits. Any fertilizing tips, watering tips, etc?

(http://s14.postimage.org/5vhztwlq5/Longan.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/5vhztwlq5/)
Title: Re: Taking care of my Longan Tree - What do do?
Post by: simon_grow on May 24, 2012, 06:10:05 PM
Hey Behl, nice Longan tree.  What variety is it?  I've read that you should remove about 1/2 the panicle when the fruit are about pea sized.  Adding a high P-K fertilizer may help increase the sweetness of the fruit.  As for your cracking problem, you should make sure soil moisture is pretty consistent.
Simon
Title: Re: Taking care of my Longan Tree - What do do?
Post by: emegar on May 24, 2012, 06:12:04 PM
Here are a couple of videos you might look at, Behl.  I think they will mostly reiterate what Simon has already suggested.

A05 How to improve fruit size of longan (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U-0qLMZIZI#)

A06 Thinning longan fruit for big fruit (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCbWYKM2X0M#)

James
Title: Re: Taking care of my Longan Tree - What do do?
Post by: behlgarden on May 24, 2012, 06:52:28 PM
Great. Simon, I dont know the variety as this was inherited during home purchase. I did greft few varities that Oscar sent and those are still waiting to take.

On thinning, Santa Ana winds sort of take care of thinning for us more than we would like. I was thinking about fertilizer and will look into P an K. thinking about ordering N, P, K separate bags.
Title: Re: Taking care of my Longan Tree - What do do?
Post by: fruitlovers on May 25, 2012, 03:56:38 AM
Looks to me like a Kohala longan. Suggest very light fertilizing during flowering and medium fertilizing once fruits starts to form, once per month. Then heavy fertilizing (and pruning) after fruit set is all finished. Go easy on N, and heavyon P and K during flowering and fruiting, then when finished fruiting go heavy on N.
Watering during fruit set should be deep and consistent. If you thin the fruits you will certainly get very large fruits. Kohala tends to have large size fruits anyway.
On a tangent, i've noticed that longan fruits can keep surprisingly well in fridge for very many months. It's rather amazing, i just had the fruits in the fridge to keep the seeds fresh. But opening them up 3-4 months later most of the fruits were all still fine and delicious. Can't do that with lychees, rambutans or pulasans!
Title: Re: Taking care of my Longan Tree - What do do?
Post by: behlgarden on May 25, 2012, 09:24:34 AM
Thanks for tips guys. Oscar, what variety scion did you send me on longan?
Title: Re: Taking care of my Longan Tree - What do do?
Post by: behlgarden on May 25, 2012, 01:12:48 PM
here is updated pic of my tree in full bloom. I see small fruits forming already. This is much better than last year when blooms and fruits didnt form until late July


(http://s17.postimage.org/st7fawqln/Longan.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/st7fawqln/)

 
Title: Re: Taking care of my Longan Tree - What do do?
Post by: fruitlovers on May 26, 2012, 02:13:27 AM
Thanks for tips guys. Oscar, what variety scion did you send me on longan?

I think i marked it : Kohala. It's the most likely to fruit at your location.