Author Topic: IS it easier to grow Lychee or Longan in Southern California?  (Read 1916 times)

BonsaiBeast

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I have one spot left in my yard.

I have heard that it lychee trees can be very finicky here. Is this true?

Are Longan trees easier to successfully fruit here?

Thanks!

wslau

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Re: IS it easier to grow Lychee or Longan in Southern California?
« Reply #1 on: June 18, 2018, 08:47:18 PM »
Longan trees generally produce more and at a younger age than lychee trees in SoCal....although I have had some great lychees from your San Diego area.
« Last Edit: June 18, 2018, 10:25:48 PM by wslau »
Warren

sapote

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Re: IS it easier to grow Lychee or Longan in Southern California?
« Reply #2 on: June 18, 2018, 10:21:13 PM »
I had successfully grown many rare fruit trees but failed badly on Lychee. I air-grafted a 1" branch from a relative, and in 10 years it only grown from 24" to 36", gave 3 fruits, and died this spring. Anyone knows a trick?

boxturtle

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Re: IS it easier to grow Lychee or Longan in Southern California?
« Reply #3 on: June 19, 2018, 12:22:21 AM »
in short Longan is easier.....isnt picky about fertilizer and takes less water

simon_grow

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Re: IS it easier to grow Lychee or Longan in Southern California?
« Reply #4 on: June 19, 2018, 08:16:47 AM »
Long an is easier to grow for the majority of people.

Simon

Cookie Monster

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Re: IS it easier to grow Lychee or Longan in Southern California?
« Reply #5 on: June 19, 2018, 10:47:05 AM »
In socal, you guys have a good amount of chill hours, which would translate to better flowering on lychee, longan, and mango among others.
Jeff  :-)

simon_grow

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Re: IS it easier to grow Lychee or Longan in Southern California?
« Reply #6 on: June 19, 2018, 12:38:57 PM »
Jeff, a little too much if you ask me. My Mangos are still trying to put out blooms after I removed all the blooms two weeks ago.

Longans grow like weeds here, especially vigorous varieties like Kohala. Mine is even growing well in heavy rock and clay soil, heavy compaction and low oxygen. I have my tree on a tiny mound which has helped. A Lychee would not be happy in these conditions.

Simon

spaugh

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Re: IS it easier to grow Lychee or Longan in Southern California?
« Reply #7 on: June 19, 2018, 01:21:54 PM »
Yeah too much cold nights especially.  Its still in the 50s at night here.
Brad Spaugh

BonsaiBeast

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Re: IS it easier to grow Lychee or Longan in Southern California?
« Reply #8 on: June 19, 2018, 01:54:29 PM »
Are Longan trees also sensitive to wind? As much so as lychee?

barath

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Re: IS it easier to grow Lychee or Longan in Southern California?
« Reply #9 on: June 19, 2018, 02:20:20 PM »
There was someone who posted pictures of an amazing looking lychee tree growing in Long Beach -- maybe it's one of those things that needs a combination of warm nights (urban heat island and warm waters) plus good soil plus extra care (filtered water, acidified soil)?

I'm hoping to try Simon's suggestion of growing a bunch of lychee seedlings and approach grafting -- planted a bunch of seeds recently.

SoCal2warm

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Re: IS it easier to grow Lychee or Longan in Southern California?
« Reply #10 on: June 19, 2018, 03:17:25 PM »
Longan is definitely easier to grow than lychee. It's more drought tolerant and has a little bit more cold tolerance. Longan also fruits more readily.
Lychee trees can be very finicky in Southern California, and need to be consistently and adequately watered, especially during the Summer. They don't like it too dry, and have problems with wind also. Lychee trees are slow growing, especially very small trees, often a bit frustratingly so. They'll steadily and gradually grow but it will be at a slow rate.

I like lychees much more than longan though, and if you can get it to fruit and grow, the payoff is well worth it.

EvilFruit

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Re: IS it easier to grow Lychee or Longan in Southern California?
« Reply #11 on: June 19, 2018, 04:10:49 PM »
Not from SoCal.

Longon is certainly much easier to grow. I will also put Spanish lime and Raul's Spanish lime in the same category as Longan.

I had trouble growing lychee and lost a few plants because of my crappy soil but after applying sulfur pellets and green compost for three years, they seems to do much better now.
« Last Edit: June 19, 2018, 04:16:19 PM by EvilFruit »
Moh'd