Author Topic: Anyone's Florida Lychees Showing Color Yet?  (Read 3494 times)

Fiddler

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Anyone's Florida Lychees Showing Color Yet?
« on: May 12, 2021, 05:33:31 PM »
My lychees are beginning to show some pink. I'm rather surprised because it seems too early, but hey, everything in nature seems to be starting early this year! The Chuck-Will's-Widows in the nearby woods started calling in February, as did the Bobwhite Quail. These birds usually don't start until May. Global Warming?

johnb51

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Re: Anyone's Florida Lychees Showing Color Yet?
« Reply #1 on: May 12, 2021, 06:11:56 PM »
There's a big tree near my house.  The fruit started to change color about a week ago.  I ate one that was pink today, and it was still tart.
John

Tiberivs

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Re: Anyone's Florida Lychees Showing Color Yet?
« Reply #2 on: May 13, 2021, 05:12:06 AM »
Yup mine started showing as well. Keeping an eye for full color up closely now.



johnb51

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Re: Anyone's Florida Lychees Showing Color Yet?
« Reply #3 on: May 13, 2021, 09:10:23 AM »
Yup mine started showing as well. Keeping an eye for full color up closely now.


When they reach that stage, approximately how many more days do you think it will be until they reach full ripeness?
John

TheGivingTree

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Re: Anyone's Florida Lychees Showing Color Yet?
« Reply #4 on: May 13, 2021, 09:56:44 AM »



Neighbors tree...  ::)

Orkine

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Re: Anyone's Florida Lychees Showing Color Yet?
« Reply #5 on: May 13, 2021, 10:05:19 AM »
Color change is just starting to on one tree.

Julie

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Re: Anyone's Florida Lychees Showing Color Yet?
« Reply #6 on: May 13, 2021, 10:17:39 AM »





Still can’t believe this is happening! This tree has never produced a flower before!

palmcity

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Re: Anyone's Florida Lychees Showing Color Yet?
« Reply #7 on: May 13, 2021, 03:12:38 PM »
Yup mine started showing as well. Keeping an eye for full color up closely now.


When they reach that stage, approximately how many more days do you think it will be until they reach full ripeness?


The Answer Varies with the Variety of lychee...
Example::: If Mauritus it is ripe and delicious at that stage IMO as it has more of a sweet/sour/bitter hint that I really enjoy but the sweet part comes in very early with just a touch of pink so almost overripe at picture stage...

Brewster & SweetHeart I prefer a little more red as they are more one dimensional (sweet taste primarily) and the sweet taste imporves with color change to darker red.... If you can wait.... But try to get them  before the birds eat them...

Tiberivs

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Re: Anyone's Florida Lychees Showing Color Yet?
« Reply #8 on: May 13, 2021, 05:37:36 PM »
Yea they are sweetheart or so I was told when I got the tree you never know now a days. But I usually wait  till fully red if the birds let’s me. Thinking maybe a week or so for the first ones to be ready. I sampled one and it wasn’t ready kinda small not too sweet and a little astringent.

johnb51

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Re: Anyone's Florida Lychees Showing Color Yet?
« Reply #9 on: May 13, 2021, 05:46:29 PM »
Have you read the articles online about malnourished children in India dying from eating unripe lychees?  There's a chemical similar to what's found in ackee.
John

Galatians522

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Re: Anyone's Florida Lychees Showing Color Yet?
« Reply #10 on: May 14, 2021, 10:16:39 PM »
I have eaten "green" lychees for close to 20 years and never had an issue. I enjoy sour things and often sample a few when they start to blush red. Many varieties are picked and sold when half of the fruit is still green (Sweetheart for example). If I  recall correctly, the issue for those children was that they were malnourished (hungry) and ate a lot of VERY under ripe lychee with no other food for the day.

bsbullie

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Re: Anyone's Florida Lychees Showing Color Yet?
« Reply #11 on: May 15, 2021, 07:23:25 AM »
Have you read the articles online about malnourished children in India dying from eating unripe lychees?  There's a chemical similar to what's found in ackee.

This has been discussed before.  You should really read closely as there are multiple factors involved but in any event,  its toxins found in lychee seeds.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2019/06/13/health/encephalitis-india-outbreak-deaths-lychee-intl/index.html
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bsbullie

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Re: Anyone's Florida Lychees Showing Color Yet?
« Reply #12 on: May 15, 2021, 07:25:08 AM »
I have eaten "green" lychees for close to 20 years and never had an issue. I enjoy sour things and often sample a few when they start to blush red. Many varieties are picked and sold when half of the fruit is still green (Sweetheart for example). If I  recall correctly, the issue for those children was that they were malnourished (hungry) and ate a lot of VERY under ripe lychee with no other food for the day.

Plus I doubt you have been eating the seeds. ..
- Rob

pineislander

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Re: Anyone's Florida Lychees Showing Color Yet?
« Reply #13 on: May 15, 2021, 07:32:23 AM »
Lee County SWFL on Pine Island starting to color up but bumps not smoothing out yet. I have eaten a few. Not sure of variety but was chicken tongue seed.

JoeP450

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Re: Anyone's Florida Lychees Showing Color Yet?
« Reply #14 on: May 15, 2021, 08:53:45 AM »



Pic taken today, of my sweetheart.


-Joe

bsbullie

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Re: Anyone's Florida Lychees Showing Color Yet?
« Reply #15 on: May 15, 2021, 09:44:12 AM »



Pic taken today, of my sweetheart.


-Joe

You are in the time window, you should pick one, let it cool off and try it.
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Galatians522

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Re: Anyone's Florida Lychees Showing Color Yet?
« Reply #16 on: May 15, 2021, 11:17:35 PM »



Pic taken today, of my sweetheart.


-Joe

Those look perfect to me. I would pick them in a heartbeat. No telling if they will be there tomorrow with coons and squirrels around (no to mention people).

johnb51

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Re: Anyone's Florida Lychees Showing Color Yet?
« Reply #17 on: May 16, 2021, 06:12:25 PM »
Ripe and delicious!  They do have a rosewater flavor.  I think they may be Brewster, as they drip juice as you peel them.  Very big seed.

« Last Edit: May 16, 2021, 06:35:28 PM by johnb51 »
John

bsbullie

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Re: Anyone's Florida Lychees Showing Color Yet?
« Reply #18 on: May 16, 2021, 07:57:02 PM »
Ripe and delicious!  They do have a rosewater flavor.  I think they may be Brewster, as they drip juice as you peel them.  Very big seed.


A little early for Brewster.  Shape and arent right either.  Either Mauritius or Sweetheart or "Florida Hak Ip" (I think most know why I have it in quotes).  Post a picture of the seeds.
« Last Edit: May 16, 2021, 08:01:49 PM by bsbullie »
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spaugh

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Re: Anyone's Florida Lychees Showing Color Yet?
« Reply #19 on: May 16, 2021, 08:02:06 PM »
When do your lychees bloom in FL?  Lychees are still in bloom here. 
Brad Spaugh

Julie

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Re: Anyone's Florida Lychees Showing Color Yet?
« Reply #20 on: May 16, 2021, 08:43:50 PM »
Ripe and delicious!  They do have a rosewater flavor.  I think they may be Brewster, as they drip juice as you peel them.  Very big seed.


A little early for Brewster.  Shape and arent right either.  Either Mauritius or Sweetheart or "Florida Hak Ip" (I think most know why I have it in quotes).  Post a picture of the seeds.

My tree is a Brewster and the fruit looks very similar to this.  I tried one today and it didn't seem fully ripe yet but it looks red.  I'll keep tasting the fruit one at a time to see when they're ready.

bsbullie

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Re: Anyone's Florida Lychees Showing Color Yet?
« Reply #21 on: May 16, 2021, 08:56:22 PM »
Ripe and delicious!  They do have a rosewater flavor.  I think they may be Brewster, as they drip juice as you peel them.  Very big seed.


A little early for Brewster.  Shape and arent right either.  Either Mauritius or Sweetheart or "Florida Hak Ip" (I think most know why I have it in quotes).  Post a picture of the seeds.

My tree is a Brewster and the fruit looks very similar to this.  I tried one today and it didn't seem fully ripe yet but it looks red.  I'll keep tasting the fruit one at a time to see when they're ready.

Brewsters are more oval in shape and s distinct deep darker red color.  They also come in at the end or after Mauritius and Sweetheart season (but before Emporer).
- Rob

Galatians522

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Re: Anyone's Florida Lychees Showing Color Yet?
« Reply #22 on: May 16, 2021, 10:19:45 PM »
Ripe and delicious!  They do have a rosewater flavor.  I think they may be Brewster, as they drip juice as you peel them.  Very big seed.


They look like Mauritius to me. Brewster is fairly sour if the entire fruit is not bright red.

Galatians522

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Re: Anyone's Florida Lychees Showing Color Yet?
« Reply #23 on: May 16, 2021, 10:24:01 PM »
When do your lychees bloom in FL?  Lychees are still in bloom here.

I have seen them bloom from December to April in my part of the state. Typically they bloom in January and February. South Florida is usually 2-3 weeks ahead of us here.

mattyboydesigns

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Re: Anyone's Florida Lychees Showing Color Yet?
« Reply #24 on: May 19, 2021, 08:24:58 PM »
Almost... Squirrel knocked a couple off yesterday, they were still tart but really sweet as well. Brix was 20%