Lychee Season 2025

[BurkTheMangoLover]

Both my Sweetheart and Emperor Lychee are blooming. Is anybody else growing these varities? Are yours flowering? Share pics of your trees or of your crops from years past. Is there a variety you prefer? If so, why?

[Woodinitbean_ice]

I've got a 9 yr old sweetheart. No flowers this year, however, it's got LEM and it's a losing battle. I think I'm going to rip the poor thing out and put a mango in its spot. The juice ain't worth the squeeze I guess.

[Mysta]

I've got a 9 yr old sweetheart. No flowers this year, however, it's got LEM and it's a losing battle. I think I'm going to rip the poor thing out and put a mango in its spot. The juice ain't worth the squeeze I guess.

Did you try treating it with a concoction of alcohol, soap, and hydrogen peroxide? Worth the try if you have those things and you're pulling it anyway.

[BurkTheMangoLover]

I've got a 9 yr old sweetheart. No flowers this year, however, it's got LEM and it's a losing battle. I think I'm going to rip the poor thing out and put a mango in its spot. The juice ain't worth the squeeze I guess.

Sorry to hear that. How many years has it produced for you? How big is your tree?

[happyhana]

Alcohol, soap, and hydrogen peroxide? What is the origin and effectiveness of this mix?

I’ve only read about wettable sulfur and have been using this regularly on my trees. It knocks the mite back for a time.

[Mysta]

Alcohol, soap, and hydrogen peroxide? What is the origin and effectiveness of this mix?

I’ve only read about wettable sulfur and have been using this regularly on my trees. It knocks the mite back for a time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej-NJjEJJ6U

I actually apprehensively tried this on something that I thought was for sure a goner and it worked, YMMV but seems like a great last resort if someone is planning to give up on something.

8 cup - Water
1/4 cup - Teatree (Woods Tea Tree Liquid Castile Soap)
1/4 cup - Peppermint(Woods Peppermint Liquid Castile Soap)
1 tablespoon - 1% Peroxide(or 1 tsp 3% peroxide)
1 cup - 70% Alcohol

Think the idea is alcohol will break down the peroxide over time so you couldn't buy this 'pre formulated' and the soaps don't really 'mix' with the other ingredients and server to help over time(eggs/larva) while the alcohol/peroxide work to kill quickly.

[K-Rimes]

I had an unidentified mite issue on some of my pitangas and a similar blend of natural oils was what ended up eradicating them. I can see it being effective for mites of all varieties. Cool to hear that it worked for you!

[BurkTheMangoLover]

these threads NEVER stay on topic.

[Woodinitbean_ice]

I've got a 9 yr old sweetheart. No flowers this year, however, it's got LEM and it's a losing battle. I think I'm going to rip the poor thing out and put a mango in its spot. The juice ain't worth the squeeze I guess.

Sorry to hear that. How many years has it produced for you? How big is your tree?

It produced in 2021 and in 2024, both times the fruit was eaten off by birds and squirrels while still green. The tree is about 12-15 ft tall and has about an 8-11 in diameter trunk. The limbs expand outward about 6-8 ft.

[K-Rimes]

these threads NEVER stay on topic.

Engagement in your thread, even if slightly off topic, is still good stuff. We're not talking mangoes all of a sudden, still lychee!

To bring it back your original question:

This is my first year with producing lychee where I live! There are two seedlings in the yard which are 20 some years old and likely of Brewster descent. I look forward to seeing them produce, and regardless of if the seed is huge and flavor so-so, I'll still be eating them by the bushel.

I planted a Sweetheart at a client of mine last year, and I hope to see it put on some serious weight this year. I hear they're fickle here in CA, but I am hopeful. He is in a cherry climate here that is both a teensy bit cooler than the ocean adjacent zone, but not so cold as the mountains, so should get a nice chill hour effect for flowering each year.

[FruitGrower]

Both my Sweetheart and Emperor Lychee are blooming. Is anybody else growing these varities? Are yours flowering? Share pics of your trees or of your crops from years past. Is there a variety you prefer? If so, why?

I had both at one point but lost the sweethearts to LEM. No flowers on the Emperor sadly but I do have my first ones on Hak Ip. Can you follow up with a review of Emperor if you're able to get fruit?

[BurkTheMangoLover]

these threads NEVER stay on topic.

Engagement in your thread, even if slightly off topic, is still good stuff. We're not talking mangoes all of a sudden, still lychee!

To bring it back your original question:

This is my first year with producing lychee where I live! There are two seedlings in the yard which are 20 some years old and likely of Brewster descent. I look forward to seeing them produce, and regardless of if the seed is huge and flavor so-so, I'll still be eating them by the bushel.

I planted a Sweetheart at a client of mine last year, and I hope to see it put on some serious weight this year. I hear they're fickle here in CA, but I am hopeful. He is in a cherry climate here that is both a teensy bit cooler than the ocean adjacent zone, but not so cold as the mountains, so should get a nice chill hour effect for flowering each year.

I dont think its bad thing its just an observation. i appreciate the replies. Thats exciting to hear. Mine are still in the flowering stage. Have any of your trees started to set fruit yet?

[BurkTheMangoLover]

Both my Sweetheart and Emperor Lychee are blooming. Is anybody else growing these varities? Are yours flowering? Share pics of your trees or of your crops from years past. Is there a variety you prefer? If so, why?

I had both at one point but lost the sweethearts to LEM. No flowers on the Emperor sadly but I do have my first ones on Hak Ip. Can you follow up with a review of Emperor if you're able to get fruit?

Im concerned with all of these LEM cases. Of course i will keep you updated though. My emperor is still pretty small so im not expecting much this year but remain optimistic. Id love to add a Hak to my collection.

[BurkTheMangoLover]

I've got a 9 yr old sweetheart. No flowers this year, however, it's got LEM and it's a losing battle. I think I'm going to rip the poor thing out and put a mango in its spot. The juice ain't worth the squeeze I guess.

Sorry to hear that. How many years has it produced for you? How big is your tree?

It produced in 2021 and in 2024, both times the fruit was eaten off by birds and squirrels while still green. The tree is about 12-15 ft tall and has about an 8-11 in diameter trunk. The limbs expand outward about 6-8 ft.

Thats so upsetting Id have my 22 on stand by if i experienced that sort of heart break. Thank you for the reply though. My mango trees do pretty well here and are very easy to care for. It sounds corny but they really do seem to thrive off of neglect. I wish you and your plants well moving forward. Im a little concerned hearing about all of these cases of LEM. Lychee is one of my favorite fruits so i will be crushed if im not able to keep my trees healthy.

[K-Rimes]

these threads NEVER stay on topic.

Engagement in your thread, even if slightly off topic, is still good stuff. We're not talking mangoes all of a sudden, still lychee!

To bring it back your original question:

This is my first year with producing lychee where I live! There are two seedlings in the yard which are 20 some years old and likely of Brewster descent. I look forward to seeing them produce, and regardless of if the seed is huge and flavor so-so, I'll still be eating them by the bushel.

I planted a Sweetheart at a client of mine last year, and I hope to see it put on some serious weight this year. I hear they're fickle here in CA, but I am hopeful. He is in a cherry climate here that is both a teensy bit cooler than the ocean adjacent zone, but not so cold as the mountains, so should get a nice chill hour effect for flowering each year.

I dont think its bad thing its just an observation. i appreciate the replies. Thats exciting to hear. Mine are still in the flowering stage. Have any of your trees started to set fruit yet?

The flowers have not opened yet here, so I am still waiting on that. It is exciting for me, never had unlimited lychee!

[Woodinitbean_ice]

I've got a 9 yr old sweetheart. No flowers this year, however, it's got LEM and it's a losing battle. I think I'm going to rip the poor thing out and put a mango in its spot. The juice ain't worth the squeeze I guess.

Sorry to hear that. How many years has it produced for you? How big is your tree?

It produced in 2021 and in 2024, both times the fruit was eaten off by birds and squirrels while still green. The tree is about 12-15 ft tall and has about an 8-11 in diameter trunk. The limbs expand outward about 6-8 ft.

Thats so upsetting Id have my 22 on stand by if i experienced that sort of heart break. Thank you for the reply though. My mango trees do pretty well here and are very easy to care for. It sounds corny but they really do seem to thrive off of neglect. I wish you and your plants well moving forward. Im a little concerned hearing about all of these cases of LEM. Lychee is one of my favorite fruits so i will be crushed if im not able to keep my trees healthy.

I've actually considered that but alas LEM is taking over. Do you think the state will ever have enough initiative to attempt to eradicate it again? I feel like among all fruits mangos are a great example of putting in minimal effort for a good return- fertilize, prune, and spray and youre good. Let me stay on topic though, to get my tree to fruit in 2024 I put ice at the base of its roots everytime the temp went below 50. I thionk Julian Lara shared this trick. Whether or not the tree flowered because of it I couldn't say but it's easy and inexpensive.

[dolomis]

Hey folks I have one emperor in Okeechobee still in a pot  I think 6/8 gallons and it’s doing great it’s been in dappled shade and its really been ignored for long while’s since I travel for work. In Stuart I have a Mauritius that I’ve put in the ground since last year. It started out great right before the hurricane. It’s been struggling since to bounce back I’ve recently added some shade to it and I can already see the difference with pushing a new flush. I do have a major pest thankfully it’s not LeM, but I can’t find anything seeming to work against these guy except manual squish. They are small white beetles and they eat the leaves I believe called Sri Lankan weevils.
Any help would be greatly appreciated thanks.

[Galatians522]

Brewster, Mauritius, Sweet Heart, Hak Ip (Florida Hak Ip), Sweet Song, Sweet Cliff, Bengal, and Emperor are all flowering. Some trees more than others.

Sweet Heart is an improved version of Florida Hak Ip. I say "Florida Hak Ip" because it is mislabeled here and has been for so long that there is no fixing it now. The real Hak Ip is quite different, with Ohia being the most similar variety sold here in Florida.

Inspite of all the other varieties, Brewster is still my favorite as far as taste is concerned. But, maybe that is partly sentimental. Kiamana would probably take second place followed closely by Bosworth 3.

I find it highly unlikely that the alcohol/peroxide concoction will be effective on the mite due to the wooly erinum that they hide in. However, if anyone tries it and it works, let me know. Even sulfur will not kill them in the erinum. You have to cut that out and burn it and then spray the tree for escapees.

[Rain]

Im growing Sweetheart. Planted last year. It survived the snow but in rough shape. I dont think it will produce anything soon lol

[Galatians522]

Hey folks I have one emperor in Okeechobee still in a pot  I think 6/8 gallons and it’s doing great it’s been in dappled shade and its really been ignored for long while’s since I travel for work. In Stuart I have a Mauritius that I’ve put in the ground since last year. It started out great right before the hurricane. It’s been struggling since to bounce back I’ve recently added some shade to it and I can already see the difference with pushing a new flush. I do have a major pest thankfully it’s not LeM, but I can’t find anything seeming to work against these guy except manual squish. They are small white beetles and they eat the leaves I believe called Sri Lankan weevils.
Any help would be greatly appreciated thanks.

Sri lanken weevil has gotten to be a major problem. Bifenthrin will kill the adults but not the weevils in the ground. The adults mainly do cosmetic damage. The weevils are what hurt the tree. There is also a nematode that you can buy that supposedly attacks the grubs and eats them in the ground. It has to be washed in live and the ground kept moist. I am sure there is someone selling it online.

[dolomis]

Thanks I was just reading that and I prefer the nematode method for sure. I was also reading vinegar will instantly kill the larvae weevil but I’m not sure about dousing the dirt with that

[Galatians522]

Thanks I was just reading that and I prefer the nematode method for sure. I was also reading vinegar will instantly kill the larvae weevil but I’m not sure about dousing the dirt with that

If you use enough to kill all the larvae in the soil, I guessing that you stand a good chance of killing a lot of roots as well. Vinegar can also be used as an herbicide.

In some locations (particularly on ridge sites) there is a natural population of nematodes that keeps the weevil in balance. There is some damage, but not enough to be concerning. Off the ridge there are fewer nematodes and the weevil tends to get out of control more.

[dolomis]

When you say ridge what are you referring to as I have no clue

[Galatians522]

When you say ridge what are you referring to as I have no clue

Sorry, I guess I've lived here for too long. I'm talking about the Lake Wales Ridge. You can pull up a map showing where it is on the internet. Your property is not on the "ridge" and would be considered flatwoods.

[dolomis]

Yea not near by there but I noticed I don’t have them in Okeechobee location thank jimeny crickets  guess it could be due to the creek and I’m in a low area?

Also down the road from new neighbors just put huge orchard over 100,000 trees- and adding- of different varieties which I think includes lyche.  im thinking it’s just a matter of time till large amounts of pest start showing up