Lychee: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
How do you plant lychees?
Before planting lychee, check that you can provide a frost-free winter. This subtropical fruit tree suffers from cold, especially when young. In Belgium and other cold-winter regions, plan container growing with suitable bright shelter. A simple fleece cover does not make permanent outdoor planting reliable. Planting in the ground mainly suits sufficiently mild climates and sheltered sites.
In spring, choose free-draining soil that retains moisture, with sun and protection from strong winds. Allow room for the future canopy. Moisten the root ball, remove the container gently and avoid damaging roots. Dig a sufficiently wide hole and keep the top of the root ball level with the ground. Backfill mainly with garden soil rather than placing a concentrated compost layer underneath. Firm lightly and water.
For pot growing, use drainage holes and free-draining compost, with a container suited to the root ball. Gradually acclimatise a sheltered plant to outdoor sun. Keep the compost regularly moist during establishment without standing water. Mulch can reduce drying, kept clear of the trunk. Planting supports growth but does not guarantee fruit in a cool climate.
When and how do you prune your lychee tree?
When and how do you harvest lychees?
