Growing Lychee in Australia: The Complete Guide
Lychee is a moderate to hard subtropical fruit tree to grow, needing full , warm, sheltered sun with regular, then reduce before flowering watering.
Lychee is one of the moderate to hard additions to a home garden, and this article walks through everything behind our one-page printable guide in a bit more depth.
Needs a cool, dry winter trigger
Lychees flower best after a period of cool, relatively dry winter weather — a genuine seasonal contrast, similar in principle to mango, is important for a reliable crop.
Getting Lychee Into the Ground
Method — plant with the root flare at soil level; stake young trees. Soil — well-drained, slightly acidic, high organic matter. Timing — plant in spring, in a warm, sheltered, frost-free position.
Keeping It Growing Well
Worth paying attention to:
- Provide a cool, relatively dry period over winter to encourage flowering.
- Water well through spring and summer growth and fruiting.
- Feed lightly after harvest.
- Protect from frost while young.
Problems to Watch For
Keep these points in mind:
- Fruit fly — net or bag developing fruit.
- Poor flowering — insufficient winter cool/dry period; more of a challenge in mild, wet-winter zones.
- Birds and bats — netting is close to essential at ripening.
- Frost damage — vulnerable while young.
Picking and Keeping Your Harvest
Signs — skin turns fully red/pink and slightly rough-textured. Method — cut small clusters with secateurs. Curing — none needed. Storage — fridge, about a week.
For the condensed, printable version of everything above, head to the main lychee guide page.