This Litchee tree was planted ten years ago, and it has grown quite tall. But it seems to be what gardeners of old used to call 'barren'. I have done everything to persuade it to flower- given it cow manure, sheep manure, compost, plenty of water, withheld water, and even chemical fertilizer, to no avail. I have talked to it for days on end, my gardener has scolded it and beaten it with a broom- but it has remained fruit and flower challenged. Being a teacher, I don't have the heart to discard it , as it might be ' differently abled'. it seems to have a companion- the Common Jay which is shown below.
This butterfly circles the top of the Litchee tree throughout the day, chasing away any other butterflies. I hav observed it chase away Crimson Rose butterflies, Common mormons and even the huge Blue Mormon! It comes down once in a while to visit the flowers and replenish itself.Do you know a way to make the Litchi tree bloom? Other Litchi trees are not so temperamental. My friend who lives in the next block , gets basketfuls of litchi fruit every year.
I'm sorry that your tree isn't producing as you'd like it to. I'd be disappointed too. But you always seem to find a bright side to every disappointment, that's what I like about you :D
ReplyDeleteHmmm... I know nothing about the litchi tree. But don't fruit trees in general require a pollination partner? I mean to say that it's necessary to grow many fruit trees in pairs. I knew someone once who only planted one peach tree, and though it was lovely, nothing happened until it was suggested that he get it a mate. And then the peaches were plentiful. :)
ReplyDeleteBut if you have no flowers, either, it cannot be that...
I don't know anything about this type of tree. It seems like that butterfly is very protective of it for some reason. I guess it can't be a complete failure if the butterfly likes it so much :)
ReplyDeleteThis from a site on Lychee trees
ReplyDelete"Lychees require seasonal temperature variations for best flowering and fruiting, Warm, humid summers are best for flowering and fruit development, and a certain amount of winter chilling is necessary for flower bud development. Most varieties need between 100 and 200 hours of standard chilling (32° - 45° F). Cool winters with low rainfall are ideal for lychees. The trees become more hardy as they age. Mature trees have survived temperatures as low as 25° F when fully hardened off. Young trees may be killed by a light frost. Lychees can be successfully grown in frost-free coastal areas of California. There are trees in San Diego, California that are over 90 years old with no sign of decline in sight. It first fruited in Santa Barbara in 1914. They can be grown for a short period in a large container. "
Don't worry, it'd flower and fruit eventually. May be it'd take time. Try Panchagavya on it. I think I read somewhere that ghee instills fruiting, but I'm not sure this information is authentic, so I can't suggest it, but Panchagavya is known to do wonders.
ReplyDeleteKyna. thank you.
ReplyDeleteMeredith, your idea seems to be good. Maybe I'll plant a companion to my tree.
Catherine, I think so too.
J.J, thanks for the information. Perhaps my tree doesn't get the winter chilling it requires. But howcome my friend in the neighbourhood has it ? Maybe hers is an improved version.
Thanks again for taking so much pains to give me the advice.
JJ gives the best advice on your Lychee tree. If you can grow bananas well you should be able to grow it. They do require a lot of fertilizer especially after the flower buds have formed
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, but you're looking on the bright side, so that's good! Many of my fruit trees take up to 5 years to produce. It's difficult to be patient!
ReplyDeleteLotusleaf, when a tree is planted from a seed instead grafted, it can take much longer to bear fruit. Sometimes up to 15 years. When I planted Avocados from seed somebody told me that I had to wait at least seven years to get fruit. This tree was fruitful after 4 years, and the Avocados were yummy. (It stands in a other garden I made.) It could have been different because the seed is not reliable. When a tree is grafted it bears fruit straight away.
ReplyDeleteIn my area grafted Avocados do not grow well, to wet, but the ones from seed grow very well.
I have Litchi trees but not great crops. Hope your tree will bear when it is older, as you want to keep it. I hate cutting down trees too! They always have a certain purpose.
Some people on the island say to hammer a nail in the tree bark to shock the tree into flowering and fruiting.
ReplyDeleteThank you friends, for the valuable advice.
ReplyDeleteI know that our cherry trees growing up absolutely needed a partner of different type (Bing needs a Rainier) cherry tree to get cherries, so it is possible that this is the cause. Does your neighbor have more than one, or is there one close to her tree in another yard? That would answer the question. It is possible that your tree is pollinating hers, but not the reverse? (wild speculation here, no basis in knowledge on that point)!
ReplyDeletevery interesting comments and suggestions, i think a tree this size looks fairly aged, i'm guessing at least 5 years old...my guess is that if you didn't buy it grafted then maybe it was grown as a seed and will take longer to fruit and even then the fruit will not be garanteed to produce alot...if the rainy seasons also knock out alot of the blooms then the fruit buds will not set.
ReplyDelete