How to Grow Longan? Detailed Guide to Longan Planting Methods and Techniques

SummaryBuild the orchard in a place that will not be subjected to strong winds and where cold air does not accumulate, choose loose, deep red loam, sandy loam, and similar soils with strong permeability and strong water and fertilizer retention for planting, ensure an adequate water source, and build good roads for convenient transport and irrigation facilities to ensure water supply within the orchard, select high-quality pure varieties for planting, build terraces before planting, dig the planting holes 1-2 months in advance, and plant when it is not raining in spring, summer, or autumn.

I. Orchard Site Selection

1. Terrain requirements: Choose an area that is not easily subjected to strong winds and where cold air does not accumulate to build the orchard.

2. Soil requirements: The soil is required to be loose and deep, with relatively strong air permeability and water and fertilizer retention capacity; it is best to choose soils such as red loam, sandy loam, yellow loam, or alluvial soil.

3. Water source requirements: Build the orchard in a place with an adequate water source. The quality of irrigation conditions directly affects longan yield. If water can be diverted and ponds can be built to ensure timely spraying and irrigation during drought, longan can also be grown on sloping land.

II. Variety Selection

When selecting varieties, decide according to market demand, the planting region, and planting techniques. At present, the superior longan varieties planted more widely in China include Chuliang, Shixia, Gushan No. 2, Shuangmamu, and others.

III. Orchard Planning and Construction

1. Road facilities: According to the orchard's terrain and topography, build main roads and tractor roads that facilitate the transport of fruit and fertilizer.

2. Irrigation facilities: Longan has relatively high water requirements. A complete irrigation system should be built in the orchard to increase longan yield. A pipeline irrigation system requires a water source, water-lifting equipment, a water storage tank, a septic tank, and water delivery pipes.

3. Building terraces: When planting longan on hills and mountains, horizontal terraces need to be built first, or holes can first be set along contour lines for planting and then horizontal terraces can be opened up, to improve the soil's water and fertilizer retention capacity.

IV. Field Planting

1. Density: The planting density of longan is best controlled at 30-50 plants/mu, and the plant-to-row spacing is best controlled at about 4.5×5m or 4m×3m.

2. Preparation before planting: The length, width, and depth of the planting hole are best controlled at 80cm×80cm×60cm. Fill the hole with topsoil, weeds, pond mud, garbage, and base fertilizers such as pig and cattle pen manure and chicken manure. When filling, layered backfilling or mixed backfilling of the hole can be adopted. Generally, after backfilling, it should be composted for 1-2 months before planting the plants.

3. Seedling selection: Choose excellent, pure varieties. The plants are required to grow robustly, have leaf color [as written in source], well-developed roots, no pests or diseases, and grafted seedlings should have more than two mature flushes above the graft union. When selecting seedlings, avoid choosing old and inferior seedlings with aging trunks and yellowed leaves, as well as seedlings that are too small in growth state.

4. Planting: Longan can be planted in spring, summer, and autumn. In spring, it is best to plant before the spring flush emerges and grows. When planting, it is best that after the loose soil in the planting hole settles and compacts, the root crown is level with the ground or 3-5cm below the ground, ensuring that the soil and roots can fully contact each other, and also water with enough settling water. After planting, water regularly to keep the soil moist.

It is best not to choose rainy days for planting. When planting seedlings with soil, do not break up the soil ball. When planting bare-root seedlings, try to spread the roots fully and distribute them evenly.