Where are lychees grown, and how are they planted?

Lychees taste sweet and delicious, are full of juice, and have translucent flesh; they are one of the most popular fruits in summer and have high edible and medicinal value. So, where are lychees grown? How are lychees planted?

1. Where are lychees grown?

Lychees are mainly grown in the subtropical regions of southern China, with Guangdong, Guangxi and Fujian being the most famous; apart from China, they are also cultivated in subtropical regions of Southeast Asia, Africa, the Americas and elsewhere.

There are many lychee varieties, including Feizixiao, Gualv, Lanyuehong, Nuomici, Dahongpao and so on; for some varieties, the premium lychees even sell for several thousand yuan per jin.

2. How to plant lychees

1. Orchard planting

A lychee orchard can be chosen on a sloping site, with the size depending on the situation; generally 3-4 mu of land is enough. The best time to plant lychees is in early spring and at the start of autumn, that is, mid-March and early October, at about 20 trees per mu. Because lychee trees grow to a height of 2 m, the spacing between trees should be as wide as possible, about 5×5 m. When planting, do not tread on the soil with your feet or pound it with anything; after planting, water thoroughly.

2. Reasonable fertilisation

Lychees need to be fertilised 3-4 times a year, with one application in each change of season. The base fertiliser per mu requires about 1500 kg of decomposed farmyard manure. Each time the leaves turn green, you can spray foliar fertilisers such as phosphate fertiliser and superphosphate. Half a month before flower buds begin to differentiate, 10 jin of high-phosphorus water-soluble fertiliser can be applied per mu as a top dressing. Before fruit drop, a high-potassium water-soluble fertiliser can be applied as a top dressing. To replenish the tree's nutrients after harvesting, a balanced water-soluble fertiliser can be applied as a top dressing. In addition, note that top dressing must be applied in the right amount and must not be applied at will.

3. Shoot control and pruning

Before fertilising, prune away some damaged branches or branches harmed by pests and diseases. The height of each tree should be kept below 2 m; otherwise, if it is too tall, nutrients cannot be taken up to the top. However, when pruning, note that pruning may affect the flowering rate the following year.

4. Pest and disease control

The main pests of lychees are beetles and others. Pests have a great impact on the quality and yield of lychees; if pest and disease control is not done well, the fruiting rate will be greatly reduced. Therefore, preventive preparations should be made. Generally, the first insecticide is sprayed around April, once about every 7 days, alternating Lichongjing 1000-fold solution, Anlübao 1000-2000-fold solution and so on. When picking lychees, pay attention to the pre-harvest interval for pesticides on the trees, observe carefully, and take timely measures once problems are found.

The above is the little knowledge compiled by the editor for you on where lychees are grown and how to plant them. I hope it can help fellow fruit growers; mastering the correct planting methods can double your harvest!