What season does the evergreen tree rambutan fruit belong to? When does it ripen and hit the market? What is the market price per jin? Which regions are suitable for growing it?
Rambutan, also known as hairy lychee, hairy longan, and shaozi, is a common evergreen tree in Hainan and Xishuangbanna, Yunnan in China. Because its appearance and taste resemble lychee, it is called hairy lychee. So what season does rambutan fruit belong to? When does it ripen and hit the market? What is the market price per jin? Which regions are suitable for growing it?
What season is the fruit?
The ripening time of rambutan is from June to August, which means rambutan is a fruit of late summer and early autumn.
Ripening and market time:
The ripening season of rambutan is from June to August. Rambutan ripens in batches, and the harvest period can last a long time, generally up to 3 months. If affected by a typhoon, it may be delayed by 1-2 months before hitting the market.
Latest market price:
The price of rambutan is about 18-22 yuan per jin, and supermarkets usually sell it for about 20-30 yuan per jin. Rambutan is usually much more expensive than lychee, and now foreign rambutan can be bought online. For example, rambutan shipped from Thailand and Vietnam is priced relatively higher, and it is all sold in specifications of about 3-5 jin.
Suitable planting regions:
Rambutan originated in the Malay Archipelago, and now it is grown on a certain scale in Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and other places. In China, the region where rambutan can be planted on a relatively large area is Hainan Province, and Baoting County, which has a mountainous rainforest climate, is the most suitable. In other places, such as parts of Sanya, Lingshui, Ledong and other cities and counties, it is only partially planted.
Planting techniques:
1. Temperature
It likes high temperature and humidity, no wind damage, and a low-altitude mountainous environment. An annual average temperature above 24°C and a temperature in the coldest month higher than 17°C are suitable for the growth and development of rambutan. Rambutan seedlings are not drought-tolerant and require appropriately increased water management. The fruit development period has the greatest water demand. Therefore, the annual rainfall in the cultivation area is required to be above 1800 mm.
2. Soil
The soil should preferably have a deep soil layer, be rich in organic matter, fertile and loose, and have good drainage and aeration. The soil pH value is between 4.5-6.5. Alluvial soil is the best; alluvial soil refers to soil developed on river alluvium, generally with a relatively short soil-forming time, indistinct development horizons, and relatively high soil fertility.
3. Water and fertilizer
In the first month after transplanting the young shoots, it is necessary to water once a day at a fixed time, just enough to keep it moist, and water whenever the soil surface is dry. In the second month, when the small seedlings put out their first flush of new leaves, weed the nutrient bags and loosen the soil between the rows. When weeding, prevent damage to the roots. In terms of fertilizer, apply a light water-soluble fertilizer once a month.