Longan - One of the Easiest Fruit Trees to Grow 

They’re relatively close. Most of my trees planted about 2 to 3 feet apart. For instance, the Capulin cherry tree is about 2 feet from the Kohala longan. I practice dense planting for the following reasons: - Lack of yard space (I have about 170 trees). - Our extreme climate actually helps to keep most of the tropical nice and small while still producing fruits. - The nearby trees, particularly the larger, more mature trees help to protect the younger trees from our summer sun/winter frost. - Due to the density of my trees, I water and feed them less, as the trees from nearby are able to absorb the water and nutrients.

@@TropicalCentralValley after seeing your videos I started practicing dense planting. I have an half acre but your method works really good for my area(South Texas). We have super heat and super hunidity. And for the last 2 winters we had 100 year freezing temperatures. Having them together saved most of them. They protected each other in the heat and in the freeze. I did minimal winter protection snd 98%of my trees made it. Your method works. Thanks for all the videos!

That’s awesome. Unlike commercial farms, as backyarders, we don’t have to make space for tractors and other farm equipment.

Definitely. Restoring the land back to nature, with a tropical twist.

Having close to 90 different varieties of tropical fruit tree in my tiny yard, I have not made any video specific to the planting of every tree and their soil, growing requirements. For instance, the planting and growing requirement of a Miracle Fruit tree is drastically different than a longan fruit tree, particularly with soil composition and sun requirement. Bear in mind too, my target audience are folks in California’s Central Valley where our humidity is next to none and soil is mostly clay. Having been to the Orlando and Homestead region last year, your humidity is quite high and soil is sandy, two attributes which tropical fruit trees thrive in. Assuming you’re in USDA Zone 9-ish, you should NOT have any difficulties growing longan fruit trees as they are extremely forgiving. To your point, not having seen any of my other videos, you were getting a very small amount of information about the ease (to me) of which longan fruit trees thrive in my climate, however, this video does mention that the flowers are pollinated by flies which I would think a viewer would try their best to attract flies (e.g. discarding eaten fruits, peelings around the tree). Additionally, the three types of longans shown in the video should give the viewer some clues as to how best to position their tree (e.g. Biew Kiew needs vertical space).

​@@TropicalCentralValleyyou should mention if they are grown by seed or grafting

Specific to my longan trees, all are grafted.

Thank you.

You’re very welcome. Glad it is working out for you. As the tree matures, the soil becomes less of an issue. However, you’ll still want to cut back on watering it during winter.

Thank you. I do not, and instead, rely on kelp meal for the potassium nutrients.

Thank you.

Thank you. There’s always next year for your longan, assuming the market stabilizes then. I’d aim for the smaller ones, that way, you can get two.

Although longan seeds do propagate quite easily, the main issue may be with time. If grown from seed, it may take 6-10 years before it starts to bear fruit.

​@@TropicalCentralValley do u sell plants?

Unfortunately I do not sell any of my tropicals. If you’re nearing the Los Angeles region, there’s a number of tropical fruit tree nurseries in the region.

@@TropicalCentralValley no I'm in norcal

There’s always the online nurseries option, though, I do not recommend it unless you work with a reputable merchant. Then there’s the option to propagate them from seeds as the fruits can usually be obtained from ethnic grocery stores.

From the description, I’m not sure about the variety. If it’s a medium to fast grower, it’s probably not a Sri Champoo. If it turns out to be a Sri Champoo, the flesh of the fruits have a tint of pink.

If this is the first year flowering, the tree may simply be “practicing”. Some of mine did this but eventually set fruits the following year. The fragrance of the flowers alone should be enough for flies and bees to pollinate if the tree thinks it’s ready for fruit production.

Definitely. I actually do take off all of the flowers of my various tropical fruit trees for the first year or two. To your point, doing so enables the tree to concentrate its resources into root establishments, something that is a must when growing these fruit trees in their non-native climate. Specific to your Kohala longan, I would expect the tree to be able to bear fruit at this point, as the Kohala varieties are quite hardy and very tolerant of our similar(ish) climate, though, it wouldn’t hurt to allow it one more year to grow its root and trunk system.

Thank you. Last year, I put a bunch of tropical fruit trees in the ground, including my Ruby Longan. Here’s a video that covers the process: Planting Lemon Drop Mangosteen, Miracle Berry, Ruby Longan and Various Mango Fruit Trees ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-mMYnwPC4_AU.html

I actually have never dug up and transplanted a longan tree. That said, the container grown longan trees have been performing wonderfully when planted in the ground.

I can’t speak for other climate/region, but specific to the Central Valley, the Kohala variety fruits the earliest during the year, as the variety was developed in Hawaii. The Thai varieties seem to fruit at a later month.

Yes, many of my longan fruit trees are in containers.

It will certainly help a little, however, I don’t find that to be necessary. Attracting flies and other pollinators may be a better strategy for ensuring maximum fruit production, however, I don’t find it to be necessary as the flowers are super fragrant and does an excellent job of attracting pollinators.

@@TropicalCentralValley Thank you for that insight!

You’re very welcome.

Thank you. In addition to the Kohala, Sri Champoo and Biew Kiew longan varieties shown in my video, I have not tried the Edal variety. From the taste between the three varieties that I have, I really can’t tell the difference.

Unfortunately, I have not, though I have heard of them.

Thank you. If you’re nearing the Los Angeles region, there’s actually a good number of tropical fruit tree nurseries in the area. Here’s some videos I did touring some of them: Champa Nursery - Spring 2022 Tour ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-o1-Adgg5DKQ.html Emily Garden Nursery - Spring 2022 Tour ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-gn1JDiz-riA.html Mimosa Nursery - Spring 2022 Tour ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-YfOMOSsuGIo.html

Champs nursery is the best for tropical fruits but there are Vietnamese stores in garden grove with 5-6’ Logan trees w fruits hanging on them for roughly $150-180

I agree. Champa has large selection of the same items. For example, they likely have dozens of longan trees. Concerning the purchasing of trees from non-nurseries, I find they often charge more when compared to nurseries, but it’s worth a try.

During the fall season is the only time I perform any strategic pruning.

I’ve not paid much attention to the visual characteristics of the various longan varieties. The only times I inspect the foliage is to inspect the overall health of the tree, particularly if it is deficient in nutrients.

Thank you. Certainly, in previous years, I have had local viewers stopped by to look and pick fruits from my trees. Please feel free to contact me on Instagram at TropicalCentralValley.

Your best option would be the various tropical fruit tree nurseries in the Los Angeles area. Alternatively, the growing from seeds from fresh fruits is another option.

None. As they are longan trees, it’ll take them decades before the trees become productive. In the interim, the tree will produce a few batches of fruits here and there.

No, including my seedling longans. They do great here.

@@TropicalCentralValley perfect thank you

In their native climate, about 5 years. In the Central Valley, realistically, 8 years.

Assuming your longan tree was grafted, it should have bear fruits by now. If it was grown from seeds, it may take a while before the tree produces fruits. Tried increasing your phosphorus and potassium when the tree flowers?

I have one in a 20 gallon as well as a 25 gallon.

I do. My containerized Kohala and Biew Kiew are fruiting.

@@TropicalCentralValley wow , that's really inspired. how large is container? how many years in the container?

20 gallon, going 2 years now.

@@TropicalCentralValley cool got it from Mimosa? what's the original size? I am Norcal, thinking either buy 3 gallon shipping or drive to get a large size ...

Yes, from Mimosa. Originally in a 7 gallon. They grow slowly, so my 20 gallon should last the trees for about 5-8 years before having to be upsized.

What a coincidence. I just released a video today that touches on this topic: When Will My Tropical Fruit Trees Produce Fruits in California's Central Valley? ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-WycvrTMkV3k.html Specific to longan trees grown from seeds, they typically do not take more than 6 years before producing fruits. That said, it also depends on the variety as well. For instance, my grafted Biew Kiew and Sri Champoo longan trees are setting fruit this year, after 4 years.

I personally have not as I have not had a need to propagate my longan trees.

Unfortunately I do not sell any of my tropicals. If you’re nearing the Los Angeles region, there’s actually a number of tropical fruit tree nurseries there.

@@TropicalCentralValley we live in Merced

Looking at the driving distance, from Merced to Los Angeles, it’s only 30 more minutes of driving when compared to mine. If Google Maps is correct, the drive is 3 hours and 58 minutes from Merced to Los Angeles. For reference, it takes me 3 and a half hours from Visalia to Los Angeles. Personally, I think it’s well worth the trip.

Excellent point, if growing them in the tropics. However, due to the Central Valley’s harsh summers and winters, the longan and lychee trees grow at a snail pace, making them excellent miniature trees. The added protection from nearby buildings will also help to ensure the trees make it through winter and summer.

I know of the Ruby variety longan. They are said to be the sweetest varieties. I’m not aware of any regional nurseries selling them though.

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Yep, the grand tradition and all natural process of planting a seed which grows into a tree.

@@TropicalCentralValley thanks you

For practicality reasons. With any other color, it’d be like getting into an oven anytime you get into your car from May - November.

Where did u get urs

Assuming the tree is grafted/air layered, matured enough to support fruits, adequately watered/fed, receiving lots of sunlight, its hard to say. All of my longan trees do alternate, with some taking a break from fruiting every other year.

@@TropicalCentralValley where can i buy a longan plant

If you’re nearing the Los Angeles area, there are a number of tropical fruit tree nurseries in the region: Champa Nursery - Spring 2022 Tour ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-o1-Adgg5DKQ.html Emily Garden Nursery - Spring 2022 Tour ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-gn1JDiz-riA.html Mimosa Nursery - Spring 2022 Tour ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-YfOMOSsuGIo.html

Unfortunately I do not sell any of my tropicals. If you’re nearing the Los Angeles region, there are a number of tropical fruit tree nurseries down there.

Actually, where I came from, it’s pronounced “ลำใย”.

See my original response, but from seed, it generally takes about 6 years.

The pruning of a longan tree typically occurs when the fruits are picked. Beyond that, they do not require pruning, unless to maintain size or appearance.