Lychee tree

David says...
Spotted today Sah Keng Lychee cultivar, $55.46 at Cannon Hill Bunnings

David says...
Hi vv , By all accounts looks like this cultivar is roughly 30 to 35 grms in weight with high percentage of chicken tongue, so yes small seeds.

Brain says...
Wai Chee and Salathiel (and variances of their spelling) are known as smaller plants but all lychees are pretty slow growing so even if you got a type that has big size potential, it may take many many years before they get too big and you can always prune.

I got a Bosworth 3 (kai mak pink) that is like 50 cm tall and it took like 3 years to get 1m. It flowered but didn't really get a full size fruit until year 5 at 1.25m tall and 1m wide. I think the bigger the plant you can buy - probably the sooner to fruit.

As there are plenty of varieties out there, the question is finding them. Given in Qld at least, we have some good selections, so it might be worth considring buying and shipping from Qld for your favourite cultivar.

Anonymous says...
I know BJ is growing a couple of varieties in brisbane, should ask him next time he turns up.

Anonymous says...
BJ do you think the B3 is of a quality that it would earn a spot in the 'prime real estate' of a garden patch? My best spot has room for maybe two more trees.

BJ says...
Anon, it depends on what you are looking for in a tree. B3s virtue is in production and general toughness, although some here have found it not to be. For me it's like the KP of lychees. Something you can eat and there will always be tonnes around, but there are better quality fruit out there. I'd prefer to grow the types you can't really get cheaply and easily at the market in season, so Salathiel, FZS or No Mai Tze, but all of these are lower producers or are pretty well unknown in that regard and are a bit of a gamble. The other consideration is the bats. A smaller tree is easier to net...

BJ says...
Fitzroy in Rocky have them. They will ship but minimum orders of $100 apply. Otherwise I picked one up from TFW a few months back, but theirs are kept in heavy shade and have a tough time adjusting to the sun. An eBay seller often sells them too.

BJ says...
They usually have air layered. They are the primary suppliers for most nurseries around. Don't know what's in stock, but I know they do FSZ along with the more common types as listed on their website. Another to check out is Emperor or Chakapat, which is a dwarf with massive fruit. I haven't heard much about the seedless A2 lychee that Birdwood has, since we had a fruit club meeting up there last year, but I assume it will be a big hit once it is released, but I have a suspicion that it will be an industry only release for a few years......

David says...
Sah Keng does sound interesting though

Anonymous says...
BJ,

Tomarata Lychee orchard is worth contacting. Spoke to a guy just now and says he has some which are almost ready, but I think they may actually be ready. Sorry if that is confusing. QLD based too. Anyway call this no. (07)4193 9552

cheers
s

Brain says...
can anyone shed some lights on Sah Keng's growing characteristics?

BJ says...
The two local bunnings I've visited have Birdwood lychees but no variety indicated. I would never shell out the $55 asking price for an unnamed lychee!

Here is the sah keng info

“Sah Keng” was developed in Taiwan Province of China in the 1970s and appears to be a seedling of “Haak Yip”. It was introduced into Australia, but is not grown commercially outside Taiwan Province of China. “Sah Keng” produces large and small seeded fruit, with significant variation amongst trees in a single orchard. Fruit are available mid-season. Yields are heavy, but irregular. Trees are medium, dome-shaped with short, fragile branches. Leaflets are 6 to 8 cm long and mid-green. The new flush of growth is green. Fruit are large (30-35 g), heart-shaped, with purple-red skin. The skin segments are swollen and protuberances blunt. The flesh is soft and sweet. Seeds are variable, often small, giving a flesh recovery of 75 percent.

David says...
Brink of death ,yeah been there once or twice,paid off handsomely every time.

BJ says...
Has anyone spotted any Salathiel lychee trees around Brisbane nurseries lately?

sternus1 says...
I'm going to masters and bunnings tonight (carseldine and caboolture). I was going to ask if you wanted me to grab one for you while at either (if they have any) but I'm not sure you'd want a tree from either place, especially not at the prices they charge. I'm happy to do that if you want me to, though.