Potted Longan Tree

 

 

This post summarized what I learned from readings and gardeners who grew these wonderful fruits in 2016.

 

Anne Ang’s potted longan plant.

 

 

First, there were not much written about growing longans from seeds.

Fruit trees from seeds tend to take too long to mature and carried an additional risk they would not grow true to parent plants (meaning -not able to fruit).

But I am happy to see some SG gardeners unfazed by common opinions and had already germinated their seeds for observations.

 

IRISSA LEE

 

LIEN LI 

 

Most gardeners would buy a grafted plant as did Ms. Anne Ang and cultivated the fruit tree in a pot rather than grow from seed.

This way, there is more assurance that the tree would bear fruits after 2 – 3 years.

Growing from seeds can 6 years to mature and another 2 years to see fruits if there are any.

 

ANNE ANG’s ROOFTOP GARDEN

 

 

Anne transplanted her plant to this pot which has a diameter of 50cm.

It was grown under the full sun on her rooftop garden.

It took roughly 2 years from the date of purchase to harvest day.

 

 

Gardeners advised not to bag fruits in plastic as this will retain moisture and causing rot.

Use breathable bags instead.

 

 

TIP –  Grow fruiting plants near flowers to attract natural pollinators like bees.

 

JASON ONG

 

Unpollinated flowers will drop and there would be no fruits.

 

 

Tips for growing longans in pots

 

1.  Pot diameter to be minimum 50 centimeters, and the deeper the pot is best for roots development
2. Full Sun
3. Slightly acidic soil with PH 5.5 -6
4. Well-drained soil, mixed with sand and perlite to aid drainage
5. Fertilize with manure is best every 3 months and water the soil well after adding this (all happy gardening blogpost)
6. First harvest fruits are thin skin, thicker flesh only from second-round harvest 🙂
7. Trimmed top new branch to keep the tree from growing tall