Lychee

Fruit setting, however, takes place in the latter part of flowering and is completed during the last 10 to 15 days. It takes about 8 weeks for the fruits to mature from the date of setting. Fruit drop is a serious problem during initial stages (2-3 weeks) of growth.

A spray of 10 mg of auxin dissolved in one litre during fruit setting stage effectively controls the drop. Fruit cracking is a problem during later stages of fruit growth.

• Litchi trees need regular watering and therefore it is essential that enough water must be available from the flowering stage until after the February/March flush following the harvest.
• Because the edible portion of the litchi fruit has a water content of 86 %, the availability of water remains important during the development period.
• A water shortage will delay development of the fruit and adversely affect the size, mass and quality of the litchis.