Litchi is exquisite – cultivate it and earn great profits

The right time for litchi cultivation is considered to be immediately after the monsoon, in August–September. If you want to cultivate it this season, then learn about its advanced varieties and the preparation for its planting through this article...

It is rare to find someone who is not familiar with the exquisite taste of litchi (Litchi). Just by looking at the litchi, anyone’s mouth waters. Still, one rarely sees its trees in orchards or gardens. Most people buy this fruit from the market. If you are a gardener, interested in new horticulture, or want to plant a new tree in your garden, you can think of planting litchi this monsoon season. After some time, when it bears fruit, you will undoubtedly be very happy and you can earn good profit from it.

Do note that after China, India ranks second in the world in litchi production. The fruit of litchi has a red rind, with white pulp, and tastes very sweet. Apart from eating it directly, litchi fruits are also used to make various items. Jam, jelly, nectar, syrup, carbonated beverages, etc., are made from its fruits.

When it comes to benefits, litchi contains appropriate amounts of vitamin B, C, magnesium, calcium, and carbohydrates, so consuming litchi is considered extremely beneficial for human health. Its demand is very high during summer days. The right time for its cultivation is considered to be immediately after the monsoon, in August–September. Let’s learn about its advanced varieties and the preparation for planting...

Advanced Varieties of Litchi:

• Shahi Litchi: This variety of litchi is a commercial and early variety in the country, which is becoming increasingly popular day by day. The fruits of this variety are round and deep red in color. Gardeners prefer this variety the most because it has a high amount of pulp, and the fruits on its plants are ready for plucking in May, when there is maximum demand in the market. Another great feature of this variety is that each fully grown plant yields approximately 100 kg of fruit. Moreover, the demand for this variety is very high in the country as well as abroad.

• Early Bedana: Like Shahi litchi, this is also an early variety. This variety is considered excellent for Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. The special thing is that it bears fruit regularly. Its fruits start ripening in the first fortnight of May. As an early variety, good profit can be earned at the beginning of the litchi arrival. Its trees give good yield for 20 to 25 years once fully matured.

• Muzaffarpur Litchi: Before telling about this variety, let us inform you that Muzaffarpur district of Bihar is the leading in litchi production in the country. From this you will automatically understand that this variety is very special in terms of production, that’s why Muzaffarpur district is ahead. The characteristic of this variety is that its fruits are pointed, and their weight is 22 to 25 grams. It is also known as the ‘Late Large Red’ variety. If you are from northern Bihar region, then this variety is the best choice for you.

• Rose Scented: This variety is considered excellent for the regions of Muzaffarpur in Bihar and Uttarakhand. This early variety is known for its high-quality fruit. In addition, it is famous for its distinct rose fragrance, hence it is called 'Rose Scented'. It is a mid-season variety, which begins ripening in the first week of June. Its average yield is approximately 80–90 kg per tree.

• Kolkatiya Litchi: This variety matures much later. The fruits on its plants become ready for harvesting in the month of July. Its fully grown tree yields for 20 years. The taste of its fruit is sweet, but the seed inside it is larger. The advantage of planting this variety is that its fruit arrives at the tail end of the litchi season, allowing gardeners to earn good profit.

• China Litchi: This is a late advanced variety of litchi. Its fruits are dark red in color and medium in size. The fruits have a high amount of pulp. Each plant yields 80 to 90 kilograms of produce.

• Swarna Rupa: This variety is grown in many places in India. The fruits of this variety are of normal size and have a lot of pulp inside. This fruit appears deep pink in color. Its fully grown tree yields up to 100 kg per year.

• Dehradun: This is a native variety that is mostly grown in Dehradun. The fruits it produces are very juicy. Its plant is of normal size and ripens in June.

• Seedless Late: This variety is not completely seedless, but its seeds are wrinkled and small. Its cultivation can also be successful in hotter regions, provided protection from strong hot winds and abundant irrigation water is available there. This is a late variety. Its fruits usually ripen in the third week of June, and it yields 80–100 kg per tree on average. The fruits range in size from medium to large, conical, and when ripe have deep black-brown flecks ranging from vermilion to crimson.

Suitable Climate and Soil:

• Litchi cultivation is suitable for humid climates. Even in regions with low rainfall but humid climates, its cultivation can be done. Litchi can be cultivated successfully in different types of soils, but loamy or sandy loam soil with a water table 2 to 3 meters below is most suitable. The land for litchi should be quite fertile, deep, and have excellent drainage. Slightly alkaline and neutral soils are considered more suitable for it.

How to Establish an Orchard?

First, select the land and plow it two to three times to level it. Plant the litchi orchard in a square pattern, that is, the distance between the rows of trees and between two trees in each row should be equal. Dig pits 90 cm in diameter and 90 cm deep at a distance of 9 or 10 meters. Leave these pits open for some time, then fill the pits with soil mixed with 40 kg compost, 2–3 kg lime (where there is lime deficiency), 2–3 kg single super phosphate, 1 kg muriate of potash, and 50 g themate per hectare of area. After some time, plant saplings in these. Get the saplings only from a reliable nursery or research institution.

Orchard Maintenance:

Keep in mind that litchi plants are delicate, so protect them from frost in winter or intense sun in summer. If frost is likely, irrigate the orchard. To protect young plants from heat and sunlight, tie reed, mats, or palm leaves on three sides, leaving the east side open. Also, ensure drainage for rainwater. Irrigate every 15–20 days in winter and every 10 days in summer as needed.

Fertilizers and Manure:

• Litchi plants begin flowering in 5–6 years, but good yield only comes after 9–10 years. The right time to apply manure is the start of the rainy season. After planting the saplings, apply manure in the first year as follows:

• • Compost or decomposed manure – 20 kg

• • Castor cake – 1 kg

• • Neem cake – ½ kg

• • Single super phosphate – ½ kg

• • Muriate of potash – 100 g

• Apply this manure every year in the same proportion for 5 years. Additionally, in soils with zinc deficiency, where leaves appear bronze-colored, spray a solution of 4 kg zinc sulfate and 2 kg slaked lime in 500 liters of water on those plants.

Tasks in Flowering Trees:

Till and weed the litchi orchard three times a year (beginning and end of the rainy season, and in January). Do not irrigate in winter. Begin irrigation when fruits are the size of cloves and during summer, water every 10–15 days as necessary. Do not irrigate when the plant is flowering. Stop irrigation when the fruits begin ripening. You can grow intercrops until the orchard is fully shaded, but do not plant irrigated crops between February and March, otherwise flowers and fruits will drop. By the end of June, definitely apply manure, because applying manure later may reduce fruiting.

Pruning and Thinning:

Generally, litchi does not require any pruning or thinning. While picking the fruit, part of the twig comes off with the cluster, which naturally results in light pruning. This ensures proper branch growth next year and good flowering and fruiting on new branches. Continuously prune dense, diseased, pest-infested, rubbing, dry, and unwanted branches.

Fruit Cracking:

Litchi of some early varieties – like Shahi, Rose Scented, Early Bedana etc. – crack when ripe, which lowers their market value. Fruit cracking is highly detrimental in successful litchi cultivation.

For the following treatment:

• 1. Maintain moisture near the trees after fruit sets.

• 2. When fruits are the size of cloves, spray a 20 ppm solution of the growth regulator naphthalene acetic acid at 15-day intervals. This reduces fruit drop and cracking.

Pest and Disease Control Remedys:

• Litchi Mite: When this tiny pest sucks sap, leaves curl and form a red velvety layer on the underside. Infected leaves form clusters.

• Remedy: Cut and burn affected twigs along with some healthy parts in June and August. Mix 30 ml of dicofol or Kelthane (18.5 EC) in 10 liters of water and spray per tree. Even if infestation has not occurred, apply the first spray in March–April.

• Stem Borer: These insects live inside the trunk and branches, and can be identified by holes in places.

• Remedy: Insert a long wire in these holes to kill the insects. Put 2–3 drops of 0.2% solution of Nuvan or Bhepna into the hole. Then seal the hole with cement or wet soil.

• Fruit & Leaf Borer: It eats both surfaces of tender leaves and bores into twigs. As a result, tender twigs wither and hang down. As soon as larvae emerge, they bore into fruit, causing immature fruit to fall.

• Remedy: Remove and burn twigs including the larval mine. Before flowering, spray 650 ml of 30% Rogor or 25% Matasystox dissolved in 1000 liters of water.

• Lichen: A white or green algae-like coating appears on trunks and branches.

• Remedy: In July–August, spray a 1% solution of caustic soda (10 g in 1 liter of water) on affected parts once.

• Gummosis: Especially in flood-prone areas, bark cracks, oozes sap, which later looks like black gum.

• Remedy: Peel and remove the affected bark. Apply Blitox paste on the cut surface. Ensure proper drainage in the orchard.