Also, I read that out of 14 different cultivars studied in the past 110 years in Hawaii, Kaimana had the most consistent bearing habit and produced heavily.

Brad

Thats what I was saying in that there are probably a lot of varieties that are unknown to us here. By the way, keep in mind, productivity of a lychee grown on Hawaii or down under will not have much bearing on the productivity here. As you know, productivity and quality can vary greatly even in SFla from city to city. county to county...

Rob

Sounds interesting. Might give me a reason to make a Frankies order again this year.

I had read that the number of chilling hours of a particular region had a lot to do with production.

Therefore, for instance, if Kaimana was fruiting well in Southeast Florida (harry's yard), as well as Hawaii (even less chilling hours), than I would do even better in SW Florida.

The lady at Frankie's Nursery said most of the varieties don't do well on the island, because they don't have enough chilling hours. But Kaimana and this Poamoho (a seedling of Hak Ip) variety have done well.

All in all, once I have a few varieties, something is bound to produce each year :)

Brad

Brad - did your readings give a definition/range for "chilling" hours ? I know sever winter cold in SFla can have an effect on fruiting as can late season (late Fall) storms that may contain damaging winds to branches.

Did it say anything about which varieties have a positive reaction from a "chill" (fruit production, size, quality, etc.)?

I would think the more trees you have planted, whether just one single variety or multiple varieties, will give better odds to have fruit production each and every year. Unfortunately, many of us have limited space and must rely on the odds of one or two trees providing our bounty for that short harvesting season come early summer.

Rob

im hoping my sweetheart bears again this year although weve been getting a lot of late season rain which isnt good.

they were amazing this year, sweet, sub acid with a floral aftertaste, they were huge and not leaky, golf ball size with mostly aborted seeds. no way comparable to any other variety i sampled, its on a whole different scale. im waiting to judge its productivity.

Mango Kush, I was wondering if the rain was going to screw up the lychees down south. All of my trees are putting out growth flushes right now so I think I might be out of luck for any fruit this year.