The Brewster Lychee Tree is highly prized for its exceptional fruit flavor and high percentage of juicy sweet pulp in each Lychee fruit. Brewster Lychees are large for Lychees, with mature fruits up to 2-inches long. The vigorous trees naturally grow in a broad, spreading form with strong branches and medium green leaves. Brewster Lychee Trees make a beautiful, balanced, upright centerpiece for the edible landscape, with the added bonus of providing one of the most flavorful tropical fruits in the world.
The Brewster Lychee variety comes from the northern territories of China and it can therefore tolerate light frosts for short periods. The Brewster Lychee is called the Royal Chen Purple Lychee in its native habitat, and the fruit ripens to a deep red or red-purple. Brewster Lychees are one of the best tasting Lychees, with succulent, translucent, juicy white flesh that has a unique floral taste, the sweetness of a grape, and the slight tartness of a kiwi fruit. Grow Brewster Lychee Trees in the ground in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 9 to 11, or in containers within USDA Zones 4 to 11. They produce ripe fruit from May to June on 20 to 40-foot tall trees that like well-drained soil and ample watering through spring and summer.
While mature Brewster Lychee Trees grow to heights of 20 to 40 feet, and widths of 15 to 25 feet, they can be kept smaller through periodic trimming. Lychee Trees are self-pollinating so a single tree will produce fruit, but growing a second Lychee will increase fruit production. When planting Brewster Lychee Trees in the ground, plant in full sun with 18-feet of space between Lychee Trees and at least 12-feet between the Lychees and other large trees. Brewster Lychee Trees will not survive standing water, so be sure the soil in the planting location drains well.
Brewster Lychee Trees can also be grown in pots and brought inside when temperatures fall below 40ºF. The ideal container for root growth is at least 24-inches in diameter and 18 to 20-inches deep with drain holes. Water indoor potted trees when the top 2-inches of soil are dry. Use rich potting soil with 10% perlite and place the pot in a deep saucer to catch the drained water. Place indoor potted trees in the brightest window available and move them back outdoors in spring as soon as the possibility of frost has passed.
Brewster Lychee Tree Fruit & Harvesting
Brewster Lychee Fruits are almost perfectly round. The fruits have a larger seed than other Lychee varieties, but since the entire fruit is also larger, Brewster Lychees have a higher percentage of juicy sweet pulp in each fruit as well. The fruits first emerge after the pale cream-colored flowers as small green berries. The fruits grow in size and the skin becomes bumpy and eventually turns deep red or purple. In the final stages the skin bumps smooth out somewhat and the Lychees are at full ripeness.
Peel Brewster Lychees by peeling away the thick skin by hand. The skin can be split with a squeeze and the resulting opening pulled apart to peel skins away from the glossy, white pulp with ease. Peeled Lychees can be spilt with a knife and the seed removed. The seeds are not edible. Peeled and seeded Lychees can be eaten fresh, used in fruit salads, desserts, juices, and smoothies. The unpeeled fruits can be frozen whole for long-term storage, and peeled and seeded Lychees can be canned.
Growing Zones
Advice
Brewster Lychee Trees are fast growing and vigorous. Annual prunning can keep the trees strong and in a balanced shape. The Brewster Lychee Tree naturally forms wide spreads at the branch splits. This creates a wide canopy and thick interior branches. Prune the trees by cutting back 6 to 10 feet of the highest, widest branches. Do not trim out the smaller, interior branches and stems unless they are dead. Also cut out any larger dead or damaged branches. Pruning your Brewster Lychee in this way every year after all fruits have been harvested will help the tree perform at its best.
Brewster Lychee Trees can benefit from a thick layer of mulch to prevent excess weeds and to retain soil moisture for the feeding roots. Add 3 to 6-inches of organic mulch such as shredded tree bark, wood chips, grass clippings, or leaves to the area under the tree from the tree base out to the edges of the widest reaching branches. Keep mulch at least 6-inches from the tree trunk. Pull mulch back to add fertilizer directly to the soil and water in well when fertilizing every three months in amounts suggested by the manufacturer for the tree’s size.
FAQs
When should a Brewster Lychee Tree be watered?
Brewster Lychee Trees do not have a water resting requirement. As long as the soil drains well, Brewster Lychee Trees can be watered deeply anytime the soil surface is dry down to 2-inches deep.
Do Lychee Trees grow fruit every year?
Mature Brewster Lychee Trees will bloom and make fruit every year, but they tend to alternate years of heaviest crops, with lighter yields on the years in between.
Are Lychee seeds poisonous?
Lychee seeds are never eaten. They taste bad and they contain certain acids that can have negative effects on the digestive system. They are, however, easily removed from the perfectly edible pulp of the fruits.
Is Lychee wood good for smoking food?
Dried Lychee Wood provides a sweet, aromatic smoke that is good for smoking meats and poultry, and it is often used to smoke duck in many traditional Asian Cuisines.
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