How to Grow the Longan Fruit in Florida

Harvested longan fruit stays sweet in the refrigerator for one week.

Longan (Dimocarpus longan), also called dragon eye, is a member of the family Sapindaceae. Subtropical in nature, longan trees grow well in frost-free areas of southern Florida. Trees can reach up to 100 feet tall at maturity, but usually average 30 to 40 feet in Florida. It is an evergreen, blooming in springtime with small brown to greenish-yellow flowers. Drupes of fruits are ready for harvesting in approximately four to six months after flowering.

Things You'll Need

• Rake
• Herbicide
• Shovel
• Mulch
• Water
• Fertilizer
• Pruning shears

Instructions

1. Plant the longan tree in full sun and at least 25 feet away from other vegetation and buildings. Shaded trees fruit less and may grow malformed. Consider the particular cultivar's mature height and spread when selecting a planting site.

2. Clean the planting site of unwanted vegetation. Rake away, remove by hand or spray herbicide on an area approximately 3 feet in diameter. If using herbicide, spray the area approximately one to two weeks before planting.

3. Dig a hole approximately three to four times wider and deeper than the longan's root ball. This loosens the soil making it easier for the roots to spread.

4. Plant the longan into the planting hole as deep as it was growing inside its container. Planting too deep puts undue stress upon the tree. Firm the soil around the base of the tree with your foot, releasing unwanted air pockets.

5. Apply 2 to 3 inches of mulch around the base of the longan after planting to retain moisture and block unwanted vegetative growth.

6. Water the longan after planting, being sure to saturate the root system. Water the tree approximately once per week, depending on your local Florida weather conditions.

7. Apply ¼ lb. of a 6-6-6 fertilizer around the base of the tree, one month after planting. Repeat the application every six weeks to two months for the first year. Increase the amount of fertilizer given to two- to three-year-old trees starting at ½ lb., increasing to ¾ lb. and ending at 1 lb., approximately every three months.

8. Apply 2 ½ to 5 lbs. of fertilizer every four to six months to mature trees. Apply before blooming, in late springtime and again before harvesting the fruits.

9. Spray the longan tree with a foliar fertilizer blend every three to six months, April through September. Select a blend containing magnesium, manganese, zinc and boron.

10. Prune only to control the height and width of the tree, or to remove broken or damaged branches. Longan trees do not require pruning, but keeping the tree smaller in size makes harvesting the fruit easier.

11. Thin the fruits when they are approximately ½ inch in size to approximately 50 percent. This will increase the size of the remaining fruits.

Tips & Warnings

• Longan trees have very few pest problems. If a problem occurs, use a product specially formulated for use on longan trees.

• Florida's soil is sandy and amending the site with organic material is unnecessary and not advised, according to the University of Florida.

• Longan trees are relatively drought-tolerant, but grow best and produce the most fruit and blossoms with regular applications of water.

References

• University of Florida: Longan Growing In The Florida Home Landscape
• Sarasota County Extension: Longan