Rambutan

Where does Rambutan grow?

Found in: Africa, Andamans, Asia, Australia, Bougainville, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central America, China, Congo DR, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, East Africa, East Timor, Fiji, FSM, Ghana, Guam, Guiana, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Liberia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, Northeastern India, Pacific, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, Pohnpei, SE Asia, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South America, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, United States, Vietnam, West Africa, West Papua

Notes: Demo

Status: It is an important fruit tree in SE Asia. Trees have been planted in several coastal areas of Papua New Guinea and produce well.

Growing Rambutan

Cultivation: Trees can be grown from fresh seeds. The seeds are short lived so need to be planted fresh, after washing. Germination takes place in 7-10 days. Seedlings are not easy to transplant. Roots are very sensitive to drying out. Selected trees can be propagated by budding, grafting or air-layering. Seedling trees vary considerably in quality due to cross pollination. Trees are planted 10 m apart. Planting densities of 80-120 trees per hectare occur. About 1% male flowers are sufficient if enough pollinating insects are present. Some kinds need to have varieties mixed in the garden to get good fruit set. Twice yearly applications of organic manure are often used.

Edible Uses: The fruit are eaten fresh. More sour fruit are eaten stewed. The seeds are sometimes roasted and eaten. The seed can be used for oil. Fruit are available in cans and frozen.

Production: Seedling trees can start to bear after 6 years and vegetative trees after 4 years. Fruiting is seasonal. Flowering occurs during the dry season. The main fruit season is November to March. Fruit mature about 110 days after flowering. Where trees with only female flowers occur, male pollinator trees are needed. Fruit can weigh 20 to 40 g each. Fruit need to be harvested when ripe. A well maintained tree can produce 150 kg of fruit.

Nutrition Info

Rambutan Photos

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