Lychee growers in Mareeba, North Queensland are expecting to start harvest on their lychees in late October, with the bulk of the harvest to begin in early December.
Currently, the lychee orchards are in the middle of flowering, with some of the earlier varieties setting fruit. The whole region has experienced a cooler winter than previous years, which is expected to affect the fruit set on some varieties.
Growers with the Souey Tung variety are forecasting harvest to start in late October, with similar crop volumes as last season. One of the newer varieties, Baitaying, has also begun cropping. Within the Mareeba region, most of the Baitaying plantings are only 3 to 4 years old. Crop yield is expected to commence in early November, just after the Souey Tung harvest.
Currently, Mareeba has small plantings of the Tai So variety. An average crop has been established by these remaining trees. It is anticipated that this harvest should start within the 1st week of November.
The cooler winter appears to have affected the Kwai May pink crop. Some crops of Kwai May Pink have flowered early. This associated winter chill and has led to a failure of this fruit to set. Later flowerings appear to be unaffected, but are 1 to 2 weeks later than last season. Most growers are expecting to start harvest in early December.
The Fay Zee Siu variety has also flowered, with volumes of flowering and fruit set varying between orchards. The variety Fay Zee Siu, by nature, is an extremely erratic bearer and hard to forecast. Most Fay Zee Siu growers are expecting only limited volumes, if anything at all.
Overall, the Mareeba lychee season is expected to be down on last season, but with better volumes becoming available in the weeks leading up to Christmas.