Planting fruit trees in Thailand?

By Submitted Message
Posted in Reader question
Tags:
March 8 2019

Dear readers,

A friend of mine is having a house built in a small village in Phayao province. There is a nice piece of land around that house. He wants to plant that part with all kinds of fruit trees. He called me: kiwi, lemon, orange, mandarin, peach, nectarine… and of course the well-known local fruit trees such as mangosteen, lamjai…

Does anyone have experience with that? And if so, where could you buy it and would like some tips.

Thanks in advance for the response.

Regards,

Adri

8 Responses to “Planting fruit trees in Thailand?”

  1. tooske says up

    You can buy young fruit trees and plants at almost any local market, plenty of choice and supply.
    Usually with a photo so that you can see what you are buying, at least if it has the right photo on it.
    Planting is not a problem, but keep enough distance in connection with the final size of the tree or shrub. eg for low stem mango trees 10 m apart, this seems a lot, but it is easy if you can walk between them later to harvest.
    Do get informed about how big your tree will eventually become and which species will or won't get along with each other. Some trees need to be planted as a minimum in pairs because of cross-pollination.
    Furthermore, a matter of keeping it wet and wet and waiting a few years before you can harvest.

  2. rori says up

    Eh, if I needed young Thai fruit trees, I would just buy them here in the village. There are 4 growers here for young plantings.
    Furthermore, I always come across many sales stalls along the 11.
    But we already have the following species on the family grounds.

    For coconut palms (3 species), date palms, bananas (6 species), longon (3 species), durian, mangosteen, mango (4 species), papaya, pineapple, rambutan, guava, lime (2 species) and lemon, all I need is the backyard, the front yard, or some locations further away.
    You will find them everywhere in a village. Also in Phayao I think.

    We do not have oranges, mandarins, etc. Peaches would still work, but we don't like that.

    We also have NO European fruit trees in Uttaradit. Apples, pears, plums. Is it too hot for this.
    I don't know if it is possible directly in Phayao where you live. Depends on height. Apples, Pears, Cherries, Plums etc.
    These trees drop their leaves in the winter, so they need 4 seasons. For a Thai, a tree without leaves often means that it is dead. So it is cut down and processed into firewood. If he ever grows taller than a meter.

    It is also not as easy as it seems to grow apples, pears, etc. If you start with 1 kernel or seed, you will be 5 years further before the tree can bear fruit at all.
    That's not the only problem. What is important for many European fruit trees is that they must first be grafted. (means to apply a good shoot to the rootstock. The second aspect is that the blossom must be pollinated by one and often another tree. Unless you put several species on the same rootstock. Then it CAN become self-pollinating.
    Otherwise you need pollinators. Butterflies, Bees or other insects.
    I know that apples, pears and plums grow in certain areas in Chiang Mai and Chaing Rai. But to start it yourself?
    To get really fruit bearing trees is a tricky one. Which is an option to bring grafted rootstocks from the Netherlands. These are 30 cm in size. Wrapped in wet newspapers and plastic, they will survive the journey. Whether they get through customs is another.

    I know a tree center near Diepenbeek (Hasselt) where they grow old varieties and try to keep them on the market. If you are interested I can try to find out the address. I think it is an activity of the Hogeschool Diepenbeek.

    There is also plenty to find on the internet about growing and grafting fruit trees and also which species might or might not flourish in your area.

  3. Harry Roman says up

    Ever brought a container with blackberry plants, etc. from Zaventem: no problem at all. Do drain the bowl of water completely because the security guards are allergic to liquids. Just as hand luggage. Explained everywhere and.. everyone happy.

  4. Daniel says up

    Rori or other readers,
    What are the import restrictions in Thailand for Fruit trees and plants/shrubs?
    Want to take some spindle trees and berry bushes in my suitcase.
    What is the risk I run if I do this?
    Please your response if you are familiar with this matter (import regulations)
    Thanks for the effort.
    sep Daniel.

    • José says up

      http://www.thaiembassy.org/athens/en/travel/17404-Import-and-Export-Restrictions-for-Travelers.html

      Succes

    • rori says up

      Take seed with you every time, such as flowers, vegetables (beef tomatoes, beans (fanse and white), celeriac. But actually taking something with you once is enough to get seed again yourself.
      However, I agree with Jose. Bringing shrubs and the like yourself is asking for trouble.

      But everything is possible. I would certainly not take it as hand luggage but in a suitcase. (shrubs, etc. without soil, but wrapped in wet newspapers and then in plastic. Not too crazy many 1 or 2 shrubs. A suitcase full seems to me to be asking for problems.

  5. Jack S says up

    I plan to do the same and a good friend of mine already has about 25 trees and shrubs in his garden. But then fruits from Thailand. Here is a website with beautiful pictures and descriptions of various Thai fruits… maybe that will give you some idea? http://www.bangkok.com/restaurants/thai-fruits.htm

  6. harry says up

    first of all I would not introduce any plants or seed because you can cause diseases and pests.
    in the us it is strictly forbidden to even import cheese!
    first take a look at what grows on your property and examine the soil fertility, and only then go to a garden center to see some DIFFERENT types of large and small fruit to see if they are suitable for your situation.
    even better is to do an introductory permaculture course online or take a look at the various thai facebook groups that are already about this.
    just doing something like that quickly leads to disappointments that are not necessary and, moreover, exotic plantings are not exactly easy.
    with a correct planting plan you can contribute to making the environment where you live more sustainable, because Thailand is lagging behind in this area!


Leave a comment

Thailandblog.nl uses cookies

Our website works best thanks to cookies. This way we can remember your settings, make you a personal offer and you help us improve the quality of the website. read more

Yes, I want a good website