01 · SOIL HEALTH
DOLOMITE & ACIDITY
Heavy Kerala rain washes minerals out of the soil and leaves it sour, and sour soil stops roots taking up food. Add lime or dolomite once a year so the compost you add actually reaches the roots.
PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE
SECRETS OF THE SOIL — Kerala Fruit Gardening Tips & Orchard Care
Tried on our own beds first: simple fruit-growing advice for Kerala’s soil, rain and heat.
02 · MOISTURE SHIELD
THE ART OF MULCHING
Before summer, spread dry leaves around the tree, a foot clear of the trunk. The mulch holds moisture and keeps roots cool. Rake it away when the monsoon sets in.
03 · TREE DISTANCE
ORCHARD SPACING
Leave 22 to 25 feet between rambutan trees. Crowded trees grow tall with little fruit, while open spacing lets air move and keeps fungal problems down.
NATURAL PLANT CARE
Living soil grows sweet fruit. Never spray strong chemicals while the trees are in flower — the bees and good insects are working for you. A little regular attention pays back for a lifetime.
FULL GUIDES
Growing rambutan, step by step
Is your plot different from the notes above?
Send us a photo of the tree and the soil around it, and we will tell you which of these to change first.