Sow a fresh rambutan seed as soon as you take it from the fruit, keep it warm and moist, and do not expect the seedling to match the fruit you ate.
Sow a fresh seed as soon as you take it from the fruit
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Seed | A seed from a ripe fruit, washed clean of pulp, sown within a few days | Do not let the seed dry out, and do not store it in the fridge |
| Warmth | Keep the mix around 77°F until it sprouts | Do not sow into cold mix |
| Moisture | Keep the mix damp, never waterlogged | Do not sit the pot in a saucer of water |
| Outcome | A curiosity seedling that may take many years to bear | Do not expect the fruit you ate |
A rambutan seed dies if it dries. Keep it inside the fruit at room temperature for a few days if you cannot sow it at once, then plant it. [1] Once the seed dries, it will not sprout. [2] A seedling is a slow start, and many never crop. [3] This is not the same tree as lychee or longan, even if the aril looks similar. [4]
How soon do I have to sow the seed?
Sow it within a few days of taking it from the fruit. You can leave it inside the fruit at room temperature for up to about six days. Do not refrigerate it.
How to sow a rambutan seed
- Eat a ripe fruit and pick a plump seed. Rub the pulp off so it cannot rot.
- Fill a small pot with a mix that drains, and press the seed in on its side so it is barely covered.
- Keep the mix damp, not waterlogged, in a warm spot near 77°F until a shoot appears.
- Give the seedling bright light once it is up, and do not let the pot sit in a saucer of water.
How warm does the seed need to be?
Keep it around 77°F until it sprouts. Cold mix stalls the seed or kills it.
What the seedling will not do
The tree from seed will not match the fruit you ate, and it may take many years to bear. Many seedlings never crop at all. If you want named fruit in a few years, buy a grafted nursery tree or air-layer a tree you like on How to Propagate Rambutan.
Will the tree from seed taste like the fruit I ate?
No. The seedling is a new tree. Air-layer or buy a grafted nursery plant if the fruit matters.
Sow it while it is still fresh, then decide later whether you want a named tree from a graft or an air-layer instead.
FAQ
How long until a seedling bears fruit?
Often five or six years, and many never bear. A grafted nursery tree can bear in three to four years, and the fruit will match the parent.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Comunicata Scientiae -
https://doi.org/10.14295/cs.v8i2.2114 - [2] World Agroforestry Centre -
https://apps.worldagroforestry.org/treedb2/AFTPDFS/Nephelium_lappaceum.PDF - [3] Department of Agriculture, Cagayan Valley (DA-RFO 02) -
https://cagayanvalley.da.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/rambutan_final2012.pdf - [4] Food and Agriculture Organization -
https://www.fao.org/4/ac681e/ac681e04.htm
This note is part of Nephelium Guides.
More notes on making another plant live in Propagating Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors