Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum) is a fruit that tastes and looks similar to a lychee (Litchi chinensis).
Its name comes from the Malay word rambut, which means hairy, which pretty much explains its unique, bushy appearance.
This fruit is rich in iron, vitamin C, copper, and antioxidants.
Rambutan is a red oval-shaped fruit with a single seed inside. Its flesh comes in hues of white to pale pink, with a grape-like flavor that can be cooked or eaten raw.
They flourish in warm climates, making them suitable to grow in semi-tropical to tropical countries like the Philippines. They flourish in temperatures ranging from 21 to 30 degrees Celsius.
Rambutan can be grown from seed or seedling. If harvesting the seed from the fruit itself, the seed must be fresh, dry, and less than a week old to be viable for sowing.
It takes 10 to 21 days for seeds to germinate and roughly two years for the tree to be ready for planting outside if grown from seed.
Growing rambutan requires growers to feed their trees with nutrients. Make sure to fertilize them with potash, phosphate, and urea once they reach their sixth month and another when they turn one year. Increase the amount of fertilizer as they grow.
Expose them to partial sun for 13 hours a day as well.
Although it will take four to five years for them to bear fruit, with proper tender loving care, it will surely be worth it.