Dehradun
A late table litchi grown mainly in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, and called 'Dehra-Rose' in Bihar (NHB). Ripens from the third week of June, 80–90 kg a tree, TSS 17%. Highly susceptible to sunburn and fruit cracking.
Quick facts
- Crop
- Litchi
- Type
- Air-layer (clonal variety)
- Season
- All seasons
- Starts bearing
- Late, ripens from the third week of June (NHB)
- Expected yield
- 80–90 kg/tree/year at full bearing
- Suitable soil
- Loam
- Disease resistance
- Highly susceptible to sunburn and fruit cracking (NHB)
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
About this variety
Dehradun (NHB spells it Dehra Dun) is a late table litchi grown mainly in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. In Bihar it is grown under the name Dehra-Rose. NHB says fruit starts ripening in the third week of June. Other notes place it earlier, so go by your own trees. The tree is medium, about 5 m tall and 7 m wide. Fruits are medium-sized, obliquely heart-shaped to conical, and bright rose-pink when ripe. The pulp is greyish-white, soft and moderately juicy, with 17% TSS. A tree gives 80–90 kg. NHB says plainly that Dehra Dun is highly susceptible to sunburn and fruit cracking, so most of the work with it is protecting the fruit in the weeks before picking.
Should you pick this variety?
Choose Dehradun only if you can give the orchard steady water from late January until the monsoon. NHB says it is highly susceptible to sunburn and cracking, and split fruit cannot be sold. In return you get rose-pink fruit from the third week of June, 80–90 kg a tree. Pick Calcuttia if you want a late, sweeter fruit (18.17% TSS) without that NHB warning. Pick Bombai or Shahi if your area turns hot and dry before June and you want to be finished before it.
Sowing & cultivation
- Sowing timePlant in August–September, after the monsoon has set in (NHB).
- Spacing8 × 8 m square. Keep 10 m apart where the tree spread is large (NHB).
- Sowing methodPlant an air-layered (gootee) plant, 6–9 months old, in a 1 m³ pit filled with top-soil, 20–25 kg FYM, 2 kg bone-meal and 400 g sulphate of potash. Water straight after planting (NHB).
- IrrigationWater young plants often, in a basin. Stop irrigation four months before flowering. The critical period is the end of January to the start of the monsoon, while the fruit grows. Missing it causes fruit drop and cracking (NHB).
- FertilizerPer tree (NHB): FYM 10–20 kg in the planting year, adding 4 kg every year up to 60 kg on a mature tree. A mature tree also gets 2.2 kg ammonium sulphate, 1.2 kg superphosphate and 1.2 kg potassium sulphate. Give FYM, superphosphate and potash in September, and the nitrogen in two parts: mid-February and after harvest.
- HarvestingPick fully ripe fruit: red colour, at least 25 mm across, tubercles flattened and the shell smooth. Cut whole bunches with a piece of twig and a few leaves. For a distant market, pick slightly early, when the colour has just started to turn (NHB).
Soil & climate
Soil
- Suitable soil
- Deep, well-drained loam rich in organic matter. Sandy loam and clayey loam also suit (NHB).
- pH
- 5.5–7
- Irrigation
- Water table at least 1.5–2 m below the surface (NHB).
Climate
- Temperature
- About 21°C (February) to 38°C (June) maximum in litchi tracts
- Rainfall
- >125 cm, well spread through the year
- Climate
- Winter frost and dry summer heat damage the plant and crack the fruit. Constant rain at flowering interferes with pollination. Litchi grows up to 800 m, but does best at lower elevations (NHB).
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Bright rose-pink fruit on a medium tree, about 5 m tall and 7 m wide
- 80–90 kg a tree at full bearing
- Picks in the third week of June, after the May varieties are finished
Things to consider
- Highly susceptible to sunburn and fruit cracking (NHB). Split fruit cannot be sold.
- TSS is 17%, lower than Rose Scented (20%) and Early Bedana (19.8%).
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Uttar Pradesh
- Punjab
A water plan against fruit cracking
NHB treats sunburn and fruit cracking as a serious problem on developing fruit, and it names Dehra Dun as highly susceptible. Split fruit is unmarketable.
The causes are high temperature, low humidity and low soil moisture while the fruit grows, and heavy irrigation after a dry spell. NHB says the critical irrigation period runs from the end of January to the start of the monsoon. Missing it causes fruit drop and cracking.
So write the plan down before January: when each irrigation falls, how much, and who does it. Keep the soil evenly moist and avoid one big irrigation after the soil has dried out. NHB also lists growth-regulator sprays that reduced cracking. Ask your KVK for the current advice and dose before you use one.
At picking, sort out any cracked or sunburnt fruit before packing.
Where the planting material comes from
This variety is raised by layering: a branch is made to root while still attached to the tree, then cut away and planted. Seed out of its fruit will not give the variety back. Take layers from a known mother tree of this variety, or buy plants from a registered nursery or a government farm.
How it compares with other varieties
Every Litchi variety with a page on this site, side by side. The row for this page is highlighted.
| Variety | Best for | Starts bearing | Yield | States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bombai | An early West Bengal table litchi for fresh sale in the first half of May | Early, ripens first to second week of May (NHB) | 80–90 kg/tree/year at full bearing | West Bengal |
| Calcuttia | A late, very sweet table litchi for hotter northern areas, if you can give wind protection and water | Late, ripens in the last week of June (NHB) | 80–100 kg/tree/year at full bearing | Northern India, Hotter areas with wind protection and irrigation |
| China | A semi-dwarf litchi for Muzaffarpur-belt orchards where a yearly mite check is part of the routine | Ripens from the third week of May (NHB, Muzaffarpur) | 80–100 kg/tree/year at full bearing | Bihar |
| Dehradunthis page | A late, rose-pink litchi for farmers who can keep soil moisture steady through fruit growth | Late, ripens from the third week of June (NHB) | 80–90 kg/tree/year at full bearing | Uttar Pradesh, Punjab |
| Early Bedana (Early Seedless) | The earliest litchi for table sale or processing, when a regular crop matters more than the biggest crop | The earliest variety (NHB gives no date) | 50–60 kg/tree/year at full bearing | Uttar Pradesh, Punjab |
| Rose Scented | A sweet, rose-scented table litchi to grow beside Shahi for buyers who ask for aroma | Mid-season, starts ripening in the first week of June (NHB) | 80–90 kg/tree/year at full bearing | Bihar (Muzaffarpur belt) |
| Shahi | A heavy-bearing Muzaffarpur-belt table litchi, sold under the 2018 GI name 'Shahi Litchi of Bihar' | Ripens from the third week of May (NHB, Muzaffarpur) | 90–100 kg/tree/year at full bearing | Bihar (Muzaffarpur belt) |
Tools for this crop
The numbers you need next: how much seed to buy, whether the lot germinates, what the fertilizer bill looks like and what Litchi is selling for.
- Seed Rate CalculatorHow much seed your Litchi plot needs, corrected for the germination of the lot you bought.
- Seed Variety FinderFilter every Litchi variety on this site by state, season, duration and soil.
- Fertilizer CalculatorTurn the NPK recommendation for Litchi into bags of urea, DAP and MOP for your field size.
- Crop Profit CalculatorPut your seed, labour and input costs against the yield you expect from this variety.
- Mandi Price CheckerToday's Litchi rate in your nearest mandi, before you fix a price with a trader.
Subsidy and government support
Schemes that help with the cost of Litchi seed or planting material. Rules and the application route are on each scheme page.
Frequently asked questions
What is Dehra-Rose, and is it a different litchi from Dehradun?
NHB says Dehra Dun is grown in Bihar under the name Dehra-Rose, so it is the same variety under a second name. Do not mix it up with Rose Scented, which is a different mid-season litchi with 20% TSS. Ask a nursery to show the mother tree in fruit.
What causes Dehradun fruit to crack?
NHB lists high temperature, low humidity and low soil moisture during fruit growth. Sharp swings between day and night temperature, and heavy irrigation after a dry spell, add to it. So the fix is steady, moderate watering from fruit set to picking, not one big flood after the soil has dried out.
Is there a litchi that does not crack?
NHB lists Swarna Roopa, a selection from CHES Ranchi, as high in TSS and resistant to fruit cracking. NHB gives no yield or ripening date for it. Ask CHES or your KVK about plants and local results before you replace anything.
What should I do with cracked or sunburnt fruit at picking?
Take them out before packing. NHB says to sort out damaged, sunburnt and cracked fruit and grade by size, with one grade and one variety in each box. A few split fruits in a box spoil the others and lower the price for the whole lot.
When does Dehradun ripen, and why do notes disagree?
NHB says fruit starts ripening in the third week of June. Other notes put it earlier. Ripening depends on the year, the place and the weather, and the trade names are confusing too. Keep your own dates for a few seasons and plan labour around those.
Sourced from: Varieties — NHB, Litchi, Planting — NHB, Litchi, Soil and climate — NHB, Litchi, Irrigation — NHB, Litchi, Manuring and fertilization — NHB, Litchi, Harvesting — NHB, Litchi. editorial policy.