Rambutan Fruit Health Benefits and Growing Techniques

Rambutan, a unique fruits, might be the ones many might not have even heard of. But, those who gets its taste and knows its benefits; they find this fruits as one of the best fruit species. 

Let’s explore about this highly beneficial and nutritious species and learn how to grow them at your own backyards.

Introduction

Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum) is an exotic sweet fruit found in Southeast Asia. Appearance-wise they are red golf-sized fruits with lots of hair on its surface. From inside they are just like lychee fruits i.e. white sweet flesh with seed in middle. 

This fruit got its name from the Malay word in which rambutan means hairs. This name was originated from Indonesia and has the tag for a superfood as well.

The tree of rambutan can grow up to the height of 80 feet. They are found in different tropical regions like Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, etc.

From a health perspective, rambutan fruits are very rich in nutrients and antioxidants. This fruit has got lots of nutritional values with low calorie and has various diseases fighting elements.

Consuming 5-6 rambutan fruits daily will help you to improve your immune system, removes unnecessary fat, and allow a healthy digestion system.

Difference between Rambutan and Lychee

Many people think that rambutan and lychee are the same fruits. Although they belong to the same family from appearance-wise and taste-wise both of them are completely different fruits.

Rambutan is slightly bigger than the lychee and has a sweet, creamier, and rich taste. But, lychee has a slightly crispier and floral taste.

Apart from this, rambutan has many nutritional benefits and is believed to be healthier than lychee. Hence, many fruit experts prefer rambutan fruits rather than lychee.

Varieties of Rambutan

• Lebakbooloos
• Seematjan
• Seenjonja
• Maharlika
• Sectangkooweh
• Seelengkeng
• Seekonto

How to Grow Rambutan fruits

In order to grow rambutan fruits, a gardener should consider the quality of the soil, appropriate temperature, climate, water, and fertilizers. If you have proper knowledge of these things then it will be easy for you to grow rambutan fruits. For the first 2 years, you need to grow rambutan in a pot before migrating it towards the mainland.

Rambutan can be grown at an altitude of 1800-2000 feet from the sea level. The best time to grow the rambutan plant is between June to November. Also if the temperature and the soil quality are maintained then you can grow this plant in any part of the world.

The following are the steps that will help you to grow the rambutan fruit:

• Take a fresh rambutan fruit, extract the seed from the plant, and clean the seed.

• Take a well-drained pot, fill it with organic soil and then plant the seed in the pot. The depth of the soil should be 2-3 meters. Do not use a plastic pot, use a ceramic pot with having a drainage hole.

• A good drainage system is very necessary for a tropical plant so use soil that can offer a good drainage system. To enable a good drainage system you can fill the pot with organic soil amended with peat moss and sand. You can also use loam soil for growing rambutan plant.

• It will take about 10-21 days for the seed to germinate.
• Place the pot near a bright window or under indirect sunlight. For the first 2 years, the rambutan plant doesn’t require direct sunlight. Once the plant becomes mature and planted outside on the mainland then it will require direct sunlight for 8-10 hours.

• After 2 years the rambutan plant will grow up to 1 foot in height. At this time you can propagate your plant to the main field.

• Rambutan fruits will be ready to be harvested after 5 years. Once the fruit color change to red then you can pick the fruit from the tree.

The Requirement for Growing Rambutan Fruits

• Rambutan is a tropical plant so the ideal temperature requires for the growth of rambutan is 27-30 °C. You can grow this plant in any tropical or subtropical regions.
• For the propagation of this plant, you need a well fertilize the land. The pit should be 3 feet deep and should have a balanced mixture of soil and manure.
• If you are planting multiple rambutans trees then the distance between two trees should be 40 feet apart.
• For the fertilizer, you can use organic manure, or a mixture of urea, potassium, and potash.
• You can make homemade natural fertilizer by using cow dunk, neem cake, and compost manure.
• For the first three years fertilize the plant once a year and after that, you can use fertilizer every six months.
• Rambutan plant doesn’t require much water. So do not water rambutan plants frequently.
• It will be a good idea to trim the branches once the tree reaches a height of 10 feet so that the birds cannot make a nest in the tree.

How to eat Rambutan fruits

Rambutan are delicate fruits so it’s better to consume within 2-3 days as it doesn’t last fresh more than that at normal room temperature.

The white flesh part of rambutan is edible and to get to that white part you need to peel the outside hairy surface of the rambutan. Either you can peel it with your hand or can use a knife to cut it open. After removing the surface you need to remove the seed as well and then you can have it.

It is better to avoid eating seeds and peel of rambutan as they contain some amount of toxic components so they are unsafe for your health.

Nutritional Value of Rambutan

From each 100g of rambutan fruits you will be getting the following nutritional values:

Protein: 1.0g

Cholesterol: 0.0mg

Fat: 0.1g

Thiamin: 0.01mg

Vitamin C: 7.4mg

Sodium: 16.5mg

Potassium: 63.0mg

Calcium: 33.0mg

Vitamin A: 4.5IU

Iron: 0.5mg

Health Benefits of Rambutan fruits

• They are a very good source of Vitamin C. Vitamin C helps to produce white blood cell in our body which help to increase the immune system and fight against different diseases.
• It provides about 2g of fiber in every 100g rambutan fruit. It also provides some copper that will help to improve cell growth.
• It helps to remove the unwanted body fats.
• From a study, it is seen that the extract of rambutan fruit can help to protect your heart from various heart diseases by reducing high cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. It helps to fight various heart diseases.
• Rambutan has got anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. This fruit contains antioxidants that help to fight against cancer.
• Rambutan contains water that helps to hydrate the body’s skin and makes your skin soft.
• They are also a good source of iron.
• Rambutan contains fibers and half of the fibers are insoluble which helps in intestinal transit acceleration and thus promotes healthy digestion.

Health Benefits of Rambutan leaves

• The leaves of rambutan can be used as herbal medicine to provide nutrition and maintain the good health of your scalp.
• It helps to strengthen hair roots and prevents hair loss.
• The leaves are also used for preparing herbal natural black dye.
• It is also believed that the brew of leaves can be used as an alternative medicine for diabetes.
• The paste of rambutan leaves acts as a good pain killer.
• The leaves of rambutan are also used to control fever, solve digestion problems, diarrhea, reduction of blood cholesterol, and many more.

Rambutan fruits fun facts

• In every season rambutan trees can produce up to 6000 fruits.
• Cooking oil can be extracted from the seed of rambutan.
• After planting rambutan, it will start to produce fruits within 5-6 years.
• A paste made from the leaves of rambutan helps to nourish your hair.
• There are more than 150 species of rambutan plants.
• Rambutan trees can survive for more than 20 years.
• The height of rambutan trees can grow up to a height of 66 feet.

References

https://www.fruitsinfo.com/Rambutan-fruit.php

https://www.nutritionadvance.com/rambutan-fruit/

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/rambutan#other-benefits

https://www.agrifarming.in/how-to-grow-rambutan-fruits-a-complete-guide

https://drhealthbenefits.com/herbal/leaves/health-benefits-of-rambutan-leaves

https://www.softschools.com/facts/plants/rambutan_facts/1862/

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/rambutan/rambutan-growing-tips

https://english.mathrubhumi.com/agriculture/tips-for-farming/tips-to-grow-rambutan-the-gorgeous-delicious-and-moneymaking-fruit–1.3423132

I hope you have enjoyed reading this article and gain some good information regarding the rambutan fruits and its health benefits. Have you ever tasted this sweet fruit? If not then you can get this fruit from your nearest Asian market.

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