Vegetative propagation is essential. Cuttings have been rooted experimentally under mist and with the use of growth-promoting hormones, but this technique is not being practiced. After 2 or 3 months, the scion is notched 3 times over a period of 2 weeks and then severed from the parent tree. Patch-budding is preferred as having a much greater rate of success. If the trees are set too close to each other, they will become overcrowded in a few years and production will be seriously affected.
Irrigation is given as needed in dry seasons.
Light pruning is done only to improve the form of the tree and strengthen it. Rambutan trees should be sheltered from strong winds which do much damage during the flowering and fruiting periods. Harvesting In Malaya, the rambutan generally fruits twice a year, the first, main crop in June and a lesser one in December. In the Philippines, flowering occurs from late March to early May and the fruits mature from July to October or occasionally to November. The entire fruit cluster is cut from the branch by harvesters.