The N.E. Monsoon (Oct-March) and S.W. Monsoon (April-Sept)
play a pivotal role in the durian production cycle.
The common durian (Durio zibethinus L.) and many tropical fruit trees require a dry spell of about one to two months for flowers to initiate and develop fully into fruits. In South East Asia where the durian is "The King of Fruits", the durian production season is greatly influence by the north-east and south-west monsoons. In between the wet monsoons is the dry weather that triggers the matured durian trees to develop flower buds on healthy lateral branches. It usually takes about four weeks for the buds to develop fully into perfect flowers.
Durian flowers are borne in clusters of 3–10 flowers over a period of about two to four weeks during the dry season. The durian has a high rate of self-incompatibility and it is normal to get 20% to 25% fruit-set. Thus, cross-pollination is essential to obtaining good crops. Fruit development usually takes 95–130 days, depending on the cultivar. The tree must receive just enough water for proper fruit development.. Too much water will cause the tree to bear new leaves at the expense of the fruits. Under normal conditions, fruit ripening heralds the start of the rainy season.
The durian season in the major durian-growing countries of Thailand, West Malaysia and Indonesia generally peaks in the middle of the year around June-July as shown in the chart below:
Durian season in durian-growing areas in South East Asia including northern Australia
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| Thailand- major durian producer |
Durian growing areas in Thailand
Thailand is the major durian producer in the world and it's durian season generally stretches for about 5 months, from mid-April to September, because the durian is planted across the whole country. However, localized weather fluctuations and the various cultivars planted may hasten or delay as well as influence the spread of the fruiting period. The eastern provinces produce fruit from mid April to June-July, the northern provinces in June-July, and the southern provinces in July-September.
Hundreds of durian cultivars are planted in Thailand, but only four major cultivars are grown commercially. Cultivars Mon Thong and Chanee are the popular ones covering 90% of the area planted while the remaining 10% is grown with the cultivars Kaan Yao and Kradum Thong. The cultivar Kradum Thong provides fruits early in the season.
Thailand's 3 main groups of durian varieties
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Durian Season In West Malaysia
Durian stall in USJ 14
Annual rainfall and the monsoons of W. Malaysia
The durian growing areas in West Malaysia can be divided into 3 regions influenced by the monsoons and the change from wet to dry weather and the effect of a dry spell.
Region 1 or North Region covering the states of Perlis, Kedah, Penang and northern Perak has a wet weather from August to November and a dry weather from December to February. Generally the main durian flowering season is from January to March. Sometimes there may be a short dry spell about June which may or may not give a second flowering season in July or August according to its intensity and locality. The main durian fruiting season is usually centered around June-July. However, some localized areas in Seberang Jaya (Pantai Acheh) may see the durians ripening as early as late April. In Penang Island (Balik Pulau and Telok Bahang) and the eastern region of Kedah comprising Padang Terap, Sik and Baling, the durian season starts in May, peaks in July and ends in August. Northern Perak's durian season is usually in June.
Durian season in West Malaysia is influenced by the annual monsoons
Region 2 or West, Central and South Region compries southern Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Malacca, Pahang and Johore. This region usually has two dry spells of 2-3 weeks in January-February and July-August with the wet weather occuring from October to December. Thus, there tend to be two durian flowering seasons, February-April and July-September, and two fruit seasons with the main season from June to August and the smaller off season in December-January. The main durian growing areas in Region 2 includes the famous Balik Pulau in Penang; Parit, Kuala Kangsar and Batang Padang in Perak; Jasin in Malacca; and Segamat, Muar and Batu Pahat In Johore. Pahang is best represented by Bentong, Raub, Lipis and Temerloh while Jerantut has only one durian season in December-January.
Region 3 is the East Coast stretching from Kelantan in the north, down south through Terengganu, coastal region of Pahang to Kota Tinggi in Johore. There is only one durian season from July to September as the main flowering season is between March and June. The weather is wet during the first half of the N.E. Monsoon, from October to January, and moderately dry during the rest of the year.
How to open a durian the correct way
Malaysian durian varieties
Durian Season In East Malaysia
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| East Malaysia states of Sabah and Sarawak |
East Malaysia’s (Sarawak and Sabah) main durian season straddles across June through August and Sabah has a small one in November-December. Both states do not export their crop as they are mainly consumed locally.
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Durian Production In Indonesia
Indonesia have two fruiting seasons because durian is grown in various localities. The main harvest is from October to February, but Sumatra produces a crop around June to September.
Durian producing areas in Indonesia
Indonesia has abundant named and recognised clones but only 15 have been released as superior national cultivars such as Bokor, Kani, Otong, Perwira, Petruk, Si Dodol, Si Hijau, Si Japang, Si Mas, Sitokong, Siwirig, Sukun and Sunan. In 1995, another 5 cultivars from Kalimantan Barat are registered as superior national clones:- cv. Aspar, Sawah Ma, Raja Mabah, Kalapet and Mansau. There are many more varieties found in the other Indonesian islands especially in Sumatra.
Watch a video on three popular Indonesian varieties Durian Lai, Durian Medan and Durian Petruk.
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| Durian Lai, Durian Medan and Durian Petruk. |
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In the Philippines, durian flowers usually bloom in April to June and the durians are harvested in August to November. This gives the Philippines great prospects for export as the harvest season is later than in other Southeast Asian countries.
Presently, the country is actively expanding durian production, especially in the typhoon-free areas in Mindanao. Durian trees grow almost exclusive in Mindanao, particularly in Davao, Cotabato, Sulu and Agusan.
In fact, Southern Mindanao is considered as the ‘durian republic’ in the Philippines.
Popular durian cultivars include two local selections (DES 806 and DES 916) and four selections developed from introduced cultivars Chanee, Monthong, Umali and CA 3266) and the hundreds of local durian selections which are not registered.
A durian monument in Davao Airport
Cultivars DES 806 and DES 916
There are 10 cultivars recommended for commercial planting are DES 806, DES 916, Chanee, Monthong, Umali, CA 3266, Arancillo (ACC.1497), Oboza, Puyat, and Lacson #1. See page
Durian Varieties in The Philippines for more details.
The AgFishTech portal of the Bureau of Agricultural Research in Philippines has a technology package for the growing of durians in the country. Here is the link:
Read more on Philippines durian varieties HERE.
Durian Production In Vietnam
Vietnam's durian production caters mainly for the domestic market and a small quantity is exported to Taiwan. The durian season usually begins in May and ends in July but variations may occur because of fluctuations in local weather conditions. Durian was introduced to southern Vietnam about 30 years ago from Thailand and the Philippines, and is now an important tree crop in the lowlands of the Mekong Delta. Durian is also produced on the well-drained soils of the highlands in the south-east, the central highlands, and on the central coast.
Read more on Vietnamese durians HERE..
Durian Production In Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar
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| See durian technology package here |
Read more on Philippines durian varieties HERE.
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| Durian in the SE regions of Asia |
Vietnam's durian production caters mainly for the domestic market and a small quantity is exported to Taiwan. The durian season usually begins in May and ends in July but variations may occur because of fluctuations in local weather conditions. Durian was introduced to southern Vietnam about 30 years ago from Thailand and the Philippines, and is now an important tree crop in the lowlands of the Mekong Delta. Durian is also produced on the well-drained soils of the highlands in the south-east, the central highlands, and on the central coast.
Read more on Vietnamese durians HERE..
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Durian Production In Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar
Durian season usually occurs in mid May to July. Durian is generally grown as an inter-crop with other fruit tres and its production is mostly for domestic consumption. Just like in Vietnam, the common durian is introduced into these three countries from Thailand and the Philippines long time ago with the popular cultivars being Chanee and Monthon.
Cambodia varieties: Read more HERE
A durian monument in Cambodia
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| Durians near Olympic Stadium (Photo in Phnom Penh Post by Vireak Mai) |
In Kampot, on Cambodia’s southwest coast, a pilot project led by the provincial Department of Agriculture is helping farmers in 10 villages use more advanced growing techniques. As part of the project, farmers hope to form a promotion association, similar to the one that exists for Kampot pepper.
Kampot durians, which are prized on the local market and can go for about $3 per kilogram, already fetch a higher price than those imported from neighbouring Thailand and Vietnam. But there are concerns among producers and the government that imported durians are being passed off as Cambodian and diluting the perceived quality of the Kampot-grown fruit.
“In order to protect the reputation of Kampot durian and to encourage the Kampot durian producers, we need to take an action now to protect and promote it,” Ken Ratha, spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce, said in an email, referring to the proof of origin push.
In 2012, durian was grown across 825 hectares in Kampot province. A shortage of supply to meet local demand has seen that cultivated land increase to some 990 hectares in 2013. But even with additional local production, shortages occur, and gaps are filled by regional imports.
Read more "Ripe for success" by Mark Bobby Jackson and ....
"Capital's Durian Season Invokes Intense Emotions"
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Durians In Myanmar
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| Durians in Yangon (Photo by Joe Chung) |
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| Durians in Yangon (photo by Joe Chung) |
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| Durians in Yangon (photo by Joe Chung) |
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| Durians in Yangon (photo by Joe Chung) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- |
"..Myanmar durians are not as big as Thailand one. But they are more
tasteful than Thailand one. There are so many durian gardens in Mon and
Kayin state. This is the middle of the durian season so u find it's
cheaper than other time. Some people make this durian to jam. Durian jam
smells softer than durian fruit. In my durians, these are vary from
which part of Myanmar they come from like Maw-La-Myaing durian, Kya-Inn
durian, Koe-Tine durian, Sa-Ka-Watt durian and so on. Some said
Maw-La-Myaing durians are good. Some said Sa-Ka-Watt durians are
delicious. Their taste are different either from one to another. "
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Durian production areas in Brunei Darussalam
In Brunei Darussalam, the common durian (D. zibethinus L.) such as the popular Malaysian D24 and the Thai Monthong are the two introduced cultivars planted in several commercial durian farms which produce fruits during July to August.
Brunei has the greatest number of durian species and the local people prefer these species, such as D. graveolens, D. kutejensis and D. oxleyanus, D. testudinarium and D. dulcis over D. zibethinus L..
These species are grown all over the country and durian fruits are generally harvested from mid June to September. Local durian production is insufficient and Brunei Darussalam imports durian from Malaysia and Thailand.
Durian Production In Singapore
Singapore imports all its durian from Malaysia and Thailand but also re-exports durian to Brunei and Hong Kong. Durians are grown only in agrotechnology parks with three local durian cultivars, H.C. Tan No.2, H.C. Lim and Lim Keng Meng. There are two durian seasons, May to July and November to January.
Brunei has the greatest number of durian species and the local people prefer these species, such as D. graveolens, D. kutejensis and D. oxleyanus, D. testudinarium and D. dulcis over D. zibethinus L..
These species are grown all over the country and durian fruits are generally harvested from mid June to September. Local durian production is insufficient and Brunei Darussalam imports durian from Malaysia and Thailand.
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Durian Production In Singapore
Singapore imports all its durian from Malaysia and Thailand but also re-exports durian to Brunei and Hong Kong. Durians are grown only in agrotechnology parks with three local durian cultivars, H.C. Tan No.2, H.C. Lim and Lim Keng Meng. There are two durian seasons, May to July and November to January.
- H.C. Tan No.2 is a light green, pear-shaped fruit with medium length spine and averages 1-2 kg. The aril is thin but creamy, sweet with some bitterness. The seeds are shrunken and flat.
- H. C. Lim has elongated oval fruits, brownish with medium length spines and weigh between 1-2 kg . The aril is pink, thin sweet, not fibrous enclosing small seeds.
- Lim Keng Meng has globose fruits, weigh between 1-2 kg, brownish with medium length spines. The aril is yellow, medium thick, creamy and bitter-sweet.
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| Singapore has little agricultural land |
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| Durian grows in the northern regions of Australia |
North Queensland (Tully to Cape Tribulation) and the Northern Territory (around Darwin) produce durian fruits at the end and beginning of the year mainly for the domestic market.
In the Northern Territory, the fruiting period usually occurs from November to the end of January (some years as early as October to as late as early February) and in north Queensland from late January to the end of April.
All the clones currently found in Australia have been introduced from south east Asia, especially Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand mostly by durian growers and government agencies. Some of the local Australian selections are Johnson, Limberlost, Z1, Diedre 1, Diedre 2
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Durian Cultivation In Papua New Guinea
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| Papua New Guinea |
Unlike the eastern part of Indonesia and the southern Philippines which are within the center of diversity of durian, durians were introduced into Papua New Guinea as seeds from South East Asia during the early 1940s.
Durians were first planted at Lowlands Agricultural Experiment Station (LAES) in Keravat. Since then seeds and grafted planting material have been distributed to farmers from all parts of PNG.
Durians were first planted at Lowlands Agricultural Experiment Station (LAES) in Keravat. Since then seeds and grafted planting material have been distributed to farmers from all parts of PNG.
The National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) in Keravat has officially recommended 8 clones as superior planting material and they are:
- KDZ5
- KDZ7
- KDZ8
- KDZ9
- KDZ11
- KDZ12
- KDZ15
- KDZ20
Durian is planted for local consumption only and is considered to be a minor crop. Very little is known about its production and season. Since PNG is just north of Australia, its durian season most probably follows that of Northern Territories - November to January.
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Durian Production In Sri Lanka
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| Island of Sri Lanka |
Only a small region in the southern part of the country have some durian trees. Introduced during the time when India including Ceylon (presently Sri Lanka) where British colonies. Durian are grown in the Horticultural Research Centre in Horana. Read more HERE..
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Durian Production In India
Only a few experimental durian trees introduced from Malaysia during the British era. Durian season falls around July.
Burliar
State Horticulture Farm is located on the Ooty-Coimbatore National
Highway 67, sometimes called the Ghat Road, about halfway between
Coonoor and Mettupalayam. It is open from 9-5 p.m. Monday through
Friday. Durian is available in July and August.
- See more at: http://www.yearofthedurian.com/2013/07/burliar-state-farm-tamil-nadu-india.html#more
Some very old durian trees are found at the Burliar State Farm in Tamil Nadu, India. Read more HERE..
