indo

Ok. As I thought things are different in the north/northeast. Thanks for your responses though. This past year we harvested from 68 trees in Jan this year, I had 70 but one fell over and subsequently died and one died from (I think) waterlogging due to our new dam altering the way water ran off. We got a tad over 6 tons. 5.1 tons was in the category of a numbered size and we received 30b/kilo and there was just under a ton of small fruit for which we received 3b/kilo. If we could have timed our fruit ripening better and harvested in the peak season around November or the second peak around April we would have got 33b/kilo like most of my neighbours. The small fruit can be sold anytime to local processors who husk and deseed it then dry it. The going rate for that is 8b/kilo and that is exactly what the buyer did with it making an instant cash profit. The buyer supplied all the harvesting labour and we entered into a contract with them about four months out for which we received a deposit. It is my understanding that the mature large fruit is mostly exported to China. I can tell you that the fruit was all very sweet and juicy. We thinned it out when it was about the size of a small pea.. We had pruned the trees back earlier.

This year we have 72 trees in that plot due to renting another four mature trees on the boundary. Also have another 70 trees coming on stream for the first time in another plot. We have already fertilised for a first time with 15/15/15 and bio in a half half mix. There will be more. So far the rain has been erratic, one advantage of going for a November harvest is that you can reduce irrigation costs with rainfall. With no rain at all between November and January I irrigated for the whole three months at first on a four day cycle finishing with a 2 day cycle. The fruit really came on in size in the last month.

Lots of info needed to give a answer to your question. Age of trees, size of tree, spacing, number of trees on the 10 rai. water avaliable, channel irrigation in place or other, past history of care/production, security of orchard, type land paper, soil type, etc. Probably missed something that would come up on a walk thru the orchard. good luck

As there will be more than one of you, you'll be happier in a Tuk Tuk of which there are many. It is also safer both in terms of accidents and purse/camera snatchings, which do happen. The motorcycles here drive like they do in Bangkok and worse.

Last time I did it, maybe 2-3 years back, ran around $5/day if you did not go beyond the city center, obviously need to negotiate additional for any occasion when you go far. It is also common (but not compulsory), if you rent the same Tuk Tuk for an extended period, to give an additional tip at the very end of your stay according to your level of satisfaction.

I can't recommend anyone in particular but they are all over the place, just chat up a few around where you stay to assess their English and get a feel for their personality/character.

If you will be going around solo and prefer a Moto, my nephew can take you, doesn't speak English but understands enough to know where you are asking to go and 100% reliable. but I'd really recommend Tuk Tuk instead esp in the  rainy season.