Dragon Fruit Planting Tutorial, with Planting Techniques and Management Methods
AbstractPlanting method: Column-style planting is relatively common. Planting specifications: row spacing of 1.5 m x 2 m, with 4 seedlings planted around each column. Field management: phosphate fertilizer, nitrogen fertilizer and potassium compound fertilizer should be applied in a balanced way over the long term; during dry weather, irrigate once every 3-4 days. When the dragon fruit branches grow to 1.3-1.4 m, pinching should be carried out. If cloudy and rainy weather occurs, artificial pollination should be carried out. After fruit harvest each year, the branches that have borne fruit need to be pruned off.
1. Planting Methods
There are many ways to plant dragon fruit. It can be grown by climbing walls, or by building trellises, among which column-style planting is relatively common. Its main advantages are low production cost and high land utilization. So-called column-style planting means erecting 1 concrete column or wooden column, planting 3-4 dragon fruit seedlings around the column, and then letting the dragon fruit plants grow upward along the column.
2. Planting Specifications
The row spacing of dual-season columns is 1.5 m × 2 m. Calculated at 4 seedlings planted around each column, 750 plants can be planted per mu. Dragon fruit can be planted throughout the year. Note that it must not be planted deeply; planting at a depth of 3cm is sufficient. In the early stage, the soil needs to be kept moist.
3. Field Management
1. Apply thin fertilizer frequently
Because the fruit harvest period is long, organic fertilizer must be heavily applied every year. Phosphate fertilizer, nitrogen fertilizer and potassium compound fertilizer should be applied in a balanced way over the long term. During the flowering and fruiting stage, potassium fertilizer and magnesium fertilizer should be supplemented, which helps promote sugar accumulation in the fruit and improve the quality of dragon fruit. During the fruiting period, the soil needs to be kept moist. The tree disc should be covered with grass or mushroom residue. During dry weather, irrigate once every 3-4 days.
2. Pinching
When the dragon fruit branches grow to 1.3-1.4 m long, pinch them, which helps promote branching and lets the branches droop naturally.
3. Interplanting and artificial pollination
When planting dragon fruit, about 10% white-fleshed type dragon fruit should be interplanted, which helps mutual pollination among varieties and can significantly increase the fruit-setting rate. If cloudy and rainy weather occurs, artificial pollination should be carried out. Generally, pollination can be done in the evening when the flowers open, or in the early morning before the flowers have closed, using a writing brush to directly apply pollen onto the stigma of the female flower.
4. Pruning branches
After fruit harvest each year, the branches that have borne fruit need to be pruned off, so that the dragon fruit sends out new branches again, which helps ensure the yield for the coming year.
5. Pest and disease control
Dragon fruit has relatively few pests and diseases. In the seedling stage, it is easily harmed by snails and ants, and insecticides can generally be used for control. In hot and humid seasons, it is prone to infection by diseases, with some branches showing necrosis and mildew spots, which can be controlled with triadimefon and strong copper oxide, etc.
4. Yield per mu
Dragon fruit begins to bloom and bear fruit 12-14 months after planting. It generally blooms 12-15 times each year, among which April to November is the fruit-producing period. After the flowers fade, the fruit begins to mature in 30-40 days. The weight of a single fruit is 500-1000g. In the 2nd year after planting, each column produces more than 20 fruits, and then in the 3rd year it enters the full fruiting period. With proper management, the yield per mu can reach as high as 2500kg.