Where do dragon fruits come from, and what kind of growing environment do they need?
Dragon fruit belongs to the cactus family, either Hylocereus or Selenicereus, and is a perennial vine. It is a tropical and subtropical fruit, so where do dragon fruits come from? What are its requirements for the growing environment?
1. Where do dragon fruits come from?
Dragon fruits sold on the domestic market mainly come from Vietnam, Thailand, and regions such as Guangxi and Hainan, at a price of about 6-12 yuan/kg. The retail price of purple-red dragon fruit (red skin, red flesh) at its place of origin is around 20 yuan/kg.
Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan and Fujian were the first regions to introduce dragon fruit from Taiwan, China for large-scale planting, and they have now established several large dragon fruit farms, making them important production areas for commercial dragon fruit.
Hainan in particular: Hainan has abundant sunshine, ample rainfall, and is located in the tropics, with a climate suitable for dragon fruit production all year round, and has long been known as a “natural greenhouse.”
The scale of dragon fruit planting in Hainan is increasing day by day, and it has now become one of the main production areas for dragon fruit in China.
2. What are the requirements of dragon fruit for the growing environment?
1. Temperature
Temperature: Dragon fruit originated in tropical regions, and the most suitable growing temperature is 25-35°C. Below 10°C and above 38°C it stops growing, entering dormancy to resist unsuitable ambient temperatures. Excessively high temperatures will inhibit flower bud formation, resulting in no flowering or fruiting. Temperatures below 5°C can cause cold damage, and young buds, tender branches, and some mature branches may be frozen to death or injured.
2. Soil
Dragon fruit can adapt to many types of soil, and can grow in hillsides, flat land, sandy and gravelly land, red soil, yellow soil, alluvial soil, purple soil, loam and sandy loam. However, neutral soil and slightly acidic soil rich in humus and good at retaining water and fertilizer are preferable.
3. Water
When cultivated in open fields in spring and summer, it should be watered more to keep the root system in vigorous growth. During continuous rainy weather, drainage should be carried out promptly to avoid infection by pathogens causing stem and flesh rot. Its stems can also grow attached to rocks, and the plant is extremely wind-resistant; as long as the support is firm, it can withstand typhoons.
4. Light
Dragon fruit likes light and tolerates shade, with an annual average sunshine percentage of 26%-50%, so it is more suitable for growing in areas with sufficient light. However, in the hot summer season, if there is continuous hot weather, a shade net should be appropriately added to prevent sunburn from prolonged exposure, but the shading rate should preferably not exceed 50%.
Generally speaking, in a warm, humid and well-lit environment, dragon fruit plants grow rapidly and produce many flower buds. If light conditions are insufficient, their normal flowering will be affected.