Detailed Guide to Dragon Fruit Cultivation Techniques, A Guide to Growing Cactus Family Fruits

Dragon fruit belongs to the Cactaceae family, genus Hylocereus, a perennial succulent vine plant. It is one of the characteristic fruits that Guangxi focuses on developing. At present, the cultivation area is continuously expanding, and it has become one of Guangxi's “iconic fruits.” Today I will introduce the cultivation techniques of dragon fruit to everyone. Save this quickly!

I. Types and Basic Characteristics of Dragon Fruit

1. Common Varieties

Dragon fruit can be divided by skin and flesh color into three categories: red skin with white flesh, red skin with red flesh or red skin with purple-red flesh, and yellow skin with white flesh. The main types grown commercially are red skin with white flesh and red skin with red flesh. Among them, red skin with white flesh is the most common variety; the fruit is larger, lower in sweetness, and refreshing and crisp. Red skin with red flesh is also relatively common; it is less cultivated and more expensive, with higher sweetness. Yellow skin with white flesh is called "Kirin fruit" on the market. It is relatively rare, the fruit is smaller, the seeds are larger, it is delicately sweet without any fishy taste, and it has the highest sweetness.

2. Basic Characteristics

① The suitable growing temperature for dragon fruit is 25-35°C. Below 5°C will cause severe damage, so in areas where the minimum temperature is below 10°C, film-covered cultivation is required;

② The soil for planting dragon fruit should have good aeration. Soil that is too heavy and sticky can lead to poor root growth. The optimal soil water-holding capacity should be maintained at 60%-80%;

③ The soil pH should preferably be neutral or slightly acidic (PH6.0-7.5).

II. Cultivation Techniques of Dragon Fruit

1. Orchard Site Selection

Dragon fruit is a tropical and subtropical plant. It is drought-tolerant and high-temperature-tolerant. It can be planted on flat land, hillsides, and sandy-stony land, but it is best to choose slightly acidic land rich in organic matter and with good drainage for planting.

2. Cultivation Methods

Erecting support pillars: There are many ways to cultivate dragon fruit, but column-type planting is the most common. It has low production cost and high land utilization. So-called column-type planting means erecting a cement pillar or wooden pillar, letting the dragon fruit plants grow upward along the pillar, planting 3 to 4 dragon fruit seedlings around the pillar, letting the dragon fruit plants grow upward along the pillar, and tying and fixing them in sections with plastic rope;

Specifications: The plant and row spacing of the pillars is 1.5×2 m. Calculating 3 to 4 fruit seedlings planted per pillar, more than 300 to 400 plants are planted per mu,

Field planting: Before planting, apply decomposed organic fertilizer per mu into the planting holes. After backfilling part of the soil, mix well, plant the seedlings in the holes, and try to keep the top of the fruit seedlings close to the cement pillar. Note that they must not be planted deeply; planting about 3 cm deep is sufficient. Keep the soil moist in the early stage.

3. Water and Fertilizer Management

Fertilization at the seedling stage: After planting, apply fertilizer lightly and frequently. Because the fruit harvest period is long, organic fertilizer and nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium compound fertilizer must be heavily applied every year. Generally, apply water and fertilizer once every 10 to 15 days, mainly nitrogen fertilizer, supplemented with phosphorus and potassium fertilizer.

Fertilization during the growth and fruiting period:

① Pre-flowering fertilizer (March to April): Mainly phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, supplemented with nitrogen fertilizer; apply 1 to 2 kg of compound fertilizer per pillar;

② Flower-strengthening and fruit-strengthening fertilizer (May to October): Mainly organic fertilizer and compound fertilizer, supplemented with nitrogen fertilizer; apply 0.5 kg of peanut bran + 0.5 kg of compound fertilizer per pillar.

③ Fertilization after fruit harvest (November to February of the following year): Mainly organic fertilizer and compound fertilizer; apply 5 kg of organic fertilizer (1 kg of peanut bran) + 0.5 kg of compound fertilizer per pillar.

4. Pinching and Pruning Branches

Pinching: When the branches grow to 1.3 to 1.4 m long, pinch off the growing tips to promote branching and allow the branches to droop naturally, so as to accumulate nutrients and promote earlier flowering and fruiting.

Pruning branches: After fruit harvest each year, cut off the top ends or weak branches that have already borne multiple fruits, so that the remaining thick and strong branches can grow new shoots again, ensuring the yield and quality of the coming year.

5. Pest and Disease Control

The main diseases of dragon fruit are stem rot, canker, anthracnose, and black rot. Generally, it is necessary to strengthen plant nutrition management, improve stress resistance, promptly remove diseased branches in the field, and select high-quality agents for control. Secondly, the main pests are that seedlings are easily harmed by snails and ants during the seedling stage, and insecticides can generally be used for control.

6. Bagging and Timely Harvest

Bagging: Choose products made of soft paper with good air and moisture permeability and moderate light transmittance, so as to better promote coloring, increase sugar content, and advance ripening.

Timely harvest: The fruit chamber of dragon fruit noticeably enlarges from the 5th to 7th day after flower fade. By 25 to 28 days after flower fade, the fruit gradually turns from green to red. After another 5 to 7 days, when the fruit's appearance is swollen and round and has a glossy sheen, it can be harvested.

The above is an introduction to dragon fruit cultivation techniques. I hope it is helpful to everyone. If you choose to grow it, be sure to first consult professionals for advice and purchase good-quality seedlings.