The Latest Dragon Fruit Cultivation Techniques: A Step-by-Step Tutorial
Dragon fruit is a perennial climbing plant of the genus Hylocereus in the cactus family (Cactaceae), native to the tropical rainforest regions of Central America such as Brazil and Mexico in the Western Hemisphere, and is a typical tropical plant. It was later introduced by the French and Dutch to Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam and Thailand, as well as Taiwan, China, and was then improved in Taiwan and introduced to Hainan, Guangxi, Guangdong and other provinces for cultivation. It is an emerging fruit with good health benefits.
Biological Characteristics
Dragon fruit is a tropical and subtropical fruit. It is drought-tolerant, heat-tolerant and light-loving, and is not demanding about soil quality. It can be grown on flat land, hillsides and sandy-stony ground. The most suitable soil pH is 6-7.5, and it is best to choose land rich in organic matter with good drainage for planting. Dragon fruit is not frost-tolerant, so in areas where the winter temperature drops below 0 degrees C, simple greenhouses should be used for cultivation.
Planting Methods
There are many ways to plant dragon fruit. It can be grown up a wall or under a trellis, but pillar cultivation is the most common, as it has the advantages of low production cost and high land utilization. So-called pillar cultivation means setting up a cement or wooden pillar and planting 3-4 dragon fruit seedlings around the pillar, allowing the dragon fruit plants to grow upward along the pillar.
Planting Spacing
The row spacing for double-season pillars is 1.5m × 2m. Calculating 4 seedlings planted around each pillar, 750 plants can be planted per 667 sq m. Dragon fruit can be planted all year round. Be careful not to plant it too deep; planting it about 3cm deep is sufficient, and the soil should be kept moist in the early stage.
Field Management
Dragon fruit begins to flower and bear fruit 12-14 months after planting. It can flower 12-15 times per year, with the fruiting period from April to November. The fruit matures 30-40 days after the flowers fade, with a single fruit weight of 500-1000g. In the second year after planting, each pillar produces more than 20 fruits, and by the third year it enters the full fruiting period. With a relatively high level of management, the yield can reach 2500kg/667 sq m. The key points for high-yield cultivation are as follows:
1. Apply thin fertilizer frequently. Because the fruit harvest period is long, organic fertilizer must be applied heavily every year, and nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizers must be applied in a balanced way over the long term. During the flowering and fruiting period, potassium and magnesium fertilizers should be added to promote sugar accumulation in the fruit and improve quality. Keep the soil moist during the fruiting period, and cover the tree base with grass or mushroom residue. In dry weather, irrigate once every 3-4 days.
2. Pinch off the growing tips. When the branches grow to 1.3-1.4m in length, pinch off the tips to promote branching and allow the branches to droop naturally.
3. Interplanting and hand pollination. When planting dragon fruit, interplant about 10% white-fleshed dragon fruit. Cross-pollination between varieties can significantly increase the fruit-setting rate. In rainy weather, hand pollination should be carried out. Pollination can be done in the evening when the flowers open or in the early morning before the flowers close, using a brush to apply pollen directly onto the stigma of the female flower.
4. Prune the branches. After harvesting the fruit each year, cut off the branches that have already borne fruit so that they send out new shoots again, ensuring the yield for the coming year.
5. Pest and disease control. Dragon fruit has relatively few pests and diseases. Seedlings are susceptible to damage from snails and ants, which can be controlled with insecticides. In hot and humid seasons, it is prone to diseases, with partial branch necrosis and mold spots appearing, which can be controlled effectively with triadimefon, strong copper oxide and similar products.