A Complete Analysis of Key Points in Dragon Fruit Cultivation Techniques

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 excellent health benefits.

Biological Characteristics

Dragon fruit is a tropical and subtropical fruit, tolerant of drought and high temperatures, and light-loving. It has low soil requirements and can be grown on flat land, hillsides and sandy-stony land. The most suitable soil pH is 6-7.5, and it is best to choose land rich in organic matter with good drainage. Dragon fruit is not frost-tolerant; in areas where winter temperatures fall below 0°C, simple greenhouses should be used for cultivation.

Planting Methods ⟧7⟧There are many ways to plant dragon fruit: it can be grown climbing on walls or under trellises, but column-type cultivation is the most common, with the advantages of low production cost and high land utilization. So-called column-type cultivation involves erecting a cement or wooden post and planting 3-4 dragon fruit seedlings around the post, allowing the dragon fruit plants to grow upward along the post.

There are many ways to grow dragon fruit: it can be grown climbing up a wall or on a trellis, but pillar cultivation is the most common, as it has the advantages of low production cost and high land use efficiency. So-called pillar cultivation means setting up a cement or wooden pillar and planting 3-4 dragon fruit seedlings around it, letting the dragon fruit plants grow upward along the pillar.

Planting Specifications

For double-season columns, the plant and row spacing is 1.5m × 2m. Calculating 4 seedlings planted around each column, 750 plants can be planted per 667 sq m. Dragon fruit can be planted in all four seasons. Note that it must not be planted deeply; planting about 3 cm 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, and can flower 12-15 times per year. The fruit production period is from April to November, and the fruit matures 30-40 days after the flowers fade. A single fruit weighs 500-1000 g. In the second year after planting, each column 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 2500 kg/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 heavily applied 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 supplemented to promote sugar accumulation in the fruit and improve quality. During the fruiting period, keep the soil moist, and cover the tree disk with grass or mushroom residue. In dry weather, irrigate once every 3-4 days.

2. Pinching. When the branches grow to 1.3-1.4 m long, pinch off the growing tips to promote branching and allow the branches to droop naturally.

3. Interplanting and artificial 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, artificial 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 soft brush to apply pollen directly onto the stigma of the female flower.

4. Pruning branches. After harvesting the fruit each year, cut off the branches that have already borne fruit to allow new branches to grow again, ensuring the yield for the coming year.

5. Pest and disease control. Dragon fruit has relatively few pests and diseases. During the seedling stage, it is susceptible to damage by snails and ants, which can be controlled with insecticides. In hot and humid seasons, it is susceptible to diseases, with partial necrosis of branches and mildew spots appearing, which can be controlled with triadimefon, strong copper oxide, etc., with good results.