Detailed Explanation of Key Points in Dragon Fruit Cultivation and Management Techniques
How to manage dragon fruit well after planting? Please provide an introduction to management methods. Dragon fruit begins to flower and bear fruit about 12-14 months after planting, can flower 12-15 times per year, with the fruiting period from April to November, can be harvested 30-40 days after flowering, and individual fruit weight is generally 500-1000 grams. In the second year after planting, each column produces more than 20 fruits...
How to manage dragon fruit well after planting? Please provide an introduction to management methods
Dragon fruit begins to flower and bear fruit about 12-14 months after planting, can flower 12-15 times per year, with the fruiting period from April to November, can be harvested 30-40 days after flowering, and individual fruit weight is generally 500-1000 grams. 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 higher management levels, the yield per 667 sq m can reach more than 2500 kg, with good early fruiting and high yield potential. The following management methods are for reference:
Apply thin fertilizer frequently. Due to the long fruit harvesting period, organic fertilizer should be heavily applied every year, and nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium compound fertilizers should be applied in a balanced manner 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 base with grass or mushroom residue. In dry weather, irrigate once every 3-4 days.
Shape pruning. Before the branches climb to the top of the cement column, they should be allowed to maintain single-branch growth. After reaching the top of the column (1.3-1.4 m), the growing tip should be pinched off to promote branching, and the branches should be allowed to droop naturally to accumulate nutrients and promote earlier flowering and fruiting. Well-growing dragon fruit has relatively high natural sprouting ability. Generally, each branch can produce 3-5 new shoots. To increase or decrease strong fruiting branches, during the annual vegetative growth period, 1-3 robustly growing branches may be retained per branch depending on growth conditions; during the reproductive growth period, to ensure the nutritional needs of fruit development, all newly sprouted branches should be removed.
Interplanting and artificial pollination. When planting red-fleshed dragon fruit, about 10% white-fleshed dragon fruit should be interplanted. 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 flowers open or in the early morning before flowers close, using a brush to directly apply pollen onto the stigma of female flowers to increase the fruit-setting rate.
Flower thinning and fruit thinning. Dragon fruit has a long flowering period and strong flowering ability, and will flower from May to October. Each branch averages 2.7 flower buds per flowering season. After normal pollination and fertilization, the withered flowers can be cut off using the ring-cutting method (retaining the stigma and the sepals below the ovary). When the young fruit reaches about 2 cm in transverse diameter, begin fruit thinning. Keep one young fruit per branch that is plump, bright green, free of damage and deformity, and has certain growth space, and remove the rest to concentrate nutrients and promote fruit growth.
Fruit bagging. Before the peel changes color, bag the fruit with waste newspaper or kraft paper bags to maintain uniform coloring of the peel, prevent pecking by birds, wasps, and others, as well as wind damage and sun exposure, and improve commercial value.
Timely harvesting. The fruit development period varies with production season, geographical location, and variety. Generally, it can be harvested about 45 days after flowering. Harvesting too late will not only cause fruit cracking, but also cause localized blackening of the peel color, affecting commercial value. For fruit intended for long-distance transport or long-term storage, it should be harvested before the fruit softens and the color darkens.
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