How to grow dragon fruit so it thrives? A detailed guide to methods and techniques
How do you grow dragon fruit well? Here are the planting methods and management methods. Dragon fruit cultivation can follow these methods: 1. Biological characteristics. Dragon fruit is a tropical and subtropical fruit, drought-tolerant, high-temperature-tolerant and light-loving, with no strict requirements for soil quality; it can be planted on flat land, hillsides and sandy-stony ground, and the most suitable soil p...
How do you grow dragon fruit well? Here are the planting methods and management methods
Dragon fruit cultivation can follow these methods:
1. Biological characteristics Dragon fruit is a tropical and subtropical fruit, drought-tolerant, high-temperature-tolerant and light-loving, with no strict requirements for soil quality; it can be planted 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; in areas where the winter temperature is below 0°C, simple greenhouses are used for cultivation.
2. Planting methods There are many ways to plant dragon fruit: it can be grown climbing up walls or under trellises, but pillar cultivation is the most common, with the advantages of low production cost and high land-use efficiency. So-called pillar cultivation means erecting a cement or wooden pillar and planting 3-4 dragon fruit seedlings around the pillar, letting the dragon fruit plants grow upward along the pillar.
3. Planting spacing and double seasons The row spacing of the pillars is 1.5m x 2m. Calculating 4 seedlings planted around each pillar, 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 deep, about 3cm deep is enough, and the soil should be kept moist at first.
4. Field management Dragon fruit begins to flower and fruit 12-14 months after planting, and can flower 12-15 times a year. The fruiting period is from April to November; the fruit ripens 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 in the third year it enters the full fruiting period. With a higher level of management, the yield can reach 2500kg/667 sq m. The key points of its high-yield cultivation are as follows:
1. Light fertilizer applied frequently: Because the fruit harvest period is long, organic fertilizer must be applied heavily every year, and nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizer must be applied in a balanced way over the long term. During the flowering and fruiting period, potassium and magnesium fertilizer should be added to promote sugar accumulation in the fruit and improve quality. During the fruiting period, keep the soil moist and cover the tree disc with grass or mushroom residue. In dry weather, irrigate once every 3-4 days.
2. Pinching: When the branches grow to 1.3-1.4m long, pinch off the tips to promote branching and let the branches 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. If cloudy and rainy weather occurs, 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. Pruning branches: After harvesting the fruit each year, cut off the branches that have already borne fruit and let them send out new branches again, to ensure the yield for the coming year.
5. Pest and disease control: Dragon fruit has relatively few pests and diseases. Seedlings are easily harmed by snails and ants, which can be controlled with insecticides; in hot and humid seasons it is prone to diseases, with partial necrosis of branches and mold spots, which can be controlled with triadimefon, strong copper oxide and the like, with good results.
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