What are the key field management techniques for dragon fruit?
Dragon fruit begins to flower and bear fruit about 12-14 months after planting, and can flower 12-15 times per year. The fruiting period runs from April to November, and fruit can be harvested 30-40 days after the flowers fade. A single fruit generally weighs 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 stage. With a relatively high level of management, 667 sq m...
Dragon fruit begins to flower and bear fruit about 12-14 months after planting, and can flower 12-15 times per year. The fruiting period runs from April to November, and fruit can be harvested 30-40 days after the flowers fade. A single fruit generally weighs 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 stage. With a relatively high level of management, the yield per 667 sq m can reach more than 2500 kg, showing good early fruiting and high yield potential.
Apply light fertilizer frequently. Because the fruit harvest period is long, organic fertilizer must be applied heavily every year, and nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizer should 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. Keep the soil moist during the fruiting period, and cover the tree basin 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, it is best to let them maintain single-branch growth. After they grow to the top of the column (1.3-1.4 m), the growing tips should be pinched off to promote branching, and the branches should be allowed to droop naturally to accumulate nutrients and bring flowering and fruiting forward. Well-grown dragon fruit has a relatively high natural sprouting ability; generally each branch can send out 3-5 new shoots. To increase or decrease the number of strong fruiting branches, during the annual vegetative growth period each branch can keep 1-3 robustly growing branches depending on its growth condition; during the reproductive growth period, to ensure the nutritional needs of fruit development, all newly sprouted branches should be removed.
Interplanting and hand 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, hand pollination should be carried out. Pollination can be done in the evening when the flowers are open or in the early morning before the flowers have closed, using a writing brush to apply pollen directly to the stigma of the female flower to increase the fruit-setting rate.
Flower and fruit thinning. Dragon fruit has a long flowering period and strong flowering ability, and will bloom from May to October. On average, each branch produces 2.7 flower buds per flowering season. After normal pollination and fertilization, the faded flowers can be cut off by the ring-cut method (keeping the stigma and the sepals below the ovary). When the young fruit reaches about 2 cm in transverse diameter, fruit thinning should begin. Each branch should keep one young fruit that is plump, bright green, undamaged and not deformed, and has a certain amount of growing space; the rest should be removed to concentrate nutrients and promote fruit growth.
Fruit bagging. Before the fruit skin changes color, it should be bagged with waste newspaper or kraft paper bags to keep the skin color uniform and prevent pecking by birds and wasps, as well as wind injury and direct sun exposure, thereby improving commercial value.
Timely harvesting. The fruit development period varies with the 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 part of the fruit skin to turn black, affecting commercial value. For fruit intended for long-distance transport or long storage, it is best to harvest before the fruit softens and the color darkens.
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