Detailed Explanation of Key Technical Points for Field Management of Dragon Fruit
Dragon fruit is a tropical fruit that can be planted year-round in tropical climates, but in our country it is best to plant it in spring. The temperature for its growth must be at least above 18 degrees, and the maximum temperature must not exceed 40 degrees, otherwise it will be scorched. Nowadays, dragon fruit is planted in many places in our country. So today we will mainly learn about the field management techniques for dragon fruit.
1. Planting
Dragon fruit cultivation is generally based on cutting propagation, so we usually plant according to a reasonable density when doing the cuttings. But what we need to pay attention to is checking the survival situation of the dragon fruit seedlings in the field, replanting in time to ensure uniform seedlings in the field, and finally carrying out field planting.
2. Fertilizer and Water
For fertilizing dragon fruit, we need to strictly follow the principle of applying thin fertilizer frequently. After dragon fruit is planted, nitrogen fertilizer, phosphorus fertilizer and potassium fertilizer should be applied reasonably, and organic fertilizer should be applied heavily. Finally, when dragon fruit is blooming and fruiting, potassium fertilizer and magnesium fertilizer should be reasonably applied as topdressing, which can help dragon fruit accumulate sugar faster and promote the growth of dragon fruit. Throughout the entire growth period of dragon fruit, a certain humidity must be maintained in the field, and the humidity in the air should be at least about 80 percent. In relatively dry weather, water once every 3 to 4 days, and in rainy weather, pay attention to drainage.
3. Pinching
In order to increase the fruiting amount of dragon fruit, when the main stem of the dragon fruit grows to about 1.5 m, we need to remove the growing tip from its top. This can promote the growth of side branches of dragon fruit. When the side branches of dragon fruit reach a certain level, the growth of the dragon fruit seedlings needs to be controlled, otherwise nutrients cannot be fully supplied, and it will also affect the yield of dragon fruit.
4. Weeding
Dragon fruit is a shallow-rooted plant, so extra care must be taken when weeding, and the roots of dragon fruit must not be damaged. When there are relatively few weeds, weeds can only be pulled by hand. But when there are many weeds in the field and the planting area is relatively large, we will have a special lawn mower and then mow the field from time to time. The cut grass can also be used as fertilizer for dragon fruit to promote its growth.
5. Pruning
When dragon fruit is pinched, many side branches will grow again, making the plants appear relatively dense and unable to carry out sufficient photosynthesis. At the same time, the air permeability in the field will also weaken accordingly, which will still affect the yield and quality of dragon fruit. In order to prevent branches from being too dense, we need to reasonably prune branches and leaves, cutting off some old branches, diseased branches and weak branches.
6. Trellising
The branches of dragon fruit cannot bear such a large weight, so when dragon fruit grows to about 1.5 m or before dragon fruit begins to bloom and fruit, some supports need to be built around it. This can support the growth of dragon fruit, prevent the branches of dragon fruit from being broken, and at the same time ensure the maximum supply of nutrients, thereby increasing the yield of dragon fruit.
7. Disease Prevention
Generally, when field management is handled relatively well, dragon fruit basically will not develop disease. But during the seedling stage of dragon fruit, there will still be damage from pests such as ants and snails, and at this time we can use insecticides for control. However, if field management is not handled properly, there will also be many diseases, such as gray mold and soft rot. For specific situations, please refer to the common pest and disease control methods for dragon fruit.