Dragon Fruit

Water

Rain is enough in a normal year. Keep one irrigation ready for a dry year.

Needs about 640 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 590 mm it can use in a normal year, and 440 mm in a dry year.

Temperature

Grows best at 18–28 °C on average, and survives 12–34 °C.

Here, in its growing months (day / night):

• Jun 40 °C / 28 °C (outside its best range)
• Jul 33 °C / 25 °C (outside its best range)
• Aug 31 °C / 24 °C
• Sep 32 °C / 24 °C
• Oct 34 °C / 20 °C
• Nov 30 °C / 14 °C
• Dec 26 °C / 10 °C
• Jan 24 °C / 9 °C (outside its best range)
• Feb 28 °C / 12 °C
• Mar 34 °C / 18 °C
• Apr 40 °C / 23 °C (outside its best range)
• May 43 °C / 28 °C (outside its best range)
• Jun 40 °C / 28 °C (outside its best range)

Months in orange are outside its best range.

Days in June get hotter than it likes. Young plants need shade and water then.

Soil

Soil for Dragon Fruit: 8 out of 10 (good).

• The pH here suits it.
• Most fields here are short of nitrogen.
• Most fields here are short of sulphur.

Likes pH 5.3–6.7.

Money

Yield: about 16 quintals an acre, the typical figure in your state (its government crop records list none for your district).

A new planting gives its first real harvest after about 2 years. The money here is for plants already bearing.

No mandi or support price for this crop yet.