Dragon Fruit

Water

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

Needs about 600 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 570 mm it can use in a normal year, and 420 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 37 °C / 27 °C (outside its best range)
• Jul 34 °C / 26 °C (outside its best range)
• Aug 33 °C / 26 °C (outside its best range)
• Sep 33 °C / 26 °C (outside its best range)
• Oct 32 °C / 23 °C
• Nov 29 °C / 15 °C
• Dec 25 °C / 11 °C (outside its best range)
• Jan 23 °C / 9 °C (outside its best range)
• Feb 27 °C / 13 °C
• Mar 34 °C / 17 °C
• Apr 39 °C / 23 °C (outside its best range)
• May 39 °C / 26 °C (outside its best range)
• Jun 37 °C / 27 °C (outside its best range)

Months in orange are outside its best range.

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

Soil

Soil for Dragon Fruit: 9 out of 10 (good).

• The pH here suits it.
• Many fields here are short of boron, which it needs a lot.

Likes pH 5.3–6.7.

Money

Yield: about 23 quintals an acre, the typical figure across India (no figures for your state).

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.