Dragon Fruit

Water

Rain is enough, even in a dry year.

Needs about 590 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 890 mm it can use in a normal year, and 670 mm in a dry year.

Heavy rain here can waterlog it. Grow it on raised beds or land that drains well.

Temperature

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

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

• Jun 37 °C / 26 °C (outside its best range)
• Jul 32 °C / 26 °C (outside its best range)
• Aug 32 °C / 25 °C (outside its best range)
• Sep 32 °C / 25 °C (outside its best range)
• Oct 32 °C / 22 °C
• Nov 29 °C / 16 °C
• Dec 26 °C / 12 °C
• Jan 25 °C / 11 °C
• Feb 29 °C / 15 °C
• Mar 33 °C / 18 °C
• Apr 39 °C / 24 °C (outside its best range)
• May 39 °C / 26 °C (outside its best range)
• Jun 37 °C / 26 °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: 8 out of 10 (good).

• The pH here suits it, though not most crops.
• Many fields here are short of boron, which it needs a lot.
• Most fields here are short of nitrogen.

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.