Dragon Fruit

Water

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

Needs about 650 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 590 mm it can use in a normal year, and 460 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 / 26 °C (outside its best range)
• Jul 31 °C / 24 °C
• Aug 30 °C / 23 °C
• Sep 31 °C / 23 °C
• Oct 34 °C / 20 °C
• Nov 33 °C / 15 °C
• Dec 31 °C / 12 °C
• Jan 28 °C / 11 °C
• Feb 32 °C / 14 °C
• Mar 36 °C / 18 °C
• Apr 40 °C / 23 °C (outside its best range)
• May 41 °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 April get hotter than it likes. Young plants need shade and water then.

Soil

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

Not in the score: salt.

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