Dragon Fruit

Water

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

Needs about 610 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 700 mm it can use in a normal year, and 570 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 38 °C / 27 °C (outside its best range)
• Jul 32 °C / 25 °C (outside its best range)
• Aug 31 °C / 25 °C
• Sep 32 °C / 24 °C
• Oct 32 °C / 20 °C
• Nov 29 °C / 14 °C
• Dec 25 °C / 10 °C (outside its best range)
• Jan 24 °C / 10 °C (outside its best range)
• Feb 28 °C / 13 °C
• Mar 34 °C / 18 °C
• Apr 39 °C / 23 °C (outside its best range)
• May 42 °C / 28 °C (outside its best range)
• Jun 38 °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: 8 out of 10 (good).

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

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.