Dragon Fruit

Water

Rain falls about 2 irrigations (5 cm each) short in a normal year, so it's risky without water.

Needs about 660 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 590 mm it can use in a normal year, and 470 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 / 26 °C (outside its best range)
• Jul 31 °C / 24 °C
• Aug 30 °C / 23 °C
• Sep 32 °C / 23 °C
• Oct 34 °C / 19 °C
• Nov 31 °C / 14 °C
• Dec 28 °C / 11 °C
• Jan 27 °C / 10 °C
• Feb 31 °C / 13 °C
• Mar 36 °C / 17 °C
• Apr 40 °C / 23 °C (outside its best range)
• May 43 °C / 27 °C (outside its best range)
• Jun 38 °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: 8 out of 10 (good).

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

On rain alone it gets about 89% of the water it needs, so the money here is worked at 89% of this yield.

No mandi or support price for this crop yet.