Dragon Fruit

Water

Rain falls about 4 irrigations (5 cm each) short in a normal year, so it's risky without water.

Needs about 640 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 480 mm it can use in a normal year, and 330 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 / 28 °C (outside its best range)
• Jul 34 °C / 26 °C (outside its best range)
• Aug 34 °C / 26 °C (outside its best range)
• Sep 34 °C / 25 °C (outside its best range)
• Oct 33 °C / 24 °C (outside its best range)
• Nov 31 °C / 22 °C
• Dec 30 °C / 19 °C
• Jan 31 °C / 19 °C
• Feb 34 °C / 21 °C
• Mar 36 °C / 24 °C (outside its best range)
• Apr 38 °C / 26 °C (outside its best range)
• May 40 °C / 29 °C (outside its best range)
• Jun 38 °C / 28 °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).

• Soil here is often more alkaline than it likes.
• 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 15 quintals an acre, the typical figure in your state (its government crop records list none for your district).

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 75% of the water it needs, so the money here is worked at 75% of this yield.

No mandi or support price for this crop yet.