Dragon Fruit

Water

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

Needs about 580 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 690 mm it can use in a normal year, and 520 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 36 °C / 26 °C (outside its best range)
• Jul 31 °C / 25 °C
• Aug 31 °C / 25 °C
• Sep 31 °C / 24 °C
• Oct 31 °C / 21 °C
• Nov 28 °C / 15 °C
• Dec 25 °C / 11 °C
• Jan 24 °C / 11 °C (outside its best range)
• Feb 28 °C / 14 °C
• Mar 33 °C / 19 °C
• Apr 39 °C / 24 °C (outside its best range)
• May 39 °C / 26 °C (outside its best range)
• Jun 36 °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.
• 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.

No mandi or support price for this crop yet.