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 860 mm it can use in a normal year, and 550 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 / 25 °C (outside its best range)
• Oct 33 °C / 22 °C
• Nov 31 °C / 18 °C
• Dec 30 °C / 15 °C
• Jan 31 °C / 15 °C
• Feb 34 °C / 18 °C
• Mar 37 °C / 22 °C (outside its best range)
• Apr 40 °C / 26 °C (outside its best range)
• May 43 °C / 29 °C (outside its best range)
• Jun 38 °C / 27 °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: zinc, iron, copper and manganese.

• The pH here suits it.
• 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.