Dragon Fruit

Water

Rain is enough, even in a dry year.

Needs about 460 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 1,460 mm it can use in a normal year, and 960 mm in a dry year.

Heavy rain here can waterlog it. Grow it on raised beds or land that drains well.

Temperature

Grows best at 18–28 °C on average, and survives 12–34 °C.

Here, in its growing months (day / night):

• Jun 26 °C / 19 °C
• Jul 26 °C / 19 °C
• Aug 26 °C / 19 °C
• Sep 26 °C / 19 °C
• Oct 25 °C / 18 °C
• Nov 23 °C / 13 °C
• Dec 21 °C / 10 °C (outside its best range)
• Jan 20 °C / 9 °C (outside its best range)
• Feb 23 °C / 10 °C (outside its best range)
• Mar 26 °C / 14 °C
• Apr 28 °C / 16 °C
• May 27 °C / 18 °C
• Jun 26 °C / 19 °C

Months in orange are outside its best range.

Soil

Soil for Dragon Fruit: 7 out of 10 (okay).

Not in the score: salt, sulphur, zinc and 4 more.

• The pH here suits it, though not most crops.
• Many fields here are short of potassium, which it needs a lot.
• Most fields here are short of nitrogen.

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.