Dragon fruit, with its vibrant red appearance and sweet yet refreshing flesh rich in various vitamins and minerals, is a highly popular fruit. It is drought-tolerant, heat-resistant, and thrives in sunlight, making it a common crop in southern China. Let's explore the timing and methods of planting dragon fruit.
Timing of Planting
In the major dragon fruit-producing regions like the Pearl River Delta, temperatures often drop below 15°C in February and early March. Therefore, the ideal time for planting dragon fruit is generally from late March to mid-April. Dragon fruit is a tropical fruit, so it grows faster in warmer temperatures. It requires temperatures generally above 18°C, with 30°C being most favorable. Growth stops below 10°C and above 38°C, with temperatures exceeding 40°C damaging the fruit trees. Therefore, dragon fruit planting typically occurs in the warmer spring months, around March to April, allowing for abundant fruit harvest around summer.
Planting Methods
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Soil Selection: Choose soil rich in organic matter, well-drained, fertile, loose, with good granular structure, and not prone to sandiness, such as loamy soil or sandy loam, for planting dragon fruit.
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Seed Selection: Use high-quality seeds extracted from fully ripe dragon fruits. Soak the flesh with seeds in water and rinse continuously until the seeds separate from the pulp.
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Germination: Disinfect the seeds with potassium permanganate, then soak them in warm water for a day. After soaking, drain the water and place the seeds in a ventilated area to dry before planting.
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Sowing and Seedling Care: Plant the seeds in soil, keeping them moist with a spray bottle. You can cover them with a layer of plastic film, but remember to uncover for ventilation every day until germination occurs.
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Planting: After germination, plant one seedling per hole, with three seedlings per column. Plant to a depth of 3 centimeters. When planting red-fleshed dragon fruit, include approximately 10% white-fleshed ones. Keep the soil moist after planting until they establish.
These are the timing and methods for planting dragon fruit. Dragon fruit loves fertilizer and water, blooms and fruits multiple times a year, and has a long growth period. Proper management is essential when cultivating dragon fruit.
