Impressive Yields of Mature Dragon Fruit Plants in Farms and Home Gardens

When we worked on mature dragon fruits and planted them, we saw that they grew 10 to 20 feet tall, and annually, a dragon fruit plant, which was a mature plant, produced fruits weighing up to 220 pounds, which is a very good production. In addition, we are most excited to tell you that this thing is not limit to professional farms, but we have also discovered that if you plant it in your home gardens with the right techniques, it will grow in your garden, and you will get fruit.

Dragon fruit trees are also known as pitaya plants, and they are becoming very important for home gardens with time. These remarkable dragon fruit cactus plants bloom about three to six times a year and since we have decide to share our personal experience with you and we experiment on it according to all kinds of estimates so that if there is any deficiency or any mistake, it can also be mention by hand and you can avoid this mistake and get your maximum yield. It is important to prefer well-drained sandy soil with a pH between six and seven because by doing so, it will fruit and flower better. If you do not do this,

then there may be problems with its growth and thriving. Moreover, it grows best in USDA zones 10 and 11, where the temperature is 65 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. And it grows best if the zone is If planted inside the nine, then it will need proper protection, but it can thrive here too.

Choosing the Right Conditions for Dragon Fruit

Since dragon fruit requires a specific range of environmental preferences, what are the things that are necessary to create an environment for it? Now we will discuss these things with you. Unlike desert climbers, these tropical climbers have some specific requirements that must be met to achieve optimal growth and fruiting.

Ideal temperature and climate zones

Dragon fruit plants performed best in USDA zones 10 and 11, but when we tried them in zone 9, they needed winter protection. Therefore, when we provided protection, the results were good. Otherwise, they gave stunted growth. If we talk about the temperature ranges, the temperature to be maintain for optimal growth is between 65 and 80 degrees Celsius, while temperatures above 80 degrees Celsius cause stress, and if it goes below 65 degrees Celsius, stunt growth is seen. Different growth phases depend on the temperature.

If we talk about seed germination, 75 to 84 degrees Celsius is the ideal temperature, and 80 to 95 degrees Celsius is the ideal temperature for vegetative growth. In addition, for flowering and fruiting, 65 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal for the plant. If the temperature drops below 15 degrees Celsius, that is, 59 degrees Fahrenheit, it goes into dormancy, and if it drops below 40 degrees, it starts to suffer damage. Moreover, this plant prefers regions that are 800 meters above sea level.

Sunlight requirements and acclimation tips

We kept the dragon fruit in different locations in our garden, and the one that got six to eight hours of direct sunlight every day did the best. Morning light is preferable because the afternoon sun is very hot, which causes sunburn come to the plant. At this time, try to provide them with shade. If you have to provide sunlight, morning light is the best. When a new plant is establishing, acclimation is crucial, so keep the new plant in partial shade and gradually introduce it to full sun over time.

For this, we normally spend two weeks. You can also experiment with the remaining fluctuations yourself. In the beginning, we gave it two hours of sun exposure and then increased it by two hours over time. If yellowing is occurring, it means that too much rapid exposure is occurring, and when skinny growth is a signal of insufficient light.

Best soil types and drainage needs

For dragon fruit, we used several types of soil, including well-draining soil and poor-draining soil. We also checked its acidity level and tested it at different levels. Then we also tested sandy soil and tried the composition of organic matter with different fluctuations. So, the ideal medium for us is sandy soil with a pH between six and seven and a well-draining soil. We specifically told you that the plants that are there prefer loamy sandy soil that is full of organic matter. Many experienced growers use a 50:50 mix of character soil and compost. When they deal with heavy waterlogged soil and incorporate sand and small stone gravel to improve drainage, this sandy soil needs more watering. Therefore, this experiment is also a limitation. It’s okay, but it doesn’t get lasting results.

Also remember that dragon fruits have a shallow root system, so many concentrated roots are on the top 15 to 30 cm of soil, and regular mulching helps the base to retain as much moisture as possible, especially in dry regions. If you are going to use containers for growing, use large pots with a drainage hole in the base. Commercial potting mixes are design to work well in cacti, but avoid standard potting mixes because they retain too much moisture.

Training and Supporting the Dragon Fruit Cactus Plant

Since dragon fruit plants have a climbing nature, they need proper support or a proper structure system from the beginning so that they can adjust themselves accordingly and climb. We had given it the support of a wall, but due to the added training and sturdy structure, this plant very quickly becomes unmanageable and less productive. Then, due to the support of the wall, we got much better results, but still, an effort should be made to provide it with a better structure and support, which we will mention later on how to provide that structure and why it is necessary.

Why support structures are essential

Dragon fruit plants grow into massive plants over time, and when they are mature, we estimate they will weigh between 200 and 400 kilograms in about four years. These tropical cultivars, commonly known as climbing trees, require sturdy support before they can cascade downwards to accommodate their growth pattern. A proper support structure behind the weight concerns a pattern exposure for the entire plant, and the cascading branches advocate light where it is needed to produce flowers and fruit. Furthermore, the support system makes each vine and maintenance much easier without the need for trellising, and the plant forms dense masses that restrict airflow and create ideal conditions for disease development.

Pruning for shape and airflow

First, we let a few branches of the plant grow and removed all the other side branches. When two of these branches, which we considered primary branches, reached a suitable height, we then made cuts at their tips so that we could encourage lateral branching. Production pruning works essentially when the plant matures, as a simple, robust plant can produce 30 branches a year. We pruned these two to three times per year, which we have done above, to maintain proper airflow, minimize disease risk, and most importantly, encourage new growth where flowers and fruit develop.

Conclusion

Dragon fruit cultivation usually requires special attention, but the reward is also much better as a result of the efforts. In this guide, we have mentioned the complete techniques on how you can work in it as a topical farmer which will make you a master in production and further, the right environment for successful dragon fruit is proper temperature which is between 65 to 85 degrees and well draining soil which is direct sun for six to eight hours but in the morning not afternoon which is more harsh and damages the plant.

Moreover, it is the sturdy structure of the plant that leads it to an impressive height of 10 to 20 meters and a weight of up to 220 pounds. Moreover, it is also hand pollinate because it has various advantages, and in addition, it is strategically pruned so that, due to the specialize fertilization schedule, it reaches the proper height and the chances of an abundant harvest increase.