Dragon fruit, with its unique appearance and delicious taste, has been widely welcomed in the market. However, for farmers who want to grow dragon fruit, how to make it bear fruit quickly is a very important issue. This article will explore the growth of dragon fruit by combining years of practical experience and scientific research, providing valuable references for farmers.
Understanding the Basic Characteristics of Dragon Fruit
Dragon fruit is a cactus plant, usually red or yellow. Its fruit is sweet, nutritious, and deeply loved by people. Dragon fruit loves a warm, humid, and well-lit growing environment and is suitable for growing in places with higher temperatures.
Selecting Suitable Seedlings
Growing dragon fruit requires selecting seedlings that are healthy, free from pests and diseases, of pure variety, with a beautiful shape, and of an appropriate age. Usually, 2-3 year old dragon fruit trees are more likely to bear fruit, with larger and sweeter fruits.
Reasonably Selecting the Planting Location
Dragon fruit loves light but is not cold-hardy. When planting dragon fruit, a place with sufficient light, suitable temperature, good drainage, and no waterlogging is needed. It is best to choose south, east, or west-facing slopes or flat land for planting.
Mastering the Appropriate Planting Time
Dragon fruit prefers a warm and humid environment and is generally planted in spring and autumn. In northern regions, the best planting time is from May to June and from September to October each year.
Reasonable Fertilization
Fertilization is one of the keys to ensuring the rapid growth of dragon fruit. In the initial planting stage, organic fertilizers can be used to increase soil fertility, which is conducive to the rapid growth of dragon fruit. During the fruiting period, appropriate potassium fertilizer should be applied for top-dressing.
Moderate Watering
Dragon fruit has a large demand for water, but it is also important to be moderate. Overwatering can lead to root suffocation, affecting its growth. When planting dragon fruit, it is necessary to water appropriately according to the actual situation.
Reasonable Pruning of Branches
Proper pruning of dragon fruit branches can promote the growth of its branches and new shoots, which is beneficial for increasing fruit yield and quality. Pruning should be done on sunny and well-ventilated days, and it is also important not to over-prune.
Pest and Disease Control
Dragon fruit is susceptible to pests such as red spiders, whiteflies, and spider mites, and it is also prone to diseases such as anthracnose and dry rot. When growing dragon fruit, it is necessary to prevent and control pests and diseases in a timely manner to ensure its healthy growth.
Paying Attention to Flower Bud Care
Flower buds are a prerequisite for dragon fruit to bear fruit, so special attention needs to be paid to their care during the flowering period. Unhealthy flowers and branches need to be regularly removed to promote the normal flowering and fruiting of dragon fruit.
Scientific Pollination
The main pollination methods for dragon fruit are natural pollination and artificial pollination. Generally, the effect of natural pollination is poor, so it is recommended to use artificial pollination, using cotton swabs or brushes to apply pollen to the stigma, which helps to increase the yield and quality of the fruit.
Strengthening Environmental Management
When growing dragon fruit, it is necessary to strengthen environmental management to ensure the hygiene and cleanliness of its growing environment. It is necessary to pay attention to regular weeding, loosening the soil, drainage, and other work to ensure the growth conditions of dragon fruit.
Timely Fruit Harvesting
The harvesting period for dragon fruit is usually about 7-10 days after the fruit turns red. It is important to handle the fruit gently during harvesting to prevent bruising, and it is also necessary to avoid harvesting too early or too late.
Scientific Fruit Storage
After harvesting, dragon fruit needs to be stored scientifically. Generally, dragon fruit is suitable for storage in an environment of about 10°C, where it can remain fresh for 3-4 weeks without rotting.
Moderate Packaging for Sale
The unique appearance of dragon fruit makes it suitable for gift box packaging for sale. However, when packaging for sale, it is important not to over-tie to prevent affecting the quality of the fruit.
As a valuable fruit, the cultivation, management, and sales of dragon fruit must comply with scientific standards to ensure its high quality and high yield. Farmers need to combine their own experience with the actual situation, continuously explore and innovate, to make the dragon fruit industry develop and grow.