Growing guide
How to grow dragon fruit
A climbing cactus with high establishment cost; frost and extreme heat need managing in the north.
At a glance
- Planting window
- February – March or July – August
- Duration
- First fruit in 12–18 months; full yield from year 3–4
- Climate
- 20–35 °C
- Soil
- Well-drained sandy loam; pH 5.5–7.5
- Water need
- Low
- Plants
- About 450 posts and 1,800 plants per acre at 3 × 3 m
- Spacing
- 300 × 300 cm
- Yield
- Roughly 4–6 tonnes per acre from year 3–4.
What to do, and when
- 1–5 weeks before — Set posts and drip: Concrete posts with top rings.
- Day 0 — Plant cuttings: Four per post.
- Months 1–12 — Tie shoots to posts: Let them cascade over the ring.
- Years 2–20 — Harvest June – November in waves: 30–35 days after flowering.
Varieties to consider
Buy certified seed or planting material from an authorised source.
- Red-fleshed types — Usually priced higher.
- White-fleshed types — Vigorous and common.
Water
- Drip; light and regular in flowering season.
- Never let it go short at: Flowering · Fruit growth
- Drip irrigation suits this crop.
Pests and diseases to watch
Prevent first; spray only when needed, with a product registered for the crop, at label dose.
- Ants, mealybug and fruit fly (undefined) — undefined Treatment: undefined
- Stem rot (undefined) — undefined Treatment: undefined
Yield and economics
Annual running cost for a bearing orchard; setting up posts, plants and drip costs several lakh per acre.
- Cost per acre: undefined
- Yield per acre: undefined
- Price: Indicative farm-gate price (₹100/kg), falling as supply grows
- Margin: undefined
What would you like to do next?
Read more on Agriculture Novel
Where these numbers come from
- Common grower practice in north India Widely followed by farmers; confirm with your KVK for your block.
- Agriculture Novel indicative estimate A planning number, not a quote. Replace it with your own costs and your mandi’s price.
