How to grow dragon fruit and when does it ripen?

1. Sowing time

The best time to sow dragon fruit is in summer when the temperature should be around 30℃. If the temperature is below 25℃, it is difficult for the seeds to germinate. Therefore, it is not suitable to sow in spring, autumn and winter. If the indoor temperature meets the standard, sowing can be carried out, but the air humidity must be maintained between 75%-90%.

2. How to sow

Dragon fruit is not very demanding on the soil and can grow well even in mountains, wastelands or dry land. In order to ensure rapid growth of the plant, you can add an appropriate amount of fermented chicken manure as base fertilizer. Bury the seeds in the soil, cover them with a layer of fine soil, then pour an appropriate amount of water, maintain a high temperature and humidity, and they will generally sprout in about 7-10 days.

3. Seedling Management

After the seedlings emerge, water them frequently to keep the soil moist. Although it is a plant of the cactus family, too much drought will stop its growth. After one month, you can apply fertilizer appropriately. Use a dilute urea solution with a concentration not exceeding 2%. If it is too concentrated, it will easily cause the plant to grow too tall and there is a risk of burning the roots.

4. Winter maintenance

Dragon fruit is afraid of cold, so it is difficult to survive the winter. Once the temperature drops below 10℃, you have to start keeping warm. It is easier to grow it in a greenhouse, but if you grow it in pots, you must move it indoors in time to prevent the plants from being frostbitten. It needs to receive appropriate light at normal times, and sufficient light is also conducive to growth and overwintering.

5. When to mature

Dragon fruit usually matures from May to November, and it takes 40 days from flowering to maturity. It should be noted that there may not be many fruits when you first start planting, but it will enter its peak fruit-bearing period in three years. In addition, it is not advisable to pick the fruits when the skin is green. You must wait until it turns purple-red before picking them.