Download - FG1 Pitaya Dragon Fruit
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Published February 2004
Disclaimer:
While all reasonable effortshave been made to ensure thatthe information contained inthis publication is correct, the
information covered is subjectto change. The NorthernTerritory Government does not
assume and hereby disclaimsany express or implied liabilitywhatsoever to any party for anyloss or damage caused by
errors or omissions, whetherthese errors or omissions resultfrom negligence, accident orany other cause.
DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARYINDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES
Crops, Forestry and
Horticulture Division
GPO Box 3000
Darwin NT 0801
Tel: 08 8999 2357
Fax: 08 8999 2049
Email: [email protected]: www.nt.gov.au/dpifm
Growing Note FG1
Pitaya (Dragon Fruit)
Gerry McMahon, Senior Technical Officer, DPIFM Darwin
Site Selection: Site should be free draining with a sandy loam soil with a highorganic content.
Ground Preparation: Rows or individual sites are mounded to 300 mm, poles
should be no more than 2 m long with 600mm in the ground.
Poles can be anything from concrete to PVC, (but treated timber should beavoided) with a frame attached to the top to allow the plant to hang down.
Plant spacings are 2.5–3 m within rows and 3–4 m between rows depending onthe equipment being used. Plant 1-4 plants per pole depending on the size of thepole. The addition of dolomite and organic fertiliser at planting is beneficial.
Red flesh pitaya prefers to grow on a trellis or fence line.
Planting Material: Cuttings can be purchased from some local commercialnurseries and pitaya growers. Seedlings are too variable for commercialproduction.
Irrigation: Water daily through the dry at a volume of 80 L/day, regular organic
mulching is strongly recommended.
Water stress can cause fruit splitting; slow shoot development, yellowing andflower drop.
Under tree sprinklers with a 1-1.5 m diameter wetting area to concentrate waterinto root zone are suitable.
Nutrition: NPK+TE, dolomite, and dynamic lifter can be applied on alternate
months at a rate of 100g/plant.
J F M A M J J A S O N D
NPK + TE
Dolomite
Dynamic Lifter
Pests: Meat ants, ginger ants, and birds have been recorded as causingserious damage to plants and fruit. Plants will need some form of netting toprevent bird damage to fruit.
Diseases: A soft watery rot can occur after damage such as sunburn.
Pruning: Side shoots need to be removed from the main stem as the plant is
being established. Refer to the Pitaya Pruning Information Sheet – IO11.
After harvest mature plants should be pruned to a maximum of 50 mainbranches in order to maintain a productive canopy.
Harvest: First fruit can be harvested in approximately 15-18 months after
planting.
Fruit can be harvested approximately 28 days after fruit set when there is acolour change from green to 85% pink.
Fruit harvested with a red skin colour are generally larger and sweeter.
Post Harvest: Fruit will keep for two to three months in a cool room at 7-10ºC
and 90-98% relative humidity.Reference: http://www.horticulture.nt.gov.au
Red-flesh Pitaya
White-flesh Pitaya