fg1 pitaya dragon fruit

8/18/2019 FG1 Pitaya Dragon Fruit http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/fg1-pitaya-dragon-fruit 1/1 Published February 2004 Disclaimer: While all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the information contained in this publication is correct, the information covered is subject to change. The Northern Territory Government does not assume and hereby disclaims any express or implied liability whatsoever to any party for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions, whether these errors or omissions result from negligence, accident or any other cause. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY , 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] Web: www .nt.gov .au/dpif m 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 high organic 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 be avoided) 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 on the equipment being used. Plant 1-4 plants per pole depending on the size of the pole. 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 commercial nurseries and pitaya growers. Seedlings are too variable for commercial production. 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 and flower drop. Under tree sprinklers with a 1-1.5 m diameter wetting area to concentrate water into 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 causing serious damage to plants and fruit. Plants will need some form of netting to prevent 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 main branches 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 a colour 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

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8/18/2019 FG1 Pitaya Dragon Fruit

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/fg1-pitaya-dragon-fruit 1/1

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