Growing high-yield dragon fruit on Phu Quy land
(Baonghean.vn) Mr. Do Van Khoan, Binh Hai hamlet (Nghia Binh commune, Nghia Dan) has successfully grown white-fleshed and red-fleshed dragon fruit for several years now.
Neighbors in the neighborhood said: Currently, this fruit variety has been grown a lot in Nghia Dan, Quy Hop, but the products sold in the market are often small and sour. In the neighborhood, there are houses with the same type of land as Mr. Khoan, but each tree only has 10 to 20 fruits, as big as light bulbs, 5-6 fruits make 1 kg. On the contrary, Mr. Khoan's dragon fruit is green and lush, each tree has over 60 fruits, an average of 3 fruits per kg. Both red-fleshed and white-fleshed varieties are sweet, cool, and the fruit is beautiful and shiny.
Dragon fruit garden of Mr. Do Van Khoan, Binh Hai hamlet (Nghia Binh commune, Nghia Dan)
Mr. Khoan said: Growing dragon fruit is not expensive but very elaborate. The variety was brought from Binh Thuan but through the practice of growing on the red basalt soil of Nghia Dan, he has concluded a suitable method. The characteristics of the dragon fruit tree are that it is suitable for hot and sunny climates, is drought tolerant, and cannot withstand waterlogging. It can be grown on gray soil, red soil but requires good drainage. Dragon fruit is a tree with a bunch of stems that needs support. It will bear fruit after 2-3 years of planting. On Nghia Dan soil, the white-fleshed variety grows stronger, the fruit is bigger and sweeter than the red-fleshed variety. However, customers prefer the red-fleshed variety because it is more beautiful and attractive.
Dragon fruit is a plant that needs a lot of light so it must be planted sparsely, with a planting density of about 2.8 m - 3.0 m. For Nghia Dan area, it can be planted in October - November when the soil is still moist and roots take root quickly.
In care, there are 3 things to note to do correctly: pruning, flowering treatment and fruit protection. After the fruit harvest, 2/3 of the old branches and diseased branches need to be pruned. During the care and fertilization process (when pruning for the first time, apply 0.3 to 0.5 kg NPK/pillar). When the dragon fruit has entered the fruiting stage, apply 10 - 15 kg of organic fertilizer per pillar annually, and continue to cut off weak and stunted branches. It is necessary to spray MgNo3 to stimulate new branches to grow quickly and limit branch blight during the dry season.
Flowering treatment is a key technical step. Only when the sun is warm and sunny from the third lunar month onwards will dragon fruit flower. However, late flowering will affect the quality and yield, so it is necessary to stimulate temperature and light with electric lights. Usually, they flower after being lit for about a week. During this period, it is necessary to fertilize with 3 to 5 ounces of NPK and add a certain amount of nitrogen for each pillar. It is necessary to fertilize with 3 to 5 ounces of NPK and add a certain amount of nitrogen for each pillar. Note that after each fruit crop, fertilize with a few ounces of NPK for each pillar to make the tree last longer.
Fruit protection is the step of "beautifying the appearance" to sell at a good price, so it needs attention. Although dragon fruit trees and their fruits are often less susceptible to pests than other fruits, they are still damaged by ants, stink bugs and fruit flies. To prevent maggots (fruit fly larvae), in addition to chemical treatment, we should collect and destroy rotten fruits to kill underground pupae and ants.
Mr. Khoan affirmed: On the red basalt land of Phu Quy, the soil and climate are completely suitable for growing dragon fruit. The problem is that it requires diligence, investment and meticulous care.
Hoang Chinh