When is the best time to plant dragon fruit?

Many tropical fruits are very popular in the market now, such as dragon fruit , mango, durian, mangosteen, papaya, etc. When growing pitaya, you need to pay attention to temperature and other conditions. The pitaya tree grows best in a temperature range of 25 to 35 degrees Celsius. When the temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius or rises above 38 degrees Celsius, its growth will be inhibited and it will enter a dormant state. So when is the best time to plant dragon fruit?

When is the best time to plant dragon fruit?

The best time to plant dragon fruit is usually in spring from March to April. The temperature during this period is more suitable for the growth of pitaya plants. In the Pearl River Delta region, pitaya may be planted a little later, around late March to mid-April, because the temperature is more suitable at this time.

Prevention and control of common diseases and pests of pitaya

1. Anthrax

Characteristics: Initially, small yellow or white spots form on the stem surface. Later, the spots expand and connect into pieces, turning yellow or white. The epidermal tissue becomes loose and eventually dries up and turns black.

Prevention and control: Dig out the diseased parts and apply 50% carbendazim, remove the diseased residues and burn them, increase the application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, and use prochloraz, carbendazim and other agents for spraying for prevention.

2. Scab

Characteristics: The lesions are initially brick-red or rust-colored necrotic spots, which later develop into large lesions that affect the normal growth of the plant.

Prevention and control: Select disease-free and healthy seedlings, cut off diseased branches and burn them, apply additional organic activated nutrient package fertilizers as well as calcium and potassium fertilizers, and use biological and chemical control agents.

3. Soft rot

Characteristics: Spots appear on the surface of the plant, which then grow larger and darker in color. Eventually the plant becomes soft, rots, and emits a foul odor.

Prevention and control: Clean the fields in time, remove diseased fruits, cultivate strong seedlings, apply more nutritious fertilizers such as Jiamei Bonus and Hailibao, drain water in time during the rainy season, and spray agricultural agents such as streptomycin sulfate.

4. Ulcer

Characteristics: After pitaya is infected, ulcer-like spots appear on the surface of the plant.

Prevention and control: disinfect the soil, ensure ventilation and light transmission, reduce humidity in the orchard , avoid flooding, and choose drip irrigation.

5. Pests

Common pests include red spiders, loopers, and caterpillars.

Prevention and control: Spray with avermectin EC, propargite EC, cypermethrin EC and other pesticides, combined with biological control and agricultural control measures.

When carrying out disease and pest control, agricultural control, physical control and biological control methods should be given priority, with chemical control as an auxiliary means. At the same time, attention should be paid to the rotation of drugs to prevent pathogens from developing drug resistance. In addition, daily management of the dragon fruit orchard is also very important, including reasonable fertilization, timely watering, keeping the orchard clean, etc., to enhance the plant's disease resistance.

The above is an introduction to the planting time of pitaya. In areas with suitable climate, pitaya can actually be planted all year round, but the most suitable time is spring.