Dragon Fruit
Hylocereus undatus
- Days to harvest
- 365–548 days
- Sunlight
- 6–10 hours/day
- Watering
- 2–4 per day
- Plant spacing
- 300 cm
- Minimum container size
- 50cm deep × 50cm wide
- Container-friendly
- 1 plants per container
- Estimated yield
- 350 kg / 100m²
- Life span
- perennial
Climate Requirements
- Ideal temperature
- 20-38 °C
- Annual rainfall
- 600-1300 mm
- Humidity
- 60-80%
- Heat tolerance
- high
- Drought tolerance
- high
Highly heat and drought tolerant. Thrives in urban environments. Requires minimal water once established. Perfect for hot, dry urban balconies and rooftops.
Soil & Planting
Planting method
Cutting on concrete pole or wooden post; 2x3 m; trellis required
Soil requirements
Sandy loam, very well-drained, pH 6.0-7.5; drought tolerant
Companion Plants
- Lemongrassmoderate
Lemongrass border repels fruit flies and ants from dragon fruit; aromatic pest barrier
- Pineapplemoderate
Pineapple ground cover between dragon fruit poles retains moisture and suppresses weeds
- Groundnut / Peanutmoderate
Groundnut ground cover fixes nitrogen and suppresses weeds between dragon fruit poles
Common Pests & Diseases
Safety Notes
Fruit fly and ants are main pests. Use methyl eugenol traps. Avoid broad-spectrum insecticides that harm pollinators (flowers open at night, pollinated by moths/bats). Harvest with gloves — thorns present.
Market Demand
Very High — premium fresh fruit; export to China, Japan, Middle East; pink-flesh (red-flesh) commands 2x premium
Regional Notes
Malaysia is a major exporter to China. Kedah, Perak, Johor primary production zones. Red-flesh varieties (H. polyrhizus) fetch RM 8-15/kg wholesale.
Sources
- MARDI Tropical Fruit Research 2024 — Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute · Last reviewed: 2024-06-01
Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Category: Tropical Fruit