Dragon fruit is gaining popularity due to its impressive health benefits, including high levels of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. It commands premium market prices, offering farmers better income per unit area compared to traditional crops. With significant demand both domestically and internationally, exporting dragon fruit can further boost earnings. Once established, the plants require relatively low maintenance, reducing input costs over time.

For farmers in the arid and semi-arid zones of Punjab, dragon fruit cultivation presents a promising alternative. The government should provide training on best practices for cultivation, pest and disease management, and post-harvest handling. Additionally, developing strong market linkages is crucial to ensuring farmers receive fair prices. This can be achieved through direct marketing, cooperatives, and partnerships with exporters. By utilizing the crop’s suitability to the local climate, alongside strategic support and market development, dragon fruit cultivation can significantly enhance income levels and offer a sustainable agricultural model for the region.

Good afternoon, yes, it seems like a good option to me, in Spain there are some places that grow it because at this time it is raining very little:

Regards.

"Growing pitahaya in greenhouses: everything you need to know

03/17/2024

We tell you everything you need to know about growing pitahaya in greenhouses and what the development of this tropical fruit that is so popular in Spain and the rest of Europe is like.

The tropical and exotic fruit sector in the EU has had exponential growth in the last ten years, with an increase in imports of these fruits that can also be grown in garden greenhouses.

Many of these fruits were incorporated into the daily consumption habits of the population and increasingly occupy places on supermarket shelves. Dragon fruit is one of these fruits and in this article we are going to tell you everything you need to know about how to grow it in greenhouses.

What is pitahaya?

Properties of Pitahaya

Origin of Pitahaya

Pitahaya Varieties

Benefits of growing pitahaya in Spain

Best conditions to grow Pitahaya

Climate for pitahaya

Pitahaya Plantation

Irrigation for pitahaya

Pitahaya cultivation techniques

Pests and diseases of pitahaya

What is pitahaya?

Pitaya or dragon fruit is a fruit that stands out for its tropical appearance and its quintessentially sweet flavor.

This fruit originates from the cactus of the genus Hylocereus, which has about 20 different species, a climbing cactus plant that grows at high altitudes, with thick branches and produces red or yellow fruits.

The pitaya also has some of the largest flowers in the world, which bloom for a single night as white flowers and have a very characteristic tropical aroma.

Properties of Pitahaya

Pitaya has different properties that are very favorable for people. It is consumed raw and although the peel can be hard, it can be cut into slices, served mixed or even frozen. Its flavor is really delicious.

The properties of pitahaya are the following:

It contains a lot of fiber.

Helps strengthen the immune system.

Helps reduce blood sugar.

Rich in antioxidants.

Origin of Pitahaya

The origin of the pitahaya is Latin America, since it is one of the endemic species of that continent and in general they are not well known in the rest of the world and have only recently been the subject of studies.

As for the term “pitaya,” it is generic and includes several different species, so it can lead to confusion when mentioning it. Currently there are few species of pitahaya on the market, such as red pitahaya, yellow pitahaya, a fruit with a yellow skin and white pulp and fruits with red skin and white or red pulp, depending on the species.

It must also be said that the publications available on pitahaya deal with very specific topics related to the difficulties encountered by countries that have introduced the new species; The main research topics are floral biology and ecophysiology.

The pitahaya was an unknown fruit about fifteen years ago, although it currently occupies a growing niche in the exotic fruit market in Europe, as mentioned above, and is also established in the internal markets of producing countries, such as Colombia. , Costa Rica, Vietnam, Nicaragua and Mexico.

It is possible to find crops on different scales in Australia, Israel, Reunion Island and also in Spain.

Pitahaya Varieties

In Spain, pitahaya of different varieties is grown, which even through the cross-pollination system can give rise to new varieties of this fruit for commercialization.

Some of the pitaya varieties that can be found in Spain are:

Hylocereus Hybridum. In this variant the pitahaya fruit is also red, but on the outside and inside. It has a sweet and very pleasant flavor. Due to its characteristics, it is classified as productive and is sought after in export markets. Its flowering is from June to October, in summer or autumn.

Hylocereus Costaricensis. This variety of pitaya is from Costa Rica, red in color and is easy to grow and fast growing. It grows in temperate climates with temperatures ranging between 10º C and 35º C. Fertile soil with good drainage should be used, in full sun or partial shade exposures. It blooms from July to October, so the extra light in early spring stimulates the production of flower buds.

Hylocereus Polyrhizus (Red Jaina). In the case of the Red Jaina variety, it is one of those that produces the most kilos of fruit. It has a semisweet flavor, it is also very pleasant and widely used for juicing. It has antioxidant potential due to its large amount of crimson red lycopene.

Hylocereus Guatemalensis. It is a pitahaya of origin in Guatemala, in Central America. It has rapid growth and offers great productivity and resistance. The color of the fruit is bright purple in the flesh and deep pink in the skin."

Laura Baena Irshad Ahmad Thoker Thank you very much for your valuable inputs.

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Hylocereus Isis Gold (Yellow without thorns). This pitahaya called Isis Golden is a fruit with yellow skin and white flesh. It has a very juicy pulp, with a very sweet flavor similar to kiwi or pear. The harvest season for this variety is from August to November.

Hylocereus Undatus. This is the most cultivated in Spain and is native to Central America. It has a red color and is cultivated as an ornamental plant and for its fruits. It grows in temperate climates with temperatures of 10º C to 35º C (between June and October), and is planted in fertile soils with good drainage, in exposures to full sun or partial shade, if the climate is very hot (use shading mesh ).

Benefits of growing pitahaya in Spain

Growing pitahaya in Spain offers different benefits and opportunities.

In principle, the Mediterranean climate is conducive to the cultivation of this tropical fruit both in the south and east of Spain, with the Canary Islands, along with Malaga and the coast of Granada as the main national producers.

Crops are also being achieved in Almería, Murcia and the rest of the

Mediterranean coast with large greenhouses.

Regarding the specific benefits that its cultivation provides, it must be said that there are various reasons among farmers that are detailed below:

The Mediterranean climate that the south and southeast of Spain offers is ideal for the growth of this fruit, mainly to do it in a greenhouse, but also some outdoors. In a Fertri mini-tunnel greenhouse the adaptation of this plant is extremely effective, which is why this structure is recommended as one of the ideal ones for correct development.

In Europe, the demand for pitahaya is growing as its consumption is fashionable. This is generating greater demand over supply.

Growing pitahaya needs less water than other traditional greenhouse crops, such as peppers, tomatoes or cucumbers.

Increasingly extensive experience of farmers regarding the staking that pitaya plantations require to develop correctly.

It offers between 3 to 7 annual harvests, depending on variety, age, climate and plant care.

It is possible to use drip irrigation systems installed for other crops on pitahaya. In this way, the investment to start a new plantation decreases.

Better conditions for this type of crop

Growing pitahaya requires special conditions. This fruit is from the cactus family but not like those that grow in the desert, but being a subtropical plant from Central and South America it thrives in soft and humid environments.

Then it can be referenced that the pitaya develops better in warm subhumid climates; when the temperature is between 16ºC – 25ºC (optimal values).

For growing pitaya in greenhouses, the ideal temperature is between 5ºC – 45ºC; Beyond the fact that its optimal temperature for growing under plastic is 10ºC to 35ºC.

Climate for pitahaya

The climate for growing pitaya is ideally in subtropical areas, especially Central America, Vietnam, although there are also plantations in South Africa, Israel or Australia, as mentioned above.

But this fruit also develops and adapts very well to temperate climates, such as the Mediterranean.

That is why the optimal temperature range for growing pitaya is estimated between 25ºC and 16ºC. Although it supports between -2ºC and +40ºC occasionally.

In Spain the production areas are the Canary Islands, Almería, Valencian Community, Málaga, Murcia, Cádiz, Huelva, Seville and other communities, whether in greenhouses or with shade.

They are also spreading to other colder areas, with excellent harvests but always in a greenhouse.

Pitahaya Plantation

The pitaya plantation is reproduced by cuttings, that is, a stem fragment, and its planting is carried out at the beginning of spring and autumn, according to the area.

It is classified as a climbing plant that needs some type of guide to grow and develop. For this reason, it is advisable to set up a tutoring system that allows their development to be properly directed.

It must also be said that pitaya pollination can be crossed with compatible varieties or with self-pollination, depending on the variety. In this way the quality and quantity of the harvest is determined.

As for the pitaya flower, it only opens once at night and closes in the morning, so pollination takes place in this brief interval.

Irrigation for pitahaya

Regarding irrigation for the pitahaya, it should be noted that it needs it regularly to develop and produce its fruits. (...)"

< https://fertri.com/2024/03/cultivo-de-pitahaya-en-invernaderos/ >

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Pitahaya cultivation techniques

The pitahaya cultivation technique is new. It began to be developed about fifteen years ago and now there is experience on how to do it correctly.

This agronomic knowledge is linked to traditional cultivation methods but has changed considerably in new production areas, which have been adapted and improved to overcome the problems encountered.

Pests and diseases of pitahaya

Pitahaya pests and diseases are considerably rare in the Hylocereus variety. This is the case of ants belonging to Atta and Solenopsis, which can cause significant damage to plants, flowers and fruits.

The beetle Cotinus mutabilis also acts harmfully against the pitahaya: it pierces the stem and while the leptoglossus zonatus sucks the sap and leaves stains and some deformation. It is possible to find different species of aphids and scales on fruits and flowers.

Also part of the pests of this fruit are rats and birds. Both can cause serious damage, mainly to flowers and fruits, but also to ripe fruits.

Bees (Apis mellifera) conspire against manual pollination, but it should be allowed. Bees are extremely efficient and, in just a few hours of activity, they will have harvested the pollen. Then the pollen must be collected before the bees arrive and manual pollination must be carried out the next morning as soon as the bees have left the plantation.

Regarding fungal diseases, Gloeosporium agaves, Macssonina agaves, Dothiorella sp. and Botryosphaeria dothidea, while viral ones such as Cactus virus X and bacterial ones in the case of Xanthomonas sp. and Erwinia sp., can also have important negative consequences.

To prevent the dragon fruit from being affected by pests and diseases, one of the recommendations is to work on its care and development in greenhouses with an adaptable structure, such as the Fertri straight-walled tunnel greenhouse, which offers great versatility for these crops because it is resistant, easy to install and does not require any maintenance."

Regards,

With the approval and recommendation of Red Dragon 1 and White Dragon 1 varieties by the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), there's a significant opportunity for crop diversification and increased income for farmers in the state. However, it's important to note that successful dragon fruit cultivation requires proper knowledge, infrastructure, and initial investment. Farmers may need training in cultivation techniques, access to quality planting material, and support in marketing their produce. Additionally, adequate infrastructure for post-harvest handling and transportation is crucial to ensure the quality of the produce reaches the market.

Ajay Kamboj Thank You Kamboj Paji for your valuable response.