Pink Dragon Fruit

Here’s a full guide on Pink Dragon Fruit (Pitaya) – Description, Farming, and Benefits 👇

🌸 Pink Dragon Fruit (Description):-

• Scientific Name: Hylocereus undatus (commonly white flesh) and Hylocereus polyrhizus (red/pink flesh).
• Family: Cactaceae
• Fruit Shape & Size: Oval or pear-shaped, 200 g – 800 g each.
• Skin: Bright pink with green scaly bracts.
• Flesh: Can be white, pink, or red, depending on the variety.
• Taste: Sweet, mildly tangy, refreshing like kiwi and melon.
• Nutritional Value: Rich in Vitamin C, antioxidants, calcium, magnesium, fiber, and betalains (natural pigments).

🌱 Pink Dragon Fruit Farming:

1. Climate & Soil:

• Climate: Tropical & subtropical; thrives in warm, humid climates (20–30°C).
• Rainfall: Needs 600–1,200 mm annually, but waterlogging must be avoided.
• Soil: Well-drained sandy loam or red soil, pH 5.5 – 7.0.

2. Propagation:-

• Mostly propagated by stem cuttings (easy and fast).
• Tissue culture also used for commercial farming.

3. Planting:-

• Spacing: 2–3 m between rows, 2 m between plants.
• Support: Grows as a climbing cactus, so cement/concrete poles with a circular ring are needed for support.
• Planting Season: Best before monsoon (June–July).

4. Irrigation:-

• Requires light but frequent watering.
• Drip irrigation is ideal.
• Avoid waterlogging (roots are sensitive).

5. Manure & Fertilizer:-

• Apply FYM (Farmyard manure) 10–15 kg/plant/year.
• NPK fertilizers in balanced amounts during flowering and fruiting.
• Organic compost improves yield and fruit quality.

6. Flowering & Fruiting:-

• Flowers are large, white, fragrant, and nocturnal (bloom at night).
• Fruit harvesting starts 9–12 months after planting.
• Main fruiting season: June to November (3–5 harvests possible).

7. Yield:-

• Each plant can produce 20–30 fruits annually.
• Average yield: 8–10 tons per acre (after 3rd year onwards).

🍉 Benefits of Pink Dragon Fruit:-

✅ Nutritional & Health Benefits:-

• Boosts immunity (Vitamin C, antioxidants).
• Good for digestion (high fiber).
• Heart health (reduces cholesterol, rich in magnesium).
• Controls blood sugar (low glycemic index, good for diabetics).
• Skin & hair health (antioxidants, hydration).
• Weight management (low-calorie, high-fiber).

✅ Farming & Economic Benefits:-

• High demand in domestic & export markets.
• Grows well in wastelands & drought-prone areas.
• Requires low maintenance once established.
• High returns: Price ranges ₹150–₹250/kg in India, even higher in off-season.

✨ In short: Pink Dragon Fruit is a climate-smart, high-value fruit crop with good profitability and health benefits.

Do you want me to also prepare a short version (one-paragraph quick guide) for easy reference, like I made earlier for other fruits?