Red Dragon Fruit

Got it ✅ — you are asking about Red Dragon Fruit (Pitaya) description, farming methods, and benefits. Here’s a detailed guide for you:

🌺 Red Dragon Fruit (Pitaya) – Description

• Scientific name: Hylocereus costaricensis / Hylocereus polyrhizus
• Family: Cactaceae (Cactus family)
• Shape & Size: Oval to oblong fruit, weighing 200–600 grams.
• Skin: Bright pink to red with green-tipped scales.
• Flesh: Deep red to magenta, juicy with tiny black seeds.
• Taste: Sweet, mildly earthy, and refreshing.
• TSS (Sweetness): 12–15° Brix on average.

🌱 Farming of Red Dragon Fruit:-

1. Climate

• Best in tropical & subtropical regions.
• Temperature: 20°C – 35°C.
• Requires 6–8 hours of sunlight daily.
• Tolerates drought, but not waterlogging.

2. Soil:-

• Well-drained sandy loam or loamy soil.
• pH: 5.5 – 7 (slightly acidic to neutral).
• Raised beds or mounds are preferred to avoid waterlogging.

3. Planting:-

• Propagated through stem cuttings (most common) or seeds.
• Plant spacing: 3m × 3m (about 1000–1200 plants per acre).
• Support system needed: Concrete/wooden poles with circular rings for climbing.

4. Irrigation:-

• Light but frequent watering.
• Drip irrigation is best.
• Avoid excess water during fruiting.

5. Flowering & Fruiting:-

• Starts flowering after 8–12 months of planting.
• Flowers bloom at night (large white fragrant flowers).
• Fruits ready in 30–35 days after flowering.
• Harvest season: July – November (multiple flushes).

6. Yield :-

• Average yield: 8–10 tons per acre annually after 3 years.
• Plants remain productive for 15–20 years.

🍇 Benefits of Red Dragon Fruit:-

1. Nutritional Benefits:-

• Rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin B1, B2, B3.
• Contains calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus.
• High in dietary fiber and natural antioxidants.
• Low in calories, fat-free.

2. Health Benefits:-

• Boosts immunity and fights infections.
• Improves digestion and prevents constipation.
• Regulates blood sugar (beneficial for diabetics).
• Helps in weight management.
• Improves skin glow and delays aging (antioxidants).
• Supports heart health by reducing bad cholesterol.

3. Economic Benefits:-

• High market demand (domestic + export).
• Less input cost compared to many fruit crops.
• Long shelf life (7–10 days).
• Can be sold fresh, as juice, wine, jams, ice-cream flavor, etc.

👉 Do you also want me to prepare a short version (shape, color, weight, sweetness, taste, TSS, brix) like we did for your other mango/orange farming notes?