How to Grow Dragon Fruit from Seed

Whether it's bright red and green or bright yellow, the vibrant colours of the dragon fruit are hard to miss in the aisle of the grocery store. The fruit has a mild and delicate flavour, with many tiny dark seeds giving a delicious crunch. Equally exotic: a tropical form of cactus native to Central America.

If you are intrigued by the dragon fruit, the tiny seeds scattered over its flesh can quickly sprout and become its dragon fruit plant. Plants can begin flowering in six to eight months, although container-grown plants may take up to two years to bear fruit. The good news is that when the tree grows, you can expect four to six fruiting cycles per year on a tree that can bear fruit for 20 to 30 years.

Dragon Fruit plant benefits

Reduces the risk of diabetes

This fruit is high in fibre, which helps maintain blood sugar levels and prevents spikes in blood sugar in people with diabetes. Eating this fruit regularly can help balance blood sugar levels and prevent other medical consequences in people with diabetes. 

Reduces the risk of cancer

This fruit has anti-cancer properties that may reduce the risk of colon cancer. The high source of vitamin C plays an essential role in increasing the immune system. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that prevents chronic diseases like diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancer, etc.

Good for the eyes

This fruit contains a pigment called beta-carotene (the pigment that gives the fruit its colour), preventing eye problems such as macular degeneration. One cup of dragon fruit per day is good for you.

Good for pregnancy

This fruit is rich in B vitamins, folate, and iron, making it ideal for pregnant women. B vitamins and folic acid prevent congenital disabilities and increase energy during pregnancy. The calcium it contains is responsible for the development of fetal bones. The magnesium helps to fight the complications of postmenopausal women.

Anti-Ageing 

Skin Aging faster can be caused by stress, environmental pollution, and other factors like poor diet. Dragon fruit is a source of antioxidants that can heal sunburn, dry skin, and acne. The vitamin C it contains can brighten skin. You can make dragon fruit juice and drink it once a day for glowing skin.

Good for hair

Try mixing dragon fruit powder with a glass of milk (250 ml) once a day, and it will work for you. The high source of nutrients found in Dragon fruit extract powder reduces hair damage caused by artificial colouring and improves hair texture for soft and shiny hair. All you must do is consume it once a day, and you will witness a change.

Healthy Bones

Good bone health can affect many factors, such as preventing injury, joint pain, etc. All you must do is drink a dragon fruit smoothie every day. This fruit contains 18% magnesium, which contributes to strong bones and good bone health.

Boosts immunity

Dragon fruit has huge levels of vitamin C, which boost immunity and keep you healthy. More vitamin C means our body can fight deadly infections that you may be susceptible to. All you must do is consume 1 cup (200 grams) of this fruit every day to stay healthy.

Good for digestion

Dragon fruit is a rich source of oligosaccharides (a type of carbohydrate) that help grow beneficial bacteria such as plants to aid in smooth digestion. It is high in fibre, which also supports digestive health and helps reduce the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease. 

Good for the heart

The red-fleshed dragon fruit contains betalains (the red colour inside the fruit), which has been shown to lower bad cholesterol. The black seeds inside the fruit are rich in omega-3 and omega-9 fatty acids, which are suitable for the heart and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Baby dragon fruit plant

Sometimes seeds are used to grow a new dragon fruit tree, but plants grown from cuttings will ripen and bear fruit much earlier. The process begins by cutting off the stem about 1 foot long and placing it in a cool, dry place for a week while the cut hardens. Then the amount is dipped in a light potting mix, where it quickly takes root. The new dragon fruit tree will be planted in a pot and ready to grow in about six months.

Dragon fruit plant indoor

Learning to grow dragon fruit is a snap; it just takes a little patience and the proper guidance. The dragon fruit or pitaya is technically a thermophilic cactus. However, if you provide it with a sunny patio or greenhouse., you can enjoy its beautiful flowers and delicious fruits at home for many years.

How to grow dragon fruit plant

Prepare the soil bed

Dragon fruit needs a lot of sun, so choose a sunny spot in your garden that gets six hours of sunshine a day. “Wet feet dry feet” or constantly wet roots) and are rich in organic matter. Don’t use soil for cacti because it is a tropical plant. Dragon fruit loves more water than other cactus species and needs something that holds moisture a little better.

Prepare seeds

Slash the Dragon Fruit in half and scoop the black seeds. Rinse the seed pulp and seeds and place the seeds on a damp paper towel for at least 12 hours.

Plant seeds

Sprinkle the ground with dragon fruit seeds and cover with a thin layer of soil. It’s okay if it just covers the seed. You don’t need to sow deep.

Water

Spray the litter constantly; keep moisture evenly. Cover the base with plastic wrap to trap moisture until the seeds germinate if your soil tends to dry out. 

Thin and transplant

As your dragon fruit plant continue to grow, thin them to make room for each new tree. If you are growing them indoors, transplant them into a larger pot. The final ripening of the dragon fruit will require a pot of at least 20 gallons (at least 20 inches wide) for optimal health.

Support

Once your dragon fruit tree reaches 30cm in height, it will need a support system to continue growing; After all, the dragon fruit is a climbing cactus. Set up a truss or wood stake so the tree can grow.

Range of Dragon fruit plant

The recommended planting distance is three meters between posts and four meters between rows. Correct planting spacing is vital as narrower spacing will yield higher yields than larger ones. Red-fleshed pitaya plants like to grow on trellises or hedges.

Dragon fruit temperature requirements

The tropical climate is suitable for growing dragon fruit, and the temperature is about 25°C is ideal for its growth. When the fruit develops on the tree, you need a temperature of 30°C to 35 ° C, but your tree can also withstand a maximum temperature of 40°C and a minimum of 7°C.

Dragon fruit plant in India

The low maintainability and high profitability of dragon fruit have attracted farming communities across India, resulting in a dramatic increase in dragon fruit cultivation in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Gujarat and Andaman and the Nicobar Islands, as well as many north-eastern states.

A recent estimate by the Agricultural Research Council of India at the National Institute for Abiotic Stress Management in Baramati in Maharashtra shows that dragon fruit is grown on 3,000-4,000 hectares in various states in India. The country produces about 12 thousand tons of fruits annually.