Instructions for choosing varieties and planting seasons for dragon fruit
White-flesh and red-flesh dragon fruit require different climates and soils. Instructions for comparing two varieties, choosing the appropriate planting season in Binh Thuan, Long An and Tien Giang so that the tree grows well in the first year.
Summary: New dragon fruit orchards fail 30-50 percent if they choose varieties that are not suitable for the region's climate or are planted at the wrong season. Binh Thuan has a traditional white-flesh dragon fruit orchard, while red-flesh grows strongly in Long An and Tien Giang. This article explains how to choose varieties and decide on the season — two fundamental decisions for a 15-20 year orchard.
Applies to: New dragon fruit growers in Binh Thuan, Long An, Tien Giang, Tay Ninh, Vinh Long.
Duration: Decide 60-90 days before sowing.
Difficulty level: Basic but decisive for long-term effects.
Estimated additional costs: 30-50 million VND per hectare for seedlings and initial planting.
Two commercial varieties of dragon fruit
White-fleshed dragon fruit (Malay variety)
The most popular variety, grown on a large area in Binh Thuan since the 1990s.
- Yield: 25-40 tons of fruit per hectare per year (commercial crop).
- Fruit weight: 350-600 grams per fruit.
- Flesh color: white, with small black seeds.
- Taste: sweet, slightly sour.
- Fruit bearing age: 18-24 months after planting.
- Economic life cycle: 18-25 years.
- Suitable regions: Binh Thuan, Long An, Tien Giang, Tay Ninh. Can withstand heat well.
- Market: Large domestic market, main exports to China and India.
Red flesh dragon fruit
Developing strongly since 2010, noted for its high market prices.
- Yield: 20-35 tons per hectare per year.
- Fruit weight: 300-500 grams per fruit.
- Fruit color: natural dark red (contains betacyanin).
- Taste: sweeter than the white flesh, slightly sour.
- Fruit bearing age: similar to white flesh.
- Economic life cycle: 15-20 years.
- Suitable regions: Long An, Tien Giang, Vinh Long. Less resistant to prolonged heat than white flesh — not suitable for dry Binh Thuan.
- Market: Export to the US, Australia, Japan, Korea, Europe. The price is 30-60 percent higher than white intestine.
Some new varieties are being recommended
- Long Dinh dragon fruit 1 (red flesh): improved variety of the Southern Fruit Tree Institute. Quite resistant to pests. Currently recommended for the Mekong Delta.
- Long Dinh 5 dragon fruit (yellow skin, white flesh): new variety, high-end niche market.
Compare the two main varieties
| Criteria | White intestines | Red intestines |
|---|---|---|
| Productivity | 25-40 tons/ha | 20-35 tons/ha |
| Selling price (average 2024) | 8,000-15,000 VND/kg | 15,000-30,000 VND/kg |
| Heat resistant | Good | Average |
| Resistant to waterlogging | Average | Fair |
| Care required | Average | Higher |
| Economic life cycle | 18-25 years | 15-20 years |
| Disease risk | Average | Higher (sensitive to anthracnose) |
| Export market | Asia | USA, Australia, Japan, EU |
The decision to choose a breed is based on three factors:
- Climate zone: Binh Thuan is dry and hot — white flesh is preferred. The Mekong Delta is wetter — both are suitable, but red goose fares better.
- Target market: domestic sale or China — white flesh is easy to consume. High-end export — red flesh.
- Investment ability: red intestines need to be invested in more care, with larger initial capital.
Planting season
Binh Thuan Region
- Best months: September-November (beginning of the dry season) or May-June (beginning of the rainy season).
- Avoid: December-March (peak of dry season) — newly planted trees need a lot of watering, Binh Thuan region is extremely dry during this period.
Mekong Delta
- Best months: May-July (early rainy season) or November-December (late rainy season, soil is still moist).
- Avoid: August-October (peak of rainy season) — flooded soil, waterlogged seedlings. Unless you have a high gear.
Southeast Region
- Best month: May-June (early rainy season).
- Avoid: December-April (dry season) — this area dries quickly, seedlings have not had time to stabilize their roots.
Why is seasonality important
Planting at the right time helps:
- Seedling survival rate 95-98 percent instead of 70-80 percent.
- Stabilized plants take root quickly, get into business sooner.
- Reduce irrigation costs to save plants in the early stages.
Prepare seedlings
Seedling type
Dragon fruit reproduces mainly by branches (cuttings). Two types:
- Cuttings 30-50 centimeters long: produce fruit quickly but need a mother plant.
- Cuttings kept in pots for 3-6 months: more standard, have roots, high survival rate.
Select:
- Cuttings from a healthy mother tree, no pests and diseases, have given fruit 2-3 seasons.
- Round, plump, undamaged.
- Cut cuttings on a dry day, the cut must be clean.
- Dry the cutting for 5-7 days in the shade before cutting — prevents rot.
Breed yourself or buy
- Self-propagation: cheap, proactive, but requires knowledge and source of mother plants.
- Buy: convenient, certified, but costs 30-50 percent more. Buy from provincial seed centers, plant institutes, licensed companies.
Number of seedlings
- Standard orchard density: 1,000-1,100 pillars per hectare.
- Each pillar has 4 cuttings (4 sides of the pillar).
- Total 4,000-4,400 cuttings per hectare.
- Prepare an additional 10 percent for replanting.
Planting and caring for the first month
Prepare pillars and soil
- Concrete pillars 1.7-1.8 meters high above the ground (buried 30-40 centimeters deep).
- The soil should be loose and have drainage. Lightly flooded areas must be 30-50 centimeters high.
- Basic fertilizer for each pillar: 5-8 kilograms of manure + 200-300 grams of phosphate + 0.5 kilograms of lime.
Plant cuttings
- Place 4 cuttings around the post, each cutting 5-10 cm away from the post.
- The base of the cuttings is buried 10-15 centimeters deep.
- Tie the cutting gently to the post with soft string.
- Irrigate immediately after planting.
The first month after planting
- Irrigate 3-5 liters of water per pillar, every 2-3 days (dry season). The rainy season reduces frequency.
- Temporarily shade 30 percent in the first 2 weeks if planting in the dry season.
- Check to see if the cuttings are alive — dead cuttings will have yellow brown tips, and if you scratch them with your hand, you will see they are dry.
- The transplanted cuttings died within the first month.
February-June
- Irrigate 2-3 times a week (dry season).
- Light fertilizer: NPK 16-16-8 at a dose of 30-50 grams per cylinder, every 30-45 days.
- Install stakes to keep the cuttings straight if necessary.
- Watch for anthracnose and black spot — common diseases in young plants.
Common mistakes
Growing red flesh in Binh Thuan: the area is too hot for red flesh, the plant grows poorly and is susceptible to disease.
Planted during the peak dry season: low survival rate, too much irrigation water.
Buying cuttings from unknown sources: there may be pathogens present, the orchard is infected from the beginning.
Low climb in flooded areas: trees die in the first year's rainy season.
Plant 6-8 cuttings per pillar "to be sure": thatch plants nourish each other and do not grow well. 4 cuttings is the maximum.
Take notes
- Selected variety + seedling source + planting date.
- Number of pillars, number of cuttings, density.
- Land improvement materials.
- Survival rate after 1 month, 3 months, 6 months.
References
- *Handbook for sustainable dragon fruit production* — Southern Fruit Institute, 2023.
- *Dragon fruit production for export* — Department of Crop Production, 2022.