Manual of Dragon Fruit Planting (In Bahasa Melayu)

I have just completed my write-up on Planting of Dragon Fruits in Malay language. It takes quite some to finish it . This manual is simple and practical ways of how to plant dragon fruits. I hope to publish as soon as possible so that it can be practised immediately by the growers or hobbyists alike.
This manual is of  my very own effort and much time is devoted to it. I will translate into English once I have completed my other book.

I have to race against time because there are a lot work to do. However, you will be satisfied once you accomplished something on your own. I don't rely on anybody either to type the words or sentences, take photo, arrange the contents, paragraphs and layout whats not. Writing books or articles takes patience otherwise well begun half done or Malay proverb says hangat-hangat tahi ayam (direct translation chicken dung is always warm when it is out of its butt! ..and later cool).

Manual on Dragon Fruit Planting. I will translate in English very soon.

Eat Local Fruits Especially Dragon Fruits

Dragon fruits in Malaysian supermarkets priced at RM 3.59 (about 1.2 USD) per kg. It is either packed as minimally processed or selling loose per fruit.

Dragon fruits is still the CHOICE  of fruits in the Malaysia dessert. Malaysian average per capita fresh fruit consumption is more 60 kg compared to advanced countries.

One may not be aware that the eat local fruit campaign has been conducted since 1972. The campaign has not only helped to promote local fruits as highly nutritious supplements but also helped farmers to market their fruits with the help of the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA).

FAMA is working closely with Malaysia Health Promotion Board  (MHPB) in encouraging the public to consume more local fruits as part of a healthy lifestyle.

MHPB also dismissed the view that local fruits like guava, ciku, pineapples, mangoes, papayas and seasonal fruits like durian, langsat, duku, pulasan, rambutan, jack fruit and others as contributors to health problems.

The local fruits are rich in nutrient and fibre. I'm of the opinion that the misconception that the durian is an `unhealthy' fruit must be corrected. Many are not aware that the king of fruits is rich in potassium There is no problem as long as the fruits are consumed moderately.

Strange Dragon Fruit Disease?

Some one from Puerto Rico (PR) has posted to me  about this strange 'disease' on dragon fruit. Just like look closely what is it? Send your findings to me.

What do you on the pitaya barnch?

Visit To Dragon Fruit, Kendal,Semarang Indonesia

I had the opportunity to visit Semarang again. This time is much easier to go there because there is a daily  flight from Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT ) via Air Asia from Kuala Lumpur to Semarang; the journey took about two and half hours. Semarang is  the fourth biggest in Indonesia besides Jakarta, Bandung and Surabaya. The airport is Ahmad Yani International Airport. The climate is hot and dry.

My way to Kendal, Semarang. The banner saying don't touch drugs or nacortics even a little bit

A beautiful big mosque in Kendal town, a two-hour from Semarang City

Red dragon fruits, not mature yet with little white spots.

'Choo Ka Nan' mango with anthracnose but could be controlled.

Discussion with Johnny and me in red white T-shirt together with others

I went to a dragon fruit farm which is about 6 hectares. The purpose of my visit is to observe how dragon fruits are grown on reclaim  soggy soil. The soil is black and very wet, but they manage the soil by mounting. Meaning that they make small mounts at each stake to drain the water. The growth of  dragon fruits is extremely good with lightings. I only manage to see a little disease and they kept the field very clean.   All pruned branches were grounded and mixed with left-over shrimps in containers for fourty days. The organic fertilizer is done sprayed to plants as foliar fertilizers. They also added extra manure to each stake. The yield mentioned is about 1-2 ton per hectare during this season and can be  more. The plants were only four-year old.I observed that the self-made organic fertilizer is natural and contains chitin from prawn that is able to protect from diseases naturally. Adjacent to the farm, they had  about 25 big shrimp ponds and six power station was installed.

Besides, they grow mango in this farm with Choo Ka Nan variety. I tasted the fruits and it is extremely sweet and less fibre. I asked them why they are interested to plant this variety. The answer is that the price is very much higher than Indonesian mangoes like Harumanis or Mana Lagi. However, this Thailand variety need good pre-harvest treatment because it is sensitive to disease and insect attacks. One obvious disease I observe is anthracnose  which cause black spots on the fruits and the other is bruising due to mite attack.

Dragon fruits grown or reclaim soils with lightings installed

Well developed  four-year old dragon fruits plants

Me and Johnny at  one hectare wax apple plants

Ciku or sapota  roots infected by disease

Other plants I manage to observe was chiku or 'sawo' or sapota. This plants thrieve well on reclaim soil, however there are few root disease which attack the plants.The 'sawo' or chiku is very very sweet and flowering was tremendous. There are also 'anona' or custard apple, which is growing well.

There was also 'jambu air' or aqua. It is very crunchy,seedless and sweet. The trees had very intense canopy. I manage to advise so that to prune 'open-center' system in which the central leader is cut-off and let  the light pass through. It encourages ventilation and flowering.

My host Pak Harsono and wife after having dinner at Hotel Candi, Semarang. We had delicious dinner with fish and big prawns specially cooked for us. My wife Yati also with me.

  

Some Questions from Readers about Dragon Fruits

Here are email sent to me asking about dragon fruits.

Emily Voon	3:19 PM (3 hours ago)
to me

Dear Zainudin,

I was looking around for improving dragon fruits farming and increase production and yield.  Here I found your website on this.  

Do you have watsapp with the MP 6012-3535411 ?   

Have you seen brown spots which caused dragon fruits stems to rot and it spreaded and the tree will die ?

Any idea on the soil type ?  Diseases of dragon fruits ?  Any opportunities for other types of agric products eg. mushroom growing ?

I look forward to hear from you.

With regards,

Emile Voon

Answer:

Dear Emily;

Stem rot on dragon fruits are caused by diseases. There many types ; either caused by bacteria or fungus. Diseases caused by bacteria will results in softening of the tissues, later oozing of liquid and later the plants will die. However, diseases caused by fungus will cause browning, patches or even spots. So, crop husbandry is very important meaning that sanitation of the farm should be always clean.

There are occasionally disease could be originated from soils. If the previous land was not treated then, disease may occur on the present plants.

You can read my articles at  http://www.scribd.com/doc/91726161/Dragon-Fruits-Cutivation-in-Malaysia.

Regards,

zainudin

 

How To Buy Dragon Fruits in Supermarkets

Dragon fruits have high antioxidants particularly betacynin besides, it also contains phytoalbumins. These phytochemicals are good for the body especially to fight against cancer and bowels movement. But, if you want to buy dragon fruits from supermarkets here are some clues.
Look for fresh fruits, makesure the 'bracts' are not bruised or damaged. The fruits are soft and crush-free, reddish and round shape. (Some had oval shapes). The weight of the fruit is heavy and hard. It is also good if individual fruit are wrapped with soft polystyrene plastic or cover, so that fruits could not easily bruised.

One true story that I would like to share is that  one my friend who is about to conceive a baby. She was waiting quite sometime to have labour. While waiting, she took 2 or three  dragon fruits. Gosh.. it goes. She conceive easily. Happily after.

Another story, a friend of mine said his son had hypertension with 200/100 pressure. The doctor told his son to take about 8 pills, so he took it but nothing happen.Suddenly, his father got an idea and  gave his son  3 dragon fruits to eat- morning, afternoon and evening. You know what happen? the blood pressure went down to 140/80. So can try.

Dragon fruits sold in supermarkets.It is better if they are individually wrapped with polystyrene wrappers.

Email from India (Cultivation of Dragon Fruit in India)

Email from sabari uma (India)

Dear sir,

Thanks for sharing your article with me , it was useful but i have few question for you , what is the right temperature to grow this fruit . 

for example i have farms in hill station where the max temp is 35 to 36 and the min temp is 17 to 20 c . and i have farm with 38 to 40 high temp and min of 20 to 22 c . so which climate is best to cultivate dragon fruit ? is my first question and what is best variety to cultivate ?

please guide me in detail to get more information on dragon fruit cultivation .

Thanking you ,

Kind Request , 

Answer

Thank you. You can read my article at http://www.scribd.com/doc/91726161/Dragon-Fruits-Cutivation-in-Malaysia. Should need help pls contact me.

My Article in Newspaper (Bahasa Melayu)

I was not aware that my article was published earlier. It can be read at http://www.sinarharian.com.my/rencana/tanam-buah-naga-ikut-spesifikasi-sirim-1.8570.

Mechanized Dragon Fruit Harvesting

Here are some videos of how mechanized of post harvest in dragon fruit is done. I hope you can get some idea. This amateur video was taken by me and not well organized. Ii includes washing, weighing and grading.

Research and Development in Tropical Fruits