 |
| What do you on the pitaya barnch? |
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
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.
Monday, July 1, 2013
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.
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.
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 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. |
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Some Questions from Readers about Dragon Fruits
Here are email sent to me asking about dragon fruits.
3:19 PM (3 hours ago)
 | | |||
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
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
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.
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. |
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Email from India (Cultivation of Dragon Fruit in 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/
Friday, April 5, 2013
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)