How to grow Dragon Fruit in Australia
Grow dragon fruit in full sun in light, very free-draining soil, and give the climbing cactus a strong post or frame to scramble up. Water when the soil dries and never leave it soggy, as the stems rot in wet ground.
At a glance
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 5 litres a week, watered every 4 days
- Spacing: 200 cm
- Time to harvest: 365 days (about 1 year)
- Time to germinate: 21 days
- Soil pH: 6 to 7.5
- Frost tolerance: Frost tender
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | September to February | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | September to February | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | October to January | Marginal tropical; adapts to Sydney but only in warm microclimates; challenging to flower. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | Not suited | Tropical cactus; frost kills stems. Melbourne winter lethal. Unsuitable outdoors. |
| Adelaide & SA | Not suited | Not reliable in Adelaide. Winter cold and frost damage the stems. Heated greenhouse only. |
| Perth & WA | October and November | Mediterranean: viable in Perth warm microclimates only (coastal Fremantle/Mandurah). Unsuitable Adelaide/Adelaide Hills. Sow Oct to Nov. |
| Tasmania | Not suited | Unsuitable. Tropical cactus killed by frost. Not viable in Tasmania. |
| Canberra & ACT | Not suited | Dragon Fruit unsuitable for Canberra: tropical; frost-intolerant; needs warmth and frost-free conditions. Not viable. |
| North Queensland | September to February | Spring/wet season. Dragon fruit (cactus) is tropical staple. Thrives in heat and monsoonal wet. |
| Darwin & Top End | September to February | Spring/wet season. Dragon fruit (cactus) is tropical staple. Thrives in heat and monsoonal wet. |
Varieties
- Red Skin / White Flesh
- Red Skin / Red Flesh
- Yellow Dragon
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Fruit is ready when the skin is fully and evenly coloured and the wings start to wither and soften. Twist the fruit gently off the stem or cut the stalk.