Ever been to a dragon fruit farm? This enchanting 'Kamalam' orchard in Kerala is open to visitors!

On the sloppy hills of Athikkayam in Kerala's Pathanamthitta, a farmer called KS Joseph is growing 12,000 dragon fruit plants on his four acre land. This is the fruitimg season for the exotic cactus and visitors are welcome.

The brightly-coloured giant fruits can remind you of lotus petals or the scales of the Chinese mythical creature. Hence it is known by the names Dragon fruit or 'Kamalam'. (Photo | Nandalal, Online Desk)

Updated on:

29 Aug 2021, 2:40 pm

2 min read

On the sloppy hills of Athikkayam in Kerala's Pathanamthitta, a farmer called KS Joseph is growing 12,000 dragon fruit plants on his four acre land. (Photo | Nandalal, Online Desk)

The flashy fruit, belonging to the cactus family grows well in the rocky Ranni terrain. The orchard is an absolute delight during the fruiting season and Joesph has no problem with visitors at his farmland. (Photo | Nandalal, Online Desk)

A variety named 'American Beauty' (Hylocereus costaricensis) that is bright beetroot-red inside is grown on a commercial basis here. (Photo | Nandalal, Online Desk)

The fruit that can be consumed even by diabetic people. Rich in antioxidants, dragon fruits are believed to be good for the liver and heart too. (Photo | Nandalal, Online Desk)

With night-blooming flowers that are hermaphrodites (male and female organs in the same flower), dragon-fruit pollination is speeded up by nocturnal agents like moths as well as by bees in daytime. (YouTube screengrab)

Coming from a family of desert plants, dragon fruits demand little or no irrigation. 'A lot of sunlight and wind are necessary. (Photo | Nandalal, Online Desk)

Abundantly cultivated in the American continent and in countries like Thailand and Vietnam, the fruits become harvest-ready 30-35 days after flowering with each weighing around 200 to 700 grams. Studies show the average yield can be up to five tonnes per acre. (Photo | Nandalal, Online Desk)

The plants start flowering by mid-April. Another month needs to pass by before the fruits start to grow. By the end of October, flowering will gradually stop although they will continue to yield fruits for another month.(Photo | Nandalal, Online Desk)

Dragon fruit orchards demand initial investment as they are grown on a trellis. These structures need to be strong as two or three saplings are grown around the same trellis and the plants can weigh several hundred kilos when fully grown. (Photo | Nandalal, Online Desk)