Q. I am interested in raising dragonfruit. Any suggestions or comments?
A. The dragonfruit plant is a tropical climbing cactus
that originated from Central and South America. The plant produces large edible
fruit covered in scales. The edible fruit interior has a bland taste resembling
watermelon or Kiwi with slight citrus overtones.
that originated from Central and South America. The plant produces large edible
fruit covered in scales. The edible fruit interior has a bland taste resembling
watermelon or Kiwi with slight citrus overtones.
 |
| Dragonfruit is produced by a “climbing” cactus. |
There
are several different varieties with skin colors ranging from green, yellow or
red. The flesh, pulp or interior of the fruit is normally white but in some
varieties it can be various shades of red.
are several different varieties with skin colors ranging from green, yellow or
red. The flesh, pulp or interior of the fruit is normally white but in some
varieties it can be various shades of red.
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| Here in a small orchard in south vietnam the vegetative cuttings are planted next to a cement post that will be used for trellising |
Several
other cacti also produce similar types of large edible fruit. Collectively
these fruits are called pitaya. The cereus
cactus is commonly grown in the Las Vegas area, can withstand our cold winter
temperatures and may on rare occasions produce a pitaya fruit.
other cacti also produce similar types of large edible fruit. Collectively
these fruits are called pitaya. The cereus
cactus is commonly grown in the Las Vegas area, can withstand our cold winter
temperatures and may on rare occasions produce a pitaya fruit.
.JPG) |
| Although not dragonfruit or cereus, flowers typical of pitayas |
Many of
the pitaya-producing cacti have large white flowers that only open at night and
frequently are very aromatic. Moths or
bats are usually responsible for pollinating these night blooming flowers. Many
pitaya require cross pollination in order to set fruit and so a second plant in
the vicinity may be necessary.
.JPG) |
| Dragonfruit cactus in full production, trellised, in south vietnam |
The
dragonfruit plant itself is very sensitive to frost and harsh light intensities
and must be protected from freezing weather. It will also benefit by being
grown in a part of the landscape protected from late afternoon sun.
dragonfruit plant itself is very sensitive to frost and harsh light intensities
and must be protected from freezing weather. It will also benefit by being
grown in a part of the landscape protected from late afternoon sun.
Just for
fun, the plant can be started easily from seed collected from the fruit. The
seed is small so you would plant it very shallow in good planting soil. The
seed should germinate in about two weeks in warm soils.
fun, the plant can be started easily from seed collected from the fruit. The
seed is small so you would plant it very shallow in good planting soil. The
seed should germinate in about two weeks in warm soils.
However,
commercially the plant is started from stem cuttings to maintain plants that
are true to type.
commercially the plant is started from stem cuttings to maintain plants that
are true to type.
Pitaya fruits are definitely subtle tasting. I really like them and to me they taste like watermelon. But the trick to eating them is to make them the first desert. You eat anything sweet before them and they taste like water.
Pitaya's are pretty cool cactus (succulent). In place of thorns they have these pairs of tips that either grow into roots or grasp onto things as the cactus "vine" climbs. You can "plant" them by lying them down on the ground's surface.
It is best to hand pollinate for fruit production. It is rather easy: Tip the flower up with your finger inside and vibrate the flower. Pollen inside the flower will pollinate the ovary.
I'm training one (I hope) up the northeast side of an ash tree. Unfortunately I planted it about 3 days before the recent cold snap hit, but so far it is still green and happy mostly buried under the ash tree's leaves. The thermal mass of the trunk of the ash tree also provides some freeze protection. I have hopes…last year's incredible freeze killed off a Frederick passionfruit I was training up the ash tree. I had hoped it would grow back out but it didn't.
Currently Iām trying to grow pitaya red in a pot and ordered a pitaya yellow I was told the yellow variety is the sweetest Las Vegas NW is my location I grew pitaya in Hawaii but here I can only hope Any tips for surviving the plant thru the climate here
It's almost the year 2023 and the winters in Vegas are certainly now 6 to 7 degrees warmer than what they were ten years ago. Literally, look the records up and be amazed. You CAN in fact grow tropicals out here quite well but your cpncern would really be more so protection from intense heat and dessication in the summer. With that in mind i planted several dragon fruits last year, they all survived the winters very well with zero frost protection, and this years monsoon season was incredibly wet and greately helped in their vining growth. On a side note, i realized im not the only one with great success in growing dragon fruits in Las Vegas after watching a handful of Youtube gardeners in Vegas also growing them with good sucess as well!
*****Another side note: there is an elementary school (didn't see the name of it) near the intersection of Eastern and Charleston with ten feet tall, full grown banana plants in their little garden facing east go check it put guys š