Quote:
Originally Posted by kubali
after trying several times I got 2 fruits by hand pollinating them.
now I just need to learn how to spot them when they are ripe and ready.
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Congratulations! Hand pollination works well when they are young. It also helps to have a perennial flowering plant nearby that blooms incessantly so that the bees are already there on a daily basis. For your climate (USDA 9B), "Tuscan Blue" Rosemary, or African Blue Basil
in full sun in a pot would probably work. Kubali - you are a very experienced gardener in your climate so perhaps you've other ideas about worthwhile bee-attracting perennial plants.
Hey so, how to know when they're ripe?! It's kind of trial and error in each microclimate and each Hylocereus species. I wait until the tips of the sepals start to brown and then check for softness of the fruit. The "springiness" of a ripe orange is about right. Use clippers to remove it. Over time you'll become an expert in yet another plant!!
