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Mason
06-13-2008, 11:27 AM
There is actually a fruit called a dragon fruit. The fruit looks like dragon eggs! How awesome is that?! And I hear that they are rare.

dablo93
06-13-2008, 01:07 PM
do you mean pitaya!!
I've eaten once a yellow one(not a great taste, but still nice) but I want to eat a pink one! they look deliciouis.

Mason
06-13-2008, 01:19 PM
do you mean pitaya!!
I've eaten once a yellow one(not a great taste, but still nice) but I want to eat a pink one! they look deliciouis.

I've never had a dragon fruit, but I want to sometime.

hydrojeff
06-13-2008, 09:59 PM
you want dragon fruit? i got it, its great, i do have the red, not the yellow pitahaya, the name of mine is Hylocereus undatus, common names are dragon fruit,pitahaya and or strawberry pear, let me know if you want one,pm me i can help you out Mason....... its very much like kiwi feel with a little kick!!!!!!! NICE!!!!!!!!!!
jeff

Pablo Vega
06-14-2008, 06:28 AM
Idea to eat a dragon fruit, put it in the freezer and let it freeze then slice it in half and eat it with a spoon like an ice crem. Tast better this way.

Richard
06-20-2008, 08:46 PM
Here's a link to an article I wrote on Dragon Fruit: Pitaya, The Dragon Fruit (http://www.plantsthatproduce.com/column/PTP_2008_03_Pitaya.pdf)
... and some photos in my Gallery: Banana Gallery - Pitayas (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=797)
I should probably update the photos as the plants are now much larger.

lorax
06-20-2008, 08:53 PM
I have the yellow ones - Selenecerus megalanthus - and I'm quite fond of them. Awesome as a freezer snack, but my fave is to juice them with fresh agave syrup. The resulting beverage tastes like fresh rain smells.

Richard
06-20-2008, 09:41 PM
I have the yellow ones - Selenecerus megalanthus - and I'm quite fond of them. Awesome as a freezer snack, but my fave is to juice them with fresh agave syrup. The resulting beverage tastes like fresh rain smells.

Those of us in non-equatorial climates are totally jealous! It takes 5 to 9 months for the Selenecerus megalanthus fruits to ripen here and they taste poor compared the ones shipped fresh from your neighborhood. On the otherhand, the Hylocereus fruits ripen in 30 to 50 days in southern CA.

harveyc
07-01-2008, 02:41 AM
Richard, I thought about buying one down in SoCal for the flowers alone. Ong's Nursery had one in bloom that was fantastic. He had them in hanging baskets but I wasn't sure if that was just a temporary growing condition or not. I had never seen them in hanging baskets before.

lorax
07-01-2008, 08:36 AM
That's probably because as it grows, the basket loses its ability to support the mass of cactus. In Ecuador, at least, these things get honkin' big and heavy, and then they throw big heavy pitayas. I grow mine on a wooden support frame I built out of 2x4's.

harveyc
07-01-2008, 10:40 AM
That's probably because as it grows, the basket loses its ability to support the mass of cactus. In Ecuador, at least, these things get honkin' big and heavy, and then they throw big heavy pitayas. I grow mine on a wooden support frame I built out of 2x4's.

They can get large in California also. Even here in northern California there has been some success. Here is a photo of a nice structure supporting some being grown in Hayward, California (SF Bay Area) which is recovering from the big freeze we had in January 2007:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f233/fishpalm/ALBUM%2002/IMG_0728trimmed.jpg

Richard
07-01-2008, 11:26 AM
That's probably because as it grows, the basket loses its ability to support the mass of cactus. In Ecuador, at least, these things get honkin' big and heavy, and then they throw big heavy pitayas. I grow mine on a wooden support frame I built out of 2x4's.

True, some are grown on trellis' leaning at 60-degrees against a tall fence or sturdy post. Mine are being trained upward to an 2' x 8' horizontal trellis mounted on a fence. The farms in Mexico train them up a 4 x 4 (inches) post to shoulder height, then through a used automobile tire mounted on top. Only 3 branches are allowed up the post but at the top branching is encouraged. The result is a fountain of pitaya. Shown here are one of mine along with the training system at the ANR testbed in southern California:

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=10863 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=10863)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=7821&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=7821)

SherryC
07-10-2008, 08:04 PM
Hey Richard,
I read your article on the pitaya and it said that it has seeds in the fruit. Is it possible to propgate a plant from the seeds??? Being in Canada it is highly unlikely that I'll be able to come across a cutting, but seeds on the other hand might just be a viable option to look into.
I love to grow plants that aren't supposed to grow in this climate and since my husband and I are into medievel recreation and ren fairs etc, a dragon fruit tree would fit just nicely into our weapons room:)

Sherry aka Lady Saphyra

Richard
07-10-2008, 11:15 PM
You can grow them from seed ... and depending what the fruits were pollinated with they might or might not come true to type. Consider obtaining American Beauty or Physical Graffiti from Pine Island Nursery (http://www.tropicalfruitnursery.com/dragon/), or stay tuned for the next time some appear in the Classifieds (http://www.bananas.org/classifeds/) here, or post your own wanted ad there indicating what you will pay or trade.
:goteam:

Mason
07-11-2008, 12:16 AM
Dragon Fruit looks a lot like a cactus.

lorax
07-11-2008, 08:59 AM
Dragon fruit are cactus fruit.

Down here, there are three classes of cactus fruit - Pitahaya (Dragonfruit), Tuna (Prickly Pears, white or red flesh), and San Pedritos (fruit of the San Pedro cactus). And then there's Nopales but this is actually the cooked fleshy leaves of Prickly pear, not a fruit.

Richard
07-11-2008, 09:22 AM
Dragon fruit are cactus fruit.

Down here, there are three classes of cactus fruit - Pitahaya (Dragonfruit), Tuna (Prickly Pears, white or red flesh), and San Pedritos (fruit of the San Pedro cactus). And then there's Nopales but this is actually the cooked fleshy leaves of Prickly pear, not a fruit.

Very true. The names Pitahaya or Pitaya are used by different peoples to describe fruits of different, mostly central American cacti. Of these, 'Dragon Fruit' refers to the fruits of the Hylocereus and Selenicereus species, both of which are vining tropical cacti native to Central and equatorial South America.

D_&_T
08-02-2008, 11:09 PM
Here is our start of Dragon Fruit, Thanks to Richard!:woohoonaner:
American Beauty
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=11960&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=11960&ppuser=887)


Physical Graffiti
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=11959&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=11959&ppuser=887)

AnnaJW
08-08-2008, 05:59 PM
Richard was kind enough to bring me four cuttings a few months ago. Three are growing quite quickly, and one is just now starting to take off. I am so anxious to see them bloom and taste the fruit!

PT DUffy
08-13-2008, 08:59 AM
You can grow them from seed ... and depending what the fruits were pollinated with they might or might not come true to type. Consider obtaining American Beauty or Physical Graffiti from Pine Island Nursery (http://www.tropicalfruitnursery.com/dragon/), or stay tuned for the next time some appear in the Classifieds (http://www.bananas.org/classifeds/) here, or post your own wanted ad there indicating what you will pay or trade.
:goteam:

Pine Island at least points out that some need a Pollenator. Mine came from a mail-order nursery that didn't. For yrs I thought it was my fault that it wouldn't produce. 'Course, it still doesn't since I can't afford to buy another plant but at least I know it's not my fault;>! Besides, the blossoms are pretty...
Cheers,
Pat

momoese
08-13-2008, 11:09 AM
I noticed that the Filipino store, Seafood City sells the pink ones in the frozen section. I'll get a bag next time I'm there! They also sell the Banana ketchup and all sorts of rare tropical fruits. I bought some Saba and Manzano bananas there last week.

Richard
08-13-2008, 11:55 AM
I noticed that the Filipino store, Seafood City sells the pink ones in the frozen section. I'll get a bag next time I'm there! They also sell the Banana ketchup and all sorts of rare tropical fruits. I bought some Saba and Manzano bananas there last week.

It is reported that the seeds propagate readily in agar at 75 (F), or in the soil-less gel sold in mini-cups for rooting a single cutting.

momoese
08-13-2008, 12:28 PM
It is reported that the seeds propagate readily in agar at 75 (F), or in the soil-less gel sold in mini-cups for rooting a single cutting.

Even after being frozen?

Richard
08-13-2008, 10:17 PM
Even after being frozen?

You mean ... you're not going to try?! Honestly, I have no idea.

Simon
08-14-2008, 12:30 AM
Hello everyone, has your Physical graffiti and American Beauty fruited yet? My "Halley's Comet" is supposed to be nearly identical to your "Physical Grafitti". They are both highly recommended Red type dragon fruit and they are supposed to be delicious! My American Beauty has 1 fruit so far this year and my Halley's Comet is waay bigger and I'm hoping it will fruit soon. I kept my plants in very small pots for almost half a year and only just repoted them so they should fruit heavily next year.

For those of you who want to plant Dragon Fruit from seeds, I do not recommend it. It takes a long time and if you plant a cutting instead, you know the quality of fruit you are getting, you know whether it is self fruitful, and you know what growing conditions it likes. Some DF do not like strong sun and will turn Yellow and even die in strong intense Summer sunlight. If you really want to grow DF I can give you a free cutting of my white varieties but I will have to charge for my Halleys Comet or American Beauty cuttings. :nanadrink:

Chironex
08-14-2008, 01:14 AM
These look and sound interesting. Anyone going to have some cuttings this fall? I would like to try rooting them this winter and see if I can make them grow here.
Just PM me if you might have a couple. Thanks!

Richard
08-14-2008, 02:09 PM
These look and sound interesting. Anyone going to have some cuttings this fall? I would like to try rooting them this winter and see if I can make them grow here.
Just PM me if you might have a couple. Thanks!

I definitely have cuttings. See the ad: [Sale or Trade] Dragon Fruit cuttings - Bananas.org (http://www.bananas.org/classifieds/viewad-191.html)

D_&_T
08-14-2008, 09:22 PM
Simon,
We would be interest in some white varity DF!

Simon
08-16-2008, 04:11 AM
Hello everyone, I recently pruned my white dragonfruit so I have lots of cuttings available for those of you that can pick up. I live in San Diego, CA. The cuttings are super easy to root and they produce wonderful fruit but it depends on how you grow them as well as the variety. I can't ship because i'm pretty busy working two jobs but if one of you live in San Diego and can pick up several branches to ship to other members, I'll definitely donate the plants. :2722::nanadrink:

Dean W.
08-16-2008, 01:23 PM
I would love to try a cutting. Someone in San Diego help! :ha: I don't know how well it would do in a pot.

Richard
08-20-2008, 12:55 PM
Several folks have ask me about growing Pitayas, esp. in cold winter areas. So what I thought of was a "Pitaya Cart".

The Pitaya is a vining cactus and needs support. Commercially, three strands are trained up a 5 foot post, then through a wooden or rubber tire hoop, then allowed to spill over. You don't need or want that height if you are bringing them indoors for the winter months.

Instead, let's shorten that vertical support to 3 feet high and make use of inexpensive materials, shown in this diagram:

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=12553&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=12553)

Compare that to the commercial-style planting, below. Note that the width can also be controlled with pruning:

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=7821&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=7821)

island cassie
09-28-2008, 04:10 PM
In the fruit market this afternoon, and I could hardly believe my eyes - pitahaya for sale, red skinned and red fleshed so could it be costaricensis, and are they the same as pitaya? I had to buy some of course as I have never seen them here before, and I intend to try and grow some from seed. There was no indication as to where they came from.
Cassie

island cassie
10-06-2008, 09:18 PM
Well now - there have been both the magenta and white fleshed fruits for sale this week - they look the same from the outside, but the magenta ones taste the best! I sowed some seed from the magenta ones and they germinated within 2 days!! So now I have approx 50 small plants. :woohoonaner: Sorry I won't be able to send plants to the USA if they all survive But wow - what a surprise to get them so soon!!
Cassie

buzzwinder
10-06-2008, 09:39 PM
Hey Cassie, thats great on the germination rate, seeing as how you can't send plants to the states, Hmmmmmm how about :drum: :drum: :drum: um :drum: one fruit? :bananas_b

island cassie
10-06-2008, 10:03 PM
Sadly - all plant material to the states is restricted - but if you can get fresh unfrozen fruit there - they germinate really fast at high temperatures. I am so excited but of course it will be a long time til fruit!!
Cassie

buzzwinder
10-06-2008, 10:26 PM
Thanks Cassie, I was just kidding about the one fruit, I can't remember who it was here on the Org. I think they were in California, bought some frozen and got the seeds or at least a few to germinate, interesting idea, but again, alas, I'm so zonally challenged being in 5a with out a green house, that allot of the plants I'ld like, I can't get, or won't get as I can't take proper care of them, Ahhhhh But I can Dream :woohoonaner: :ha: I'm still working on keeping my Dwarf Cav. alive and growing, hoping for fruit next summer, it's starting on year two now!!!! :bananas_b

ClapOnKyle
10-09-2008, 08:31 PM
I am trying to grow a plant from a cutting right now, and after a month or so it just seems to have sprouted roots at the tip. The cutting was a tip piece, but I still feel stumped, since some cuttings branch off, which I would much rather have preferred, but I cant find much information on this.

island cassie
10-09-2008, 08:52 PM
Sorry Kyle - these are new to me and I only have seedlings!

Buzz - I bow down to all of you who grow nanas and others in adverse conditions - it is like me trying to grow tulips!!

Good luck with the Dwarf Cavendish!!

Cassie

island cassie
10-09-2008, 08:57 PM
In my gallery is a picture of the seedlings after 1 week!
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=13802&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=13802&ppuser=628&sl=i)

What am I going to do with them all!!
Cassie

island cassie
10-09-2008, 08:59 PM
How do I post a link to the gallery pic without the picture appearing in the thread?

Help - Cassie

Richard
10-10-2008, 12:01 AM
I am trying to grow a plant from a cutting right now, and after a month or so it just seems to have sprouted roots at the tip. The cutting was a tip piece, but I still feel stumped, since some cuttings branch off, which I would much rather have preferred, but I cant find much information on this.

Expect adventurous air roots from just about anywhere on the plant. Cuttings prefer soil like your bananas have, or Citrus potting mix is also a good choice. It is not a desert cactus, so don't plant it in cactus mix. Instead, you are growing a vine that is native to Central America.

ClapOnKyle
10-12-2008, 10:01 PM
Maybe I should transplant it into some better soil. I just have it in some Florida sand right now.

Patty in Wisc
10-15-2008, 04:28 PM
I have Yellow & Vietnamese Jaina D.F. They got HUGE this year but no flowers yet. I will gladly give cuttings for P&H. Or, stop by for them...I live in Milwaukee on east side.

D_&_T
10-19-2008, 11:02 AM
updated Photo

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=13991&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=13991)

Patty in Wisc
10-20-2008, 01:32 AM
Hard to make a trellis for DF & yet be able to cart it in & out. This one is over 6ft tall & very heavy. Yellow is growing up one side & red on the other. They are only supposed to flower on the part that hangs over the top, so maybe next year.
I should start thinking of getting this into a bigger pot - somehow. It's getting top heavy. I used pvc because it is lightweight & sturdy.
Taken today just before it went in S.Rm. for winter.
That's not-so-pretty pink & yellow caution tape I used when I wanted to hurry & tie up to post. It's sturdy but flexible. I don't know HOW I will get this into a bigger pot!!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y202/Patty_in_Wisc/DF210-08.jpg

taken April '07
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y202/Patty_in_Wisc/trelliss6.jpg

An experimental hanger. Big one is Red - rooted this year from a 5 inch leg, & the small bushy one at top is yellow.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y202/Patty_in_Wisc/DFhang10-08.jpg

Richard
10-20-2008, 10:18 AM
Patty, that pot is almost the right size. If it is plastic, an easy way to transplant is to place the whole thing, pot-and-all into a small half-barrel planter and then cut the plastic pot away.

Also, dragon fruit vines can be pinched back to force multiple stems at almost any height. Next spring, consider taking one or two of the pods from the top and replanting them into a system like this:

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=12553&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=12553)

Patty in Wisc
10-20-2008, 04:38 PM
Thanks Richard. That would be the ONLY way to transplant it - cut the old one away after setting it in new planter. Hard part will be lifting it into new pot! EEEEEK
Should I snip all the tips off at top to make more branching? Hopefully, that is where the new growth will be instead of the bottom.
I've had it 3 years now & if I don't get a flower next year, I'm going to chuck it.
BTW, the posts are wrapped w/ canvas only cuz I couldn't find burlap.

Richard
10-20-2008, 05:59 PM
Patty,
In your environment the plant needs bloom formula from spring onwards to compensate for the winter sheltering.

If you are comfortable with the height of the plant, I wouldn't prune the growth on top, but let the pods droop down on the sides from their own weight.

My suggestion from the previous post was simply to start a new plant but train it to be shorter. Also, after your big plant has bloomed and produced fruit, you can safely "cut it down to size" -- resulting in something like 6 plants: two from the existing base, and 4 more from the existing upper structure.

In case you haven't seen this picture before -- here's what I hope your plant looks like next September!

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=7821&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=7821)

Patty in Wisc
10-20-2008, 06:17 PM
I'm smiling with wishful thinking :woohoonaner:

Chironex
12-12-2008, 07:49 PM
I got some from Richard and some from sunfish when I visited San Diego. The plants are in the greenhouse now, but I hope to have them flower next year. I have a nice big wall for them to climb, so I just need to determine which direction to expose them. Due to the sun intensity here in summer, I am curious whether south-facing will be too intense?

TomK
12-12-2008, 08:16 PM
I have a three-foot tall Dark Star variety that is in a pot. Had it in my backyard against the south-facing wall of the house. After a few weeks of South Florida sun, there was a noticeable yellowing of most of the stems. Just last week I moved the plant to the west-facing side of the house and it has started greening back up.

Dunno if the yellowing was necessarily "bad" though. Hopefully someone can chime in on that. But, I'd recommend you move the pots around the yard until you find a spot where they appear to be most happy.

Patty in Wisc
12-12-2008, 08:27 PM
I think I read somewhere that they can get too much sun - esp in Thailand & Vietnam where it is hot. I s'pose Arizona would be about the same with the intense summer sun & heat.

Richard
12-13-2008, 02:15 AM
They're going to need protection from the sun in many locations - esp. at Scot's place in Las Vegas. Used window screen or the cheepo replacement screen would work great.

Alexismor
02-14-2009, 08:04 PM
Im planting 5 acres of pitaya in Homestead FL. Im currently working on Hylocereus undatus and Hylocereus polyrhizus. I got my cuttings from Pine Island. Is Physical Graffiti a good choice to grow?

Let me know if you're interested in trading for any other plant.

Richard
02-14-2009, 08:19 PM
For a commercial plantation, I would not grow H. undatus or H. polyrhizus, but plant it all with H. guatemalensis. It is an outstanding tasting species. The award-winning selection 'American Beauty' is an example. 'Physical Grafitti' is consistantly 2nd place in taste tests. It is H. undatus x polyrhizus.

Alexismor
02-14-2009, 08:35 PM
Thanks Richard for your advise. Do you have H. guatemalensis and Physical Grafitti cuttings available? I dont think Pine Island have those.

Richard
02-15-2009, 01:31 AM
Thanks Richard for your advise. Do you have H. guatemalensis and Physical Grafitti cuttings available? I dont think Pine Island have those.

The cultivar "American Beauty" is H. guatemalensis. I found it and Physical Graffiti listed here: Dragon Fruit Viewer - Pine Island Nursery (http://www.tropicalfruitnursery.com/dragon/index.htm)

heynow
02-15-2009, 10:09 AM
I tried to plant some seeds I got online but had no luck anyone interested in sending me some cuttings? Thanks Glenn

Patty in Wisc
02-16-2009, 10:12 PM
I just planted some Red (white fleshed) seeds on the 12th. If they germinate I'll let you know.

Alexismor
02-16-2009, 10:44 PM
For commercial production most growers in S. Florida are growing H. undatus and H. polyrhizus. Does anybody know why are these in production more than the other species? Easier to grow, more fruits???

Richard
02-16-2009, 11:08 PM
For commercial production most growers in S. Florida are growing H. undatus and H. polyrhizus. Does anybody know why are these in production more than the other species? Easier to grow, more fruits???

Availability. Most of the cultivars you see at Pine Island came out of breeding programs in the last 5-10 years. For example, if you look in Cornucopia II (ISBN 0962808725) you won't find them listed.

More generally, in choosing a commercial crop to grow it is prudent to look at selections made by "enthusiast groups", Ag reports from Universities, what produce distributors are willing to buy, etc. in addition to what most growers are producing.

A case in point would be high-quality pineapple guava. There is considerable consumer demand for this fruit but no major distributor is currently willing to buy it.

Alexismor
02-23-2009, 10:09 PM
Do you think the pineapple guava will have commercial potential be in the future?

Richard
02-24-2009, 01:16 AM
Do you think the pineapple guava will have commercial potential be in the future?

If you feed these plants a high-potassium formula (e.g., a citrus formula like 28-8-18) then you will obtain fruits the size of small oranges. Fruits this size are a top seller in asian produce markets throughout San Diego county. However, large commercial produce distributors are reluctant to carry them. This is tragic because they are (1) water frugal, (2) hardy to about 5 F (-15 C), and (3) "healthier" than pomegranates or blueberries. The cultivar "Coolidge" is an excellent self-fertile performer and readily available. I have it along with "Giant Long", "Nazemetz", and "Lickver's Pride". The latter two are exceptional.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=14282 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo= 14282)

Chironex
02-24-2009, 02:24 AM
If you feed these plants a high-potassium formula (e.g., a citrus formula like 28-8-18) then you will obtain fruits the size of small oranges. Fruits this size are a top seller in asian produce markets throughout San Diego county. However, large commercial produce distributors are reluctant to carry them. This is tragic because they are (1) water frugal, (2) hardy to about 5 F (-15 C), and (3) "healthier" than pomegranates or blueberries. The cultivar "Coolidge" is an excellent self-fertile performer and readily available. I have it along with "Giant Long", "Nazemetz", and "Lickver's Pride". The latter two are exceptional.

Richard, which ones did you send me last summer? I can never remember.

damaclese
02-24-2009, 09:16 AM
i have a pineapple guava i planted last march man that thing didn't do well its protected from west facing sun the thing died 90% back but we had an unexpected cool spot right at the end of that hot spell then it resproted so i watered the (*&&$$%) out of it and it managed to put up about 12" of growth
and thats were I'm at as of today with it I'm hoping it fully recovers I'm thinking it will the bad part is is was a vary nice topiary now its just a bush
o well what can you do I'm sure in the long run its going to produce some nice fruit thanks for the high potassium comments Richard not to wine but some times it really sucks being in such a hot place making a garden look nice is just near impossible every thing always looks sorta burnt and shocky

Richard
02-24-2009, 10:55 AM
... Richard not to wine but some times it really sucks being in such a hot place making a garden look nice is just near impossible every thing always looks sorta burnt and shocky

Having lived in the desert, I can commisserate. However, some of the golf courses in southern Nevada use pineapple guavas for hedges. Make sure the soil contains something for water retention and mulch heavily on the top.

alpha010
02-25-2009, 08:28 AM
Man, this thread is just what i need! anyone who is willing to part with some clippings or even a fruit......please let me know what you would like for them.

Patty in Wisc
02-26-2009, 01:29 AM
Which one, Dragon fruit or Guava?

alpha010
02-26-2009, 05:56 AM
Dragon fruit

harveyc
02-26-2009, 01:40 PM
This section of the forum is set aside for buying, selling, etc. of fruit. Instead of taking this thread for dragon fruit (pitaya) off topic further, I've started a new discussion for feijoa (pineapple guava) at http://www.bananas.org/f8/feijoa-7186.html. I'd like to discuss this fruit more there.

Thanks,

Harvey

Patty in Wisc
02-26-2009, 06:58 PM
Alpha, no fruit here but I just germinated some red, white fleshed fruit seeds that I could send when they are bigger.

alpha010
02-28-2009, 06:16 AM
That would be awesome, Thank you patty!

dmreed
04-21-2009, 12:06 AM
I live in Poway (near San Diego, CA) and I would like to get a few dragon fruit cuttings. Is anyone here near to Poway and will to give me a couple of cuttings?

Chironex
04-21-2009, 12:32 AM
Send a PM to Richard (Richard). He has some. Also Tony (Sunfish) may have a few cuttings.

Jefforever
05-05-2009, 03:41 PM
For some reason I can't pm Richard. And I've already met the 1 post requirement.

Patty in Wisc
05-06-2009, 08:43 PM
Richard blocked his PMs

brettay
05-06-2009, 08:50 PM
Does anyone have a source for Nazemetz Pineapple guava? I have been unable to find it. Thanks.

-Brett

harveyc
05-06-2009, 08:55 PM
It would have been better if you posted your question in a thread other than this dragon fruit thread, fyi. We have recently discussed pineapple guava at http://www.bananas.org/f8/guava-4008.html and there are some sources listed there.

Where are you located? Southern California Home Depot and Lowe's often carry Nazemetz but it isn't seen too often up here in northern California. I've also heard recently that it might not reach it's full flavor potential in cooler climates. Okay, I think I've said enough in this thread.

Harvey

Patty in Wisc
05-12-2009, 10:22 PM
Got my DF outside today. The trellis just barely fits thru the doorway. If it grows this summer as much as last, I will have to cut parts off to get it back in sunroom. I'm hoping it will fruit this yr....at least it SHOULD.

alpha010
05-13-2009, 01:26 PM
Got my DF outside today. The trellis just barely fits thru the doorway. If it grows this summer as much as last, I will have to cut parts off to get it back in sunroom. I'm hoping it will fruit this yr....at least it SHOULD.

Nice Patty, I hope that mine will be the same way next year. My 2 largest are only about 20 or so inches tall but putting out growth like its going out of style. my other 3 are only 4 inch cuttings, they took about 2 months to get good and rooted and last week started putting on new growth, albeit slow, but still good new growth.

Got any pics?

Patty in Wisc
05-13-2009, 02:02 PM
There is a pic from last fall -some help getting it back in sunroom. Go to page 3 here - post #45. The branch hanging in his face is about 12 ft long. More growth on it now. I'm giving it a shot of a 5 -15 -5 ...high phosphate soon. It's good for promoting blooms at this stage too. When it starts branching over the top is where & when flowering will happen.

alpha010
05-13-2009, 04:20 PM
I almost forgot those pics were there! BTW, I did a little research and found this guy in So. Cal. named Ed Valdivia who grows most cultivars and a few of his own hybrid Hylocereus and Seleniocereus and from some info I gathered, he grows 2 or 3 plants together primarily in 3 gallon (might have been 13 I'll get back on that one) pots less than 2/3's full and plants start flowering around 10 feet and can flower on parts that aren't just hanging over.
Other than that, do you get noticeable growth inside the house or does your plants go semi-dormant? I noticed none of mine put new growth on until about 4 weeks ago.

Patty in Wisc
05-13-2009, 04:54 PM
Edgar is the owner of a pitaya group (yahoo group forum) I belong to!
He's also part of a annual Pitaya festival in CA.
Mine was dormant all winter till about 4 weeks ago too.

alpha010
05-13-2009, 05:02 PM
Sweet! I just joined that group about 2 weeks ago or so, haven't posted much, haven't had enough time to even introduce. To have the experience that man has and seen the plants he has.....I would just die! Then again, I am still young and as long as I stick with it, I'm sure I'll see it one day.

Want Them All
08-28-2009, 12:24 PM
Just put up a photo of my dragon fruit plants. Any comment and advice is appreciated. They've been there for about 9 months IIRC.
Thanks,

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=21790&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=21790&ppuser=5976)

Richard
08-28-2009, 12:29 PM
Just put up a photo of my dragon fruit plants. Any comment and advice is appreciated. They've been there for about 9 months IIRC.

Looks great! The opening in the lathe is a bit small. You might make a few modifications with a Dremmel tool or similar so that the swelling pods don't castrate themselves.

Want Them All
08-28-2009, 12:40 PM
Each opening in the lattice is a 2 3/4 inch square. Maybe it's the angle of the photo that makes them appear small. I'll be sure to keep an eye on the size of the branches though. Wouldn't want anything "neutered". :ha:

Thanks,

Richard
08-28-2009, 01:10 PM
Each opening in the lattice is a 2 3/4 inch square. Maybe it's the angle of the photo that makes them appear small. I'll be sure to keep an eye on the size of the branches though. Wouldn't want anything "neutered". :ha:

Thanks,

After two years, the widths of some of my "structural" pods have expanded to 4 and 5 inches. The lattice openings are 6 inches. The pitaya expert from UCR recommends you maintain only 3 verticals and let everything else sprout from "the top" at about shoulder height.

Want Them All
08-28-2009, 05:02 PM
After two years, the widths of some of my "structural" pods have expanded to 4 and 5 inches. The lattice openings are 6 inches. The pitaya expert from UCR recommends you maintain only 3 verticals and let everything else sprout from "the top" at about shoulder height.

3 verticals only? I'll start pruning back right away. The most prolific bunch in my photo is the red-flesh type (don't know the name), the rest are white-flesh. Anybody who wants some cuttings of the red variety is welcome. You'll just pay for shipping and boxing costs.

Richard
08-28-2009, 05:19 PM
Here's one of the plants at the UC Riverside research station (in Irvine, CA). Notice they use a central post and have only 3 or 4 verticals which have been trained up through a 1-foot square frame on top. The height is shoulder height for the operator. So at their location -- 5'2". In Mexico though, 4'2". Since that installation, they have started recommending a used-tire instead of a wooden frame on the top. That practice is apparently wide-spread in the tropics.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=7821&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=7821)

Want Them All
08-28-2009, 05:20 PM
Here's one of the plants at the UC Riverside research station (in Irvine, CA). Notice they use a central post and have only 3 or 4 verticals which have been trained up through a 1-foot square frame on top. The height is shoulder height for the operator. So at their location -- 5'2". In Mexico though, 4'2". Since that installation, they have started recommending a used-tire instead of a wooden frame on the top. That practice is apparently wide-spread in the tropics.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=7821&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=7821)

I notice from the photos in your gallery, all the pitayas are in pots, any reason why you didn't plant them in-ground?

Want Them All
08-28-2009, 05:30 PM
I'd be hesitant to use a used tire, there are way too many spiders in my backyard, including black widows. They'll be very happy inside those tires.

Richard
08-28-2009, 05:46 PM
I notice from the photos in your gallery, all the pitayas are in pots, any reason why you didn't plant them in-ground?

Yes, see that Ficus tree?! The pots are also on 3/4 inch press board to keep the ficus roots from going up inside the pots. Those happen to be 15 gallon pots, but I have learned by trial and error that 20 gallon is a better choice.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=19829&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=19829)

Blake09
08-28-2009, 05:47 PM
I would love any seeds or cuttings, I have some seeds for a trade.

Want Them All
08-28-2009, 07:27 PM
I would love any seeds or cuttings, I have some seeds for a trade.

I'll be able to cut some next week. Any idea how to wrap & box 'em? How long do you want each cutting, and should I cut in the green part or at the node part? I may buy the long box or tube at the post office, the pitaya cuttings will be wrapped in newspaper inside the container. Any suggestions will help, as I've never shipped a "live" plant before. PM me your street address, and I'll shoot for sending 'em out Friday next week.

supermario
08-28-2009, 09:55 PM
3 verticals only? I'll start pruning back right away. The most prolific bunch in my photo is the red-flesh type (don't know the name), the rest are white-flesh. Anybody who wants some cuttings of the red variety is welcome. You'll just pay for shipping and boxing costs.

I would love a cutting of the red and white if possible... Actually, I'd prefer the white. Please, let me know.

Thanks in advance!

Edit...scratch that. I appreciate the kind offer though!

Thanks again

supermario
08-28-2009, 10:05 PM
Some info copied from UF web site:

Propagation
Pitaya may be propagated from seed, however fruit and stem characteristics are variable, and the time from planting to fruit production may be up to 7 years. Asexual propagation is preferred, and the use of stem cuttings is widespread. Usually entire stem segments of 6 to 15 inches (12-38 cm) are used. A slanted cut is made at the stem base, then the cuttings are treated with a fungicide and then left to cure (dry and heal) for 7-8 days in a dry, shady location before they are planted directly in the field or in well drained media in pots. Some propagators apply a root hormone to the cuttings after curing but before planting them. Cuttings grow very fast (1.2 inches [3 cm] per day) and many produce fruit in 6 to 9 months after planting. Longer cuttings usually reach the trellis supports faster than shorter ones. Pitayas may also be grafted, but this practice is not common. Grafting has potential for selection of rootstocks adaptable to various soil types and problems. Cuttings take about 4-6 months to develop a good root system in pots and be ready for planting.

D_&_T
08-28-2009, 10:07 PM
Want Them All its better to ship on Monday or Tuesday at the last's!! Wrapped in damp paper then plastic bag.

bluesky
08-29-2009, 07:47 PM
Dang it! I'm always late on finding these posts! Was hopeing to...kind of hint as any neutered piece that you might want to toss my way! GRRRR! I have been growing dragon fruit cactus for 10 years now and I still cant get any fruit...I live to far up north in Penna. just to short on the seasons. But I love growing them....ok how about this, any extra fruit you dont want...toss my way? I really would like to try a dragon fruit! Just so I can finally try one! Sorry about this post...i'm just so frustrated about the elusive fragon fruit, it taunts me!

Blake09
08-29-2009, 08:07 PM
any neutered piece
:ha:

GRRRR! I have been growing dragon fruit cactus for 10 years now and I still cant get any fruit...I live to far up north in Penna. just to short on the seasons.!

:(

do you happen to have any pictures of your DF ?

supermario
08-29-2009, 09:09 PM
Dang it! I'm always late on finding these posts! Was hopeing to...kind of hint as any neutered piece that you might want to toss my way! GRRRR! I have been growing dragon fruit cactus for 10 years now and I still cant get any fruit...I live to far up north in Penna. just to short on the seasons. But I love growing them....ok how about this, any extra fruit you dont want...toss my way? I really would like to try a dragon fruit! Just so I can finally try one! Sorry about this post...i'm just so frustrated about the elusive fragon fruit, it taunts me!

Alot of varieties require cross pollination and/or hand pollination. That is most likely why you haven't gotten any fruit yet.

If you'd like a fruit, I would be happy to send one your way. Unfortunately, they seem to be out of season here. If you can remember(cause I will forget), remind me in early July and I can get one for you.

I plan on purchasing a plant soon, so if it fruits for me, I would be willing to give away some fruit as well. That is also several months away though. :)

There are lots of online nurseries, but I highly recommend one that I'm lucky enough to have near my home: Dragon Fruit Viewer - Pine Island Nursery (http://www.tropicalfruitnursery.com/dragon/index.htm)

Richard
08-29-2009, 09:47 PM
Unfortunately, they seem to be out of season here.

They are just coming into season here. The ones coming across the border from northern Mexico are $1.50 / lb wholesale. There is a large plantation in San Diego county which will be ripe in about a month. Last year they were not much more expensive (wholesale) than the Mexican imports.

bluesky
08-30-2009, 07:12 PM
I finally posted a pic of my fragon fruit, I dont how do add it in this post but it is on members page under bluesky

Blake09
08-30-2009, 07:38 PM
I finally posted a pic of my fragon fruit, I dont how do add it in this post but it is on members page under bluesky

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=21941&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=21941&ppuser=804)[/IMG]

Nice :)

bluesky
08-31-2009, 06:36 AM
I will try to remember...probably will have to write a note and tape it to the wall! LOL My memory sucks anymore. Would like to just try the fruit. There are no places in my area that sells them, most places here have never even heard of it. All these years I have wanted to try a dragon fruit....it just doesnt seem like its ever going to happen. The closest I've ever got to trying one is gum....this just isnt right! hahahaha But thank you for the offer, I will try to remember. The beastie i have here is about to have another extensive hair cut....I cant take another winter working around it. I have so many banana trees now also, there is almost no room for my dogs and me! I guess a change is a coming!!!!

supermario
10-01-2009, 05:00 PM
I purchased a small 'American Beauty' Pitaya plant today. :)

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/damethod/AmericanBeautyDragonFruit10-1-2009.jpg

:woohoonaner::woohoonaner:

Richard
10-01-2009, 07:37 PM
Looks great!

harveyc
10-01-2009, 11:48 PM
Mario, I'm curious what something like that sells for in Miami. They should be plentiful, I would think.

supermario
10-02-2009, 07:45 AM
Harvey,

Believe it or not, it is not as abundantly sold as you would think. You can find mangos, avocados, and bananas at ANY nursery here.. but you need to go to the Redlands for tropical/exotic fruit trees like Dragonfruit, Jaboticaba, Atemoya, Jackfruit, etc etc. The price you pay for the plant depends on the selection they have.

For example: Alot of the nurseries here sell pitaya, but do not know the specific variety. The owner will just know whether it has red, pink, or white flesh. In that case, you would pay $20-$30 for a plant like mine.

I got my plant from Pine Island Nursery. I like that they have about 20 varieties to choose from with some information for each. I've also purchased plants from them in the past without any problems. This little guy in a 3 gallon pott cost me $35. I also took all of their leftover longan fruit for free, so I think I came out on top. :02:

They do online orders as well.. and I've seen good reviews about them on Dave's Garden. I'm lucky enough to be able to drive over there.. just like many of you in California have 'Pitangdiego' nearby! :)

The next time I go out there, I will take some photos of their pitaya. They have HUGE plants on ultra sturdy supports(in order to withstand hurricanes).

Richard
10-02-2009, 09:26 AM
I got my plant from Pine Island Nursery.

Great nursery. Many of the plants at the UC Irvine pitaya test bed were acquired from there.

harveyc
10-02-2009, 09:48 AM
Thanks, Mario. $35 is pretty good for a trained plant like that anywhere in the USA, IMO. I've contacted Pine Island before but i is prohibitive to bu from them. The state charges them a $50 phyto fee which they must pass on, understandably, but they then add 50% to the cost of their plants as a "compliance fee". It would cost me $102.50 plus shipping for your plant! Some retail nurseries in SoCal do a group order and I think that PIN skips the compliance fee but they also refuse any responsibility in the event the shipment fails inspection in California (source: Ong, Meyer, 12/07).

Richard, Edgar told me that he spoke to someone in Florida who said they obtained most of their pitaya from California and someone renamed many of them. Many varieties are therefore duplicates of other varieties. I did not ask for any more details than that.

Richard
10-02-2009, 10:13 AM
Richard, Edgar told me that he spoke to someone in Florida who said they obtained most of their pitaya from California and someone renamed many of them. Many varieties are therefore duplicates of other varieties. I did not ask for any more details than that.

You can get the remaining details from Erik at Pine Island.

harveyc
10-02-2009, 03:13 PM
hold out?

supermario
10-02-2009, 03:39 PM
Thanks, Mario. $35 is pretty good for a trained plant like that anywhere in the USA, IMO. I've contacted Pine Island before but i is prohibitive to bu from them. The state charges them a $50 phyto fee which they must pass on, understandably, but they then add 50% to the cost of their plants as a "compliance fee". It would cost me $102.50 plus shipping for your plant! Some retail nurseries in SoCal do a group order and I think that PIN skips the compliance fee but they also refuse any responsibility in the event the shipment fails inspection in California (source: Ong, Meyer, 12/07).

I've heard of this problem from other members. Very unfortunate really.. I would love to send it over to you hassle free, but I wouldn't want to break any laws either. :(

harveyc
10-02-2009, 04:17 PM
No worries, Mario, I have cuttings of about 20 varieties which is probably a few too many as it is!

Want Them All
10-02-2009, 05:29 PM
What's the legality of someone visiting another state and bringing back a few plants, for their own yard, not to resell or anything commercial? I've read about lots of people visiting Hawaii and bringing back plumeria cuttings to the mainland.

dmreed
10-02-2009, 06:55 PM
usually illegal but check your state's laws

harveyc
10-02-2009, 07:44 PM
Especially in California, though some plants are permitted. With all of the exotic pests we're fighting right now, officials would have no tolerance if you got caught.

supermario
10-04-2009, 08:17 AM
Here in Florida as well. We are experiencing a serious problem with Citrus Greening disease. That is the reason for the Citrus quarantine in place right now. No Citrus can be shipped to or from Florida for fear of spreading the disease and/or the insect that carries the disease(from asia..forgot the name).

I don't think they'll throw you in jail, but you will likely have to pay a hefty fine.

dmreed
10-04-2009, 09:10 AM
I had asked about fungus on my DF plant. Liqui-Cop was recommended and I got some but the directions do not mention the appropriate mixture for DF or other cactus. Can anyone here tell me the correct mixture?

harveyc
10-04-2009, 04:29 PM
You'll have to take a guess or ask Richard since it's not labeled for pitaya. I think it's safe and okay to use for a homeowner; but just not worth the manufacturer's time to test it to label it for pitaya.

Richard
10-04-2009, 06:03 PM
I believe the mixing rate for fungal infections is one ounce per gallon of water -- check the dosage for citrus.

SOCALROCKER
10-04-2009, 10:16 PM
No worries, Mario, I have cuttings of about 20 varieties which is probably a few too many as it is!Harvey
My son,and I just met Edgar yesterday Saturday afternoon spent some time at his backyard.Boy his backyard is what I call a fruit paradise.I recieved about 5 types of Dragonfruit leafs cutting's enough to plant in 7 pot's.I had 20 leaf cutting's,and was able to plant about 2 or 3 types per pot.I planted 2 types of both cross-pollination / cross pollination-self polination together in some pots to see how they grow together.It is going to be a fun growing this fruit here in Simi Valley.

Mitch :waving:

harveyc
10-04-2009, 10:19 PM
Glad you were able to meet up with Edgar, who worked out to almost being your neighbor. He's a real gentleman and his enthusiasm is contagious! Good luck with them!

Harvey

SOCALROCKER
10-04-2009, 10:31 PM
Glad you were able to meet up with Edgar, who worked out to almost being your neighbor. He's a real gentleman and his enthusiasm is contagious! Good luck with them!

HarveyYeah he lives about 5 minutes away from me.His enthusiasm is really contagious but a real nice man who loves his fruit garden.

Mitch

Patty in Wisc
10-06-2009, 02:49 PM
I got my first DF from Pine Island. I think the owner is William Chow (?), & he gave lots of info on growing them. It's been 4 years now & it's HUGE. I think there are 4 possible blooms on it - on one leg/branch! They are very small & a pinkish color & just won't get any bigger cuz it's getting cold now. They've been the same size for about a month. If they are the beggining of flowers, I'm happy, so maybe next year!!:)

Nicolas Naranja
10-07-2009, 10:31 PM
That plant is like a Kudzu at certain houses around here. I have been watching sume climb up a telephone pole for a few years now.

moonboy87
10-08-2009, 02:51 PM
One of my favorite fruits, and one of the BEST fruits for making delicious martinis! I didn't know it was a cactus fruit though. Any reliable sources for buying a plant?

Richard
10-08-2009, 03:52 PM
See Pitaya, The Dragon Fruit (http://www.plantsthatproduce.com/column/PTP_2008_03_Pitaya.htm).

supermario
10-08-2009, 04:35 PM
One of my favorite fruits, and one of the BEST fruits for making delicious martinis! I didn't know it was a cactus fruit though. Any reliable sources for buying a plant?

I posted a link to the nursery where I got mine earlier in this thread. Here it is again:

Dragon Fruit Viewer - Pine Island Nursery (http://www.tropicalfruitnursery.com/dragon/index.htm)

It is a local nursery that I have purchased fruit and plants from many times in the past. I originally found them through their excellent web site. So far, I have yet to have an unpleasant experience with them. However, I have never had anything shipped to me since I am not too far away.

The pitaya I shared a picture of(also earlier in this thread) is growing vigorously.

Also, what about Encanto Farms?

Heyoehkah
10-10-2009, 08:17 PM
Inspired by the posts on Dragon Fruit I not only did my research today but bought 6 beautiful two year old Dragon Fruit plants some of which are now flowering.

Much of North San Diego county was developed before the rise of the tract home. Most my neighbors have a couple of acres or more. I just checked craigs list, found a neighbor who is producing Dragon fruit commercially on their 3 acres. Spent the afternoon learning how to grow them, and aparently they do great in our climate.

Tasted it for the first time. They sell 3000 lbs a year wholesale at $4.00 a lb. They do this from a fraction of their property. I thought the fruit was outstanding but not sure how much I would buy at $4. The white flesh has a mild melon taste, and the red flesh is sweeter. They had one variety of red that had a floral taste similar but better than passion fruit. The texture is excellent and the skin easily peels away. I like it better than a banana which prior to this afternoon was my fav.

They multilply quickly and I plan to buy more. A great surprise so thanks for this thread!

supermario
10-17-2009, 09:10 AM
Inspired by the posts on Dragon Fruit I not only did my research today but bought 6 beautiful two year old Dragon Fruit plants some of which are now flowering.

Much of North San Diego county was developed before the rise of the tract home. Most my neighbors have a couple of acres or more. I just checked craigs list, found a neighbor who is producing Dragon fruit commercially on their 3 acres. Spent the afternoon learning how to grow them, and aparently they do great in our climate.

Tasted it for the first time. They sell 3000 lbs a year wholesale at $4.00 a lb. They do this from a fraction of their property. I thought the fruit was outstanding but not sure how much I would buy at $4. The white flesh has a mild melon taste, and the red flesh is sweeter. They had one variety of red that had a floral taste similar but better than passion fruit. The texture is excellent and the skin easily peels away. I like it better than a banana which prior to this afternoon was my fav.

They multilply quickly and I plan to buy more. A great surprise so thanks for this thread!

I first tried a dragonfruit at my local grocery store. It seems their suppliers just do not know when to pick tropical fruit, because the dragonfruit were watery and tasteless. The starfruit, mango, and sapodilla in these stores are also terrible.

Once I tried a dragonfruit from the nursery I mentioned below, I was in love. It was a white flesh variety with a hint of coconut and/or cantaloupe.

I usually put them in the refridgerator for a few hours, then cut them in half and spoon the flesh out. It's like eating one of those italian icey thingys.

Want Them All
10-20-2009, 05:07 PM
Parts of my DF plant turned brown, and became mushy, I applied finger pressure at that spot and it was all rotted out inside. Any idea what caused it?

Thanks,

sunfish
10-20-2009, 07:20 PM
http://www.bananas.org/f13/dragon-fruit-4831-7.html#post101149

SOCALROCKER
10-23-2009, 05:32 PM
My mother-inlaw was over today,and she saw all my potted Dragonfruit.She is from Greece,and was telling me that the fruit growers they would grow grapes to make wine for Greece.They would use Dragonfruit and plant it all in front of the grapes to protect it from fruit poachers that would sneek onto the vineyards to steal grapes.They would get all scratched up from the prickly thorns on the Dragonfruit leaves.I just wanted to share that with you growers.

Enjoy your Pitaya

moonboy87
10-28-2009, 03:24 AM
That's a pretty funny story. I'd say although I do love wine, I'd rather eat a dragon fruit than drink a glass of wine! haha.

FYI and please put me in my place if this is rude, but if any of you can spare a clipping, I would ABSOLUTELY love to try out a plant like this. Plus, who can deny a homegrown fruit?! Hm?!?! lol.

frondly
11-13-2009, 05:22 PM
Just thought I'd mention a PNW website for tropicals where I purchased nice plants from last year: ALOHATROPICALS.COM
They carry three var. of dragon fruit. They don't have the mind blowing names; but you could always give yours a pet name.

Their banana SECTIONS:lurk: are great winter reading {or did I mean drooling}:bananas_b

supermario
11-13-2009, 07:13 PM
Just thought I'd mention a PNW website for tropicals where I purchased nice plants from last year: ALOHATROPICALS.COM
They carry three var. of dragon fruit. They don't have the mind blowing names; but you could always give yours a pet name.

Congrats on your positive experience! :woohoonaner: Unfortunately, others have not had the same luck..

The scoop on 'Aloha Tropicals' (http://davesgarden.com/products/gwd/c/472/)

I wish I had found davesgarden before wasting my money on small, weak plants a few years ago... not to mention the mystery banana plants I received that were supposed to be 'Ice Cream' and 'Manzano'. The manzano looks more like AeAe, and the Ice Cream looks like a truly tiny! How in the world do you mistake that tiny plant for an Ice Cream banana plant?!! The manzano wannabe came from bananatree.com and the Ice Cream wannabe came from Willis Orchards. You should avoid them both!

PT DUffy
02-22-2010, 10:02 AM
I got my original Dragonfruit from 'AT', back when they had a single unanamed cultivar. It wasn't self-pollinating. Nice plant though. Didn't survive this Winter but had a cutting in the house just in case. I now have mult cultivars(most of which are self-pollinating) so when they bloom I'll actually get something...
Cheers,
Pat

alpha010
02-23-2010, 12:26 PM
I love dragon fruit! I have only found one place near my house to actually buy the produce, Bluesky, you might actually be able to find it too It was at a local Giant Eagle right along with Lychees and Rambutans and small Jackfruit! There is also a place in the market district of Pittsburgh on Penn Ave between 20th and 22nd that is rumored to have all that plus durian and mangosteen.

Oh and as a roll-call for me, I have 4-1 year old H. guatemalensis (unnamed cults.) from Pepper's Greenhouse in CT that are healthy and about 3 feet long each potted to overhang the pot. I also have 3 H. undatus (unnamed) in one pot that are about a year old that I rescued from the clutches of the big box store clearance table that were the grafted ones with the pastel colored cacti on top.

The H. undatus I am only growing out for future experiments....mwahahaha! And not for actual fruit production.

mango_kush
04-13-2010, 11:19 PM
I first tried a dragonfruit at my local grocery store. It seems their suppliers just do not know when to pick tropical fruit, because the dragonfruit were watery and tasteless. The starfruit, mango, and sapodilla in these stores are also terrible.

Once I tried a dragonfruit from the nursery I mentioned below, I was in love. It was a white flesh variety with a hint of coconut and/or cantaloupe.

I usually put them in the refridgerator for a few hours, then cut them in half and spoon the flesh out. It's like eating one of those italian icey thingys.

the best white variety is David Bowie. my favorite is American Beauty, tought to beat. be careful of unnamed varieties they may never fruit.

supermario
04-14-2010, 07:27 AM
David Bowie is great. I haven't tried American Beauty because the recent freeze did some serious damage to my young plant. I had to cut it down to almost soil level and it is now climbing up it's support again. It will probably be another year or two before I get to taste a fruit from my plant. :bed:

mango_kush
04-14-2010, 11:28 AM
im in south west hollywood and my dragon fruit got through this winter unscathed. they are in a protected area behind my shed and under a tree canopy however.

my jackfruits, mangos, and anonas all made it except the only casualty i had was a one year old grafted Guanabana

Dalmatiansoap
06-05-2010, 04:17 AM
I dont have luck with Dragon fruits. Dont know what can I do more, they still refuse to grow.
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/dalmatiansoap/DD039-1.jpg

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/dalmatiansoap/CopyofDD039.jpg
How long they can stay so?

Jack Daw
06-05-2010, 06:01 AM
Maybe, and really maybe, they need higher humidity than warm and dry Croatia offers at the time. Maybe you could put a plastic bag over the pots. Like you do with grafted fruit and citrus trees.

Richard
06-05-2010, 08:59 AM
I dont have luck with Dragon fruits. Dont know what can I do more, they still refuse to grow.

Dragon Fruit are not a desert cactus. They are members of the cactus family that climb trees in the subtropical and tropical jungles of the Mexican Yucatan, Venezuela, etc. In non-coastal areas of southern California they do best with afternoon shade. They can be severely damaged by freezing weather. The are partial xerophytes and do well in most soils that drain well, provided it contains some organic material. Agriculturally in southern California they are watered once per week or once every two weeks depending on the species. They respond well to any fertilizer that has significant mineral content such as Citrus or Banana fertilizer.

supermario
06-05-2010, 11:09 AM
Is anyone interested in 'American Beauty' cuttings? I am giving them away for free, but you would have to pay cost of shipping. It should cost no more than $8. If you are interested, PM me and I will calculate shipping to your area. I only accept paypal.

Dean W.
06-05-2010, 11:31 AM
Is anyone interested in 'American Beauty' cuttings? I am giving them away for free, but you would have to pay cost of shipping. It should cost no more than $8. If you are interested, PM me and I will calculate shipping to your area. I only accept paypal.

Sent you a pm. I've been looking for some.:bananas_b

Patty in Wisc
06-05-2010, 01:31 PM
Ante, try a richer potting soil. They like sun. They also like high K fert - like banana fertilizer. I use miracle grow potting soil & lots of perlite.

Dalmatiansoap
06-05-2010, 01:34 PM
I repoted one today and add orchid bark in soil, couse I dont have any perlite. One has small new growth, I ll post pic later.

Abnshrek
06-05-2010, 09:13 PM
I repoted one today and add orchid bark in soil, couse I dont have any perlite. One has small new growth, I ll post pic later.

Ante you have any ash from burnt wood to add to your mix? :^)

supermario
06-05-2010, 10:37 PM
Just a little FYI... the nursery I purchased the original plant from uses 20-20-20 water soluble fertilizer. They have amazing looking plants, so I purchased the same. I am lucky to have a fertilizer plant 20 minutes away, so I purchase a 50lb bag and use it on most of my potted plants as well.

I applied some before I left on vacation and one week later the plant was going insane.

P.S. Thanks for the bananabucks Dean! :woohoonaner:

Richard
06-05-2010, 10:52 PM
Just a little FYI... the nursery I purchased the original plant from uses 20-20-20 water soluble fertilizer. They have amazing looking plants, so I purchased the same. I am lucky to have a fertilizer plant 20 minutes away, so I purchase a 50lb bag and use it on most of my potted plants as well.

I applied some before I left on vacation and one week later the plant was going insane.

P.S. Thanks for the bananabucks Dean! :woohoonaner:

Most nurseries use 20-20-20 because it is cheap. The Dragon fruit are mostly interested in the last number. Micronutrients are important too, for example the plant uses zinc and copper for disease resistance.

supermario
06-05-2010, 11:12 PM
Most nurseries use 20-20-20 because it is cheap. The Dragon fruit are mostly interested in the last number. Micronutrients are important too, for example the plant uses zinc and copper for disease resistance.

The exact contents are Nitrogen 20%(Nitrate N 5.5%, Ammoniacal N 3.65%, Urea N 10.85), Phosphate(p205) 20%, Soluble Potash(K20) 20%, Sulfur .06%, Boron .02%, Copper .05%, Iron .10&, Magnesium .05%, Manganese .05%, Molybdenum .0005%, and Zinc .05%.

What do you think?

Forgot to mention that I apply once a month..

Also, do you think it is okay to use it on my many potted trees? I have a key lime, sugar apple, guava, grumichama tree, and some pepper plants in pots. I applied the fert to them as well and had amazing results. Lots of new growth from all plants, but I think I need a different fert for the pepper plants since there is lots of growth, but not many peppers.

Richard
06-06-2010, 12:50 AM
What do you think?

Looks like a standard water-soluble triple-20 to me.

Also, do you think it is okay to use it on my many potted trees?

Plants that have been fertilized with almost anything will appear great to plants that receive little or no fertilizer. Triple-20 gives you blanket coverage on all the major nutrients. However, different plant families and plants from different ecosystems have different capacities and needs for nutrients. Plants native to western Australia do not tolerate phosphate well. Many species of Vaccinium are sensitive to Urea Nitrate Nitrogen. Many subtropical fruits such as citrus will ignore excess potash (i.e., you are wasting it). For a general guide to needs of edible plants, see: PTP_2008_12_Fertilize_II (http://www.plantsthatproduce.com/column/PTP_2008_12_Fertilize_II.htm)

supermario
06-07-2010, 06:53 PM
For those of you whom I spoke with about sending out cuttings, they were all shipped today. Good luck!

:0519:

Dean W.
06-18-2010, 09:23 AM
Made this trellis today. It takes a lot of space though.
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee185/Dean_Wil/SDC10293.jpg

Abnshrek
06-18-2010, 08:54 PM
My germination project :^)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=32978&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=32978)

Richard
06-18-2010, 11:45 PM
The species names are incorrect for the red and orange fleshed varieties.

xmoose
06-19-2010, 10:49 AM
Looks like your going to have a lot of fun on that project !!! GOOD LUCK !

Abnshrek
06-19-2010, 10:53 AM
The species names are incorrect for the red and orange fleshed varieties.

Ok, so what are they? I went looking myself and can't find the orange one anywhere I've looked. :^)

sunfish
06-19-2010, 07:25 PM
Ok, so what are they? I went looking myself and can't find the orange one anywhere I've looked. :^)


# Hylocereus undatus (red pitaya) has red-skinned fruit with white flesh. This is the most commonly-seen "dragon fruit".
# Hylocereus costaricensis (Costa Rica pitaya, often called H. polyrhizus) has red-skinned fruit with red flesh

- Hylocereus polyrhizus (red) Fruit

Dean W.
06-19-2010, 09:10 PM
The species names are incorrect for the red and orange fleshed varieties.
What's the Latin name for the orange variety? The Yellow variety is listed here as Selenicereus megalanthus, but they don't have the Orange variety. Dragon fruit - Yellow Dragon Fruit (http://www.tropicalfruitnursery.com/dragon/pages/yellow.htm)
Ok, so what are they? I went looking myself and can't find the orange one anywhere I've looked. :^)
Did you look on Pine Island's site?
# Hylocereus undatus (red pitaya) has red-skinned fruit with white flesh. This is the most commonly-seen "dragon fruit".
# Hylocereus costaricensis (Costa Rica pitaya, often called H. polyrhizus) has red-skinned fruit with red flesh

- Hylocereus polyrhizus (red) Fruit
How about the Orange one, Tony?
Rare Fruit Seeds and Exotic Tropical Fruit Seeds (http://www.fruitlovers.com/seedlistUSA.html)

sunfish
06-19-2010, 09:36 PM
Can't find orange flesh only orange skin

Abnshrek
06-19-2010, 10:04 PM
So what kind is the Orange skin? :^)

sunfish
06-19-2010, 10:13 PM
So what kind is the Orange skin? :^)

Dragon Fruit Hybrid (Pitaya), Orange Exterior, Red Fleshed Hylocereus undatus

Looks like that's what your seed pack says

harveyc
06-20-2010, 08:00 PM
I haven't taken the time to confirm the accuracy, but I've read the yellow pitaya is now known as Hylocereus megalanthus.

Dalmatiansoap
06-28-2010, 06:11 AM
American beauty
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/dalmatiansoap/FJ015.jpg
:woohoonaner:

Jananas Bananas
06-28-2010, 06:55 AM
The American Beauty that I got from SuperMario already has a 5 inch arm on it! :woohoonaner: Others have really taken off also:

This is the American Beauty
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=33392&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=33392)

Assorted Dragon Fruit - White, Yellow, Pink, and Purple
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=33393&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=33393)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=33391&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=33391)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=33390&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=33390)

~JaNan

supermario
06-28-2010, 03:52 PM
AWESOME! Im glad the cutting is doing well for you! My plant is going crazy since it is rainy season. I should have several more cuttings in one month or so.:woohoonaner:

capthof
06-28-2010, 07:18 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=33400&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=33400)

This is an American Beauty that I decided to put in a pot.
On the left hand side is a blossom.
There are 2 X 4's screwed to the bottom and bolted through the sides.
Hemp rope was put around the post so the roots can get nutrients and have a structure to hold on to.
I have used burlap but it deteriorates too fast.
I have also used burlap and then covered it with shade cloth, the shade cloth can withstand the sun better and the burlap holds nutrients and moisture.

supermario
06-28-2010, 08:11 PM
Looks great! but I would make a taller structure.

Here is why:

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/damethod/dragonfruit.jpg

capthof
06-28-2010, 09:16 PM
With Limited space we will have to settle for the mobile model.
I do have some that I turned loose on some Cabbage Palms and they are lovin' it!

Rmplmnz
06-28-2010, 09:19 PM
Looks great! but I would make a taller structure.

Here is why:

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/damethod/dragonfruit.jpg

Looks like Krome Avenue (997);-0

supermario
06-28-2010, 09:32 PM
Looks like Krome Avenue (997);-0

LOL your right!

Dean W.
06-28-2010, 09:59 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=33400&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=33400)

This is an American Beauty that I decided to put in a pot.
On the left hand side is a blossom.
There are 2 X 4's screwed to the bottom and bolted through the sides.
Hemp rope was put around the post so the roots can get nutrients and have a structure to hold on to.
I have used burlap but it deteriorates too fast.
I have also used burlap and then covered it with shade cloth, the shade cloth can withstand the sun better and the burlap holds nutrients and moisture.

Looks great!

Dalmatiansoap
06-29-2010, 05:34 AM
Looks like Krome Avenue (997);-0

More like the Borg Ave (Star Trek) to me:ha::ha::ha:
:woohoonaner:

harveyc
06-29-2010, 05:06 PM
Thought I'd share this bit of exciting news!

Pink-Fleshed Dragon Fruit Wine wins Best of California Award!


Hello Rare Fruit Growers!

My friends and I have been busy in our last year as amateur wine makers. So I’ve had many of my rare fruit wines submitted and rated at the 2010 California State Fair Home Wine Competition, and hope to encourage some of you to make award winning wines out of the abundance of fruits from your yard, containers, or land. Fruit Wine Making 101 will be my topic at this year’s Festival of Fruit to be held in Pomona, California hosted by the Los Angeles Chapter of CRFG.

At last year’s FOF held in Santa Rosa, Ed Valdivia invited me to give a talk about Fruit Wine Making and also to donate some wines for tasting at this year’s FOF. Since we will be featuring Pitahaya, I took up the challenge of Ed to turn the fruits into wine. Ed sent me about 100 lbs of his premium Pitahaya fruits. It was my first attempt to make Pitahaya wine, and knowing how expensive these fruits are, I carefully researched on the nutrient contents of these fruits and designed various wine making processes and recipe trials to find out the best way to turn these rare fruits into excellent wine, and submit them at this year’s California State Fair Home Wine Competition for evaluation and perhaps learn how they should be improved. But it paid off early and the results blew me away! I was ecstatic to learn that two of the Pitahaya wines got double gold medals with a rating of 99 points each, and one of them won the Best of California Special Award. The Best of California Special Award is determined by comparing all the gold and double gold medal wines within a specific class category of wine.

I primarily sorted the Pitahaya cultivars according to flesh colors and so I have White-Fleshed, Pink-Fleshed, Red-Fleshed and Magenta-Fleshed Pitahaya fruits, and the same colors were imparted into the wine. White fleshed pitahaya produced wines similar in color to Chardonnay, the Pink Fleshed Pitahayas produced wine with color similar to Zinfandel blush wine, the red fleshed Pitahaya produced wine that is similar to red grapes although not as dark, and the Magenta fleshed pitahaya produced the most beautiful wine color I ever saw and have never seen in any of the grape wines: a magenta colored wine. Personally, I like the magenta colored pitahaya wine the best.

The wine made from Pink-fleshed Pitahaya won the Best Of California award, in the Fruit Wine and Other Blend category. The White-Fleshed Pitahaya Wine came in very close, as it got 99 points rating. The rest of the Pitahaya wine recipes got Silver Medals, rated at 90-91 points.

We will have all the award winning Pitahaya wines available for tasting at FOF, but in limited numbers because I used about 3 lbs of fruit per bottle of this wine, and so 100 lbs of fruit is really not much wine for a big group. I will also bring some my other award winning wines for tasting to supplement the offering. The wines will be limited amounts of each type, might just be one to two bottles only, so it is first come, first served, until gone. I will also open a bottle of the most difficult wine I ever made, only for those with courage to taste it: The Durian Wine. I only made 4 bottles, and so not enough samples for competitions, instead have been enjoying it myself with other friends, and so this is the last bottle promised. The Cashew Apple wine which I started earlier this month might make it to the tasting table, thanks to Dr. Prasad Mummanemi who shipped me freshly pressed Cashew apple juices directly from Panama to turn it into wine, and I will be excited to taste this another new wine together with you. To date, I have made roughly a little more than 325 different kinds of wines, but my target is about 500 kinds of fruit wines because I maintain that many fruit types in my yard, still some ways to go.

Here’s the summary of the awards won at the 2010 California State Fair Home Wine Competition and other state fair competitions, together with my other fellow winemakers who are also members of CRFG. We submitted 210 different kinds of wines this time at the State Fair, as this is our last entry into these types of competitions. And the results:

2010 California State Fair Wine Competition

2 Best of California Awards:

Pink-Fleshed Dragon Fruit – Fruit/Other Blend Class

Lisbon Lemon – Seeded Fruit Wine Class

12 Double Gold Medals:

Blueberry-Merlot, Cherry – Pomegranate, Dragon Fruit Pink Fleshed, Dragon Fruit White Fleshed, Elderberry, Fuyu Persimmon Sherry, Hibiscus Petals, Jasmine Petals & White Grapes, Kiwi, Lisbon Lemon, Pineapple, Purple Tomatillo Sherry

8 Gold Medals

Bearss Lime & Blossoms, Cranberry, Ginger Lemongrass, Hibiscus-Cranberry, Improved Meyer Lemon, Lemongrass, Mango-Calamondin, Maple Sap

83 Silver Medals, 53 Bronzes and 36 Honorable Mentions

I’ll mention only a few rare wines that I made in limited amounts and was surprised that they got nice awards: California Gold Banana, Blood Oranges, Yuzu-Sudachi and almost all the other citruses, Tropical Pink Guava, Jackfruit, Ataulfo Mango, almost all of the stone fruit wines such as Pluots (Flavor Queen, Dapple Dandy, Flavorosa), plums and peaches, almost all the other berries, and even vegetables such as Chillacallote Squash, Lemongrass (most of you are going to love this) and Bitter Melon (a big challenge wine and so happy that it got Silver!). The only wine that did not do well for us is the watermelon.

Other smaller competitions

2010 San Joaquin County Fair Wine Competition

Special Awards: Best of Show Fruit/Exotic wine

Best of Class Fruit/Exotic

2nd in Class Fruit/Exotic

3rd in Class Fruit/Exotic

Best Of Class Chardonnay

Medal Awards: 2 double golds, 1 gold, 24 silvers, 8 bronzes, 3 Honorable Mentions

2009 Tulare County Fair Wine Competition

Special Awards*: Best of Show Fruit/Exotic wine, 2nd Place Chardonnay, 3rd Place Zinfandel, 3rd Place Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

*competition is only for special awards and no medal ranking

2009 California State Fair Wine Competition

Medal Awards: 4 double golds, 16 silvers, 5 bronzes, 5 Honorable Mention

I will reveal some tips in making award winning wines at the Festival of Fruit. So be there and don’t miss out on what might be the last opportunity of tasting many of my home-made fruit wines.

Respectfully,

Joe Real

capthof
06-29-2010, 11:46 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=33448&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=33448)

Looks like she bloomed tonight 6/30/2010.
I hope it sets fruit and yes I hand pollinated it.:woohoonaner:
Now I can:bed:

harveyc
06-30-2010, 12:16 AM
Good luck, Scott. I'm a bit surprised that your American Beauty flower looks more like a have a self-fertilze white pitaya since it looks like the stigma and anthers are close to one another. That's a trait characteristic of the Vietnamese types.

capthof
06-30-2010, 07:23 AM
How well I know that plants get mislabeled!
I have what was a Misi Luki that decided to become and Ice Cream.
Someone gave me an Apple Banana that somewhere in the growing process turned into a Orinoco.
The White variety I have seems to have a broader stem and grows faster.
Guess I'll have a better Idea in 45 days if it sets fruit!

harveyc
06-30-2010, 09:53 AM
Scott, just to clarify, I'm not saying your plant is mislabeled. I helped Edgar Valdivia pollinate many varieties of pitaya one night and just recall what he taught me at the time. Maybe there are other varieties with that characteristic. Did you have another source for pollen when you pollinated your flower or did you use it's own pollen? Sometimes pollen from another source is needed, I've read, while sometimes it isn't. Again, good luck!

Richard
06-30-2010, 11:32 AM
Looks like she bloomed tonight 6/30/2010.
I hope it sets fruit and yes I hand pollinated it.:woohoonaner:
Now I can:bed:

My American Beauty (Hylocereus guatemalensis) is also in bloom production now. The others bloomed later in the summer last year.

capthof
06-30-2010, 12:16 PM
From what I understand Cross pollination is best.
The pollen does not stay viable for more than a couple of days.
Getting plants to bloom together in a door yard setting is next to impossible.
I got rid of one variety because it bloomed a dozen times and never set fruit.
Makes you wonder how they survived in the wild.
It's something to do until I become compost myself.

Richard
07-01-2010, 12:44 AM
American Beauty is a selection (cultivar) of Hylocereus guatemalensis. It is self-fertile. Getting the pollen from the anthers into the end of the pistil is another matter. If you don't have ants crawling on your plant waiting for the flower bud to open then you might have to do it yourself with a Q-tip.
http://www.prairiefrontier.com/pages/families/flwrparts.jpg

harveyc
07-01-2010, 12:50 AM
Thanks, I've got an American Beauty but it's still a small plant. Maybe next year.

To help spread the news about the CRFG Festival of Fruit featuring the Year of the Pitahaya, I was asked to pass along this latest announcement:

Dear Friends,

We are getting closer to the Pitahaya Festival which will be held on August 14th at Cal Poly Pomona. - 3801 W. Temple Ave. Bldg 35, Pomona, CA 91768.

This year the festival is being done in conjunction with the CRFG Festival of Fruit. This event includes 4 days of packed activities.

12th of August – Tours to different gardens including mine and the South Coast Research Station (where Ramiro Lobo will be offering a guided tour of the pitahaya collection

13th of August – Tours to the Huntington Botanical Gardens in Pasadena-Please note that usually admission is $18 per person. But for all those registered it will be free.

Center of Regenerative Studies,

Cal Poly Pomona Pitahaya plantation (2 acres)

There will also be a welcoming reception from 5pm-8pm .

14th of August –This will be at Cal Poly Pomona. We have 24 speakers, 3 will be speaking about pitahayas: Ramiro Lobo, Maritza Cantwell and Grey Martin; the others will cover different fruit related subjects.

During the lunch hour there will be fruit tasting –all different stone fruits will be offered by Dave Wilson Nursery

Lunch (paid by attendees)

There will be plant sales and many other attractions.

Dinner (paid by attendees) will be from 6-8pm with a keynote speaker

15th of August- Tours of the Fullerton Arboretum and of the Elk Creek Ranch that specializes in pitahayas.

In order to attend any or all of the events of the Festival you must first be registered. Registration is $35 per person until July 15th, after that date it will go up to $45 per person.

Lunch is $10 and Dinner is $20.

All this information, plus the registration form is on our website: Welcome To The 2010 Festival Of Fruit (http://www.festivaloffruit.org)

I hope you will be able to attend because this Festival is going to be the best yet, and the biggest.

Edgar Valdivia

There will also be discussion on other fruits. The tentative schedule is detailed on the web site linked above. Unfortunately, I won't be able to make it. Fortunately, I'll at least get to enjoy some pitaya at the time while I'm in Nicaragua!

harveyc
07-02-2010, 12:14 PM
Here's an interesting bit of information shared by a SoCal pitaya grower today:

Hi All,

Some years ago I took a number of pitaya varieties to Florida and
gave them to several people there. Unfortunately many of them had
not been named and only had numbers such as most of Paul's
varieties. I realized recently that they were subsequently given
names and some are now being sold in nurseries as well under these
new names. So I contacted some of the people I gave varieties to
and the following is a list of what some of the varieties were
named. I thought you all might want to know since some of you may
have duplicates in your collections.

1S = Physical Graffiti
2S = Cosmic Charlie
5S = Purple Haze
9S = Dark Star
Quang Ong Self Fertile (QOSF) = American Beauty
Ben Poier H. poly. (BPHP) = Bloody Mary

I did take other varieties, but these are the ones I know for sure
were renamed.

Best regards,

Sven

Rmplmnz
07-02-2010, 09:16 PM
The first four are listed on The Pine Island Nursery site:

Dragon Fruit Viewer - Pine Island Nursery (http://www.tropicalfruitnursery.com/dragon/index.htm)

harveyc
07-02-2010, 09:34 PM
Yeah, I've seen them there before and had heard last year that some of those were known here in CA by other names. But, in reality, none of them had ever been named by Paul Thomson though he did name 3-S as 'Delight'. The first four on the list above (as well as 3-S, 4-S, 5-S, and 6-S) were crosses between two unknown species which Thomson called 'Neitzel' and 'Rixford'. 'Neitzel' is the only species other than H. undatus that produces white fleshed fruit while 'Rixford' has red-flexhed fruit. Both were reported as having fruits of very good to excellent quality and flavor. Thomson also did two other hybrids from 'Rixford' and 'Houghton'. 'Houghton' may not be Hylocereus but a related genus.

This information is from Paul Thomson's book, Pitahaya, A Promising New Fruit Crop For Southern California, Second Edition August 2002.

Richard
07-06-2010, 01:04 AM
Here's the latest flower on my Hylocereus guatemalensis.

http://www.plantsthatproduce.com/image_gallery/H_guatemalensis_flower_400x300.jpg

harveyc
07-07-2010, 03:06 AM
I've been asked to share the news of the launch a new pitaya discussion forum:

From: admin@pitayafruit.info <admin@pitayafruit.info>
Subject: PitayaFruit.info Mesage Board
To:
Date: Tuesday, July 6, 2010, 4:19 PM

I would like to invite you to the new PitayaFruit.info message board, where you can discuss the latest information with other growers in the pitaya community. Upload pictures, buy, sale or trade your cuttings or just browse around the different discussions at PitayaFruit.info. Join our community and start sharing your knowledge and interest for pitaya today.

Visit us at Pitaya Fruit message board for dragon fruit growers (http://www.pitayafruit.info)

Thanks, The Management at pitayafruit.info

Dalmatiansoap
07-14-2010, 02:25 AM
American beauty
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/dalmatiansoap/FJ015.jpg


Today
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/dalmatiansoap/GG015.jpg
:woohoonaner:

Patty in Wisc
07-14-2010, 12:45 PM
Ante, glad they are growing for you. When mine grow 'skinny' like that (usually in winter) it's because of not enough sun.

SOCALROCKER
07-14-2010, 03:29 PM
The Los Angeles Chapter of the
California Rare Fruit Growers
Welcomes You To The
2010 Festival Of Fruit
In Cal Poly Pomona
3801 W. Temple Ave. Bldg 35 Pomona, CA
Main Event Date: 8/14/2010
Celebrating The Year Of the Pitahaya

The Main Events of Saturday, August 14th, 2010 will be held at
The Bronco Student Center Of Cal Poly Pomona
3801 W. Temple Ave. Bldg. 35 Pomona, Ca. 91768
Parking Permits are required,
and will be provided for parking Area C to those arriving before 9:00AM
by CRFG Volunteeers at the parking entrance.

2010 Festival Of Fruit Registration
You have 2 advance registration options:

1) Register Online and pay using PayPal
2) Print the registration form and mail it with a check.
Please Mail in a Separate Form for each attendee.

If you are not a member of CRFG, we also invite you to
join our organization and also join our Los Angeles chapter,
however membership is not required in order to attend this event

FESTIVAL OF FRUIT 2010 Speakers
(Saturday August 14th)
Click on underlined names for biography
This list of speakers is subject to change

Joe Real Fruit Wine Making 101
Charles Portney 29 Years of Amateur Blueberry Growing in So.Cal
Jeff Moersfelder Pomegranates: Vegetative Propagation and an Overview of the
USDA – Davis, National Clonal Germplasm Repository Collection
Bob Hornback A Very Sticky Business: Luther Burbank and His Spineless Cacti
David Karp Frontiers of Fruit
Marita Cantwell Post-Harvest Management Of Pitahayas
Tom del Hotal Eugenias
Joe Sabol Grafting: Hands-On
Greg Partida Fruit Trees: Problems and Solutions
Tom Spellman Best Stone Fruits
Tracy Kahn UCR Citrus Variety Collections And Diversity
Rose Hayden-Smith From Victory Gardens to Urban Agriculture:
Join the Garden Revolution
Ken Love (Keynote) Fruit for the future
Ken Love (Dinner) Sharing Our Fruit Passions
Ramiro Lobo Pitahayas
Roger Meyer Jujubes
Beverly Alfeld Canning And Preserving Fruit
Dario Grossberger Cherimoyas
Gray Martin Pitahayas/Dragonfruit For The Future
C.Todd Kennedy Low Chill Fruits for Southern California
Axel Kratel Rare And Unusual Apples from the Tropics to the North Pole
Julie Frink Avocados
Norman C. Ellstrand Genetic Engineering Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Trees
Bernard Prins Grapes
Doug Fieri Importance of Honey Bees

FESTIVAL OF FRUIT 2010 Speakers
(Saturday August 14th)
Click on underlined names for biography
This list of speakers is subject to change

Joe Real Fruit Wine Making 101
Charles Portney 29 Years of Amateur Blueberry Growing in So.Cal
Jeff Moersfelder Pomegranates: Vegetative Propagation and an Overview of the
USDA – Davis, National Clonal Germplasm Repository Collection
Bob Hornback A Very Sticky Business: Luther Burbank and His Spineless Cacti
David Karp Frontiers of Fruit
Marita Cantwell Post-Harvest Management Of Pitahayas
Tom del Hotal Eugenias
Joe Sabol Grafting: Hands-On
Greg Partida Fruit Trees: Problems and Solutions
Tom Spellman Best Stone Fruits
Tracy Kahn UCR Citrus Variety Collections And Diversity
Rose Hayden-Smith From Victory Gardens to Urban Agriculture:
Join the Garden Revolution
Ken Love (Keynote) Fruit for the future
Ken Love (Dinner) Sharing Our Fruit Passions
Ramiro Lobo Pitahayas
Roger Meyer Jujubes
Beverly Alfeld Canning And Preserving Fruit
Dario Grossberger Cherimoyas
Gray Martin Pitahayas/Dragonfruit For The Future
C.Todd Kennedy Low Chill Fruits for Southern California
Axel Kratel Rare And Unusual Apples from the Tropics to the North Pole
Julie Frink Avocados
Norman C. Ellstrand Genetic Engineering Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Trees
Bernard Prins Grapes
Doug Fieri Importance of Honey Bees

Confirmed Tours:


Date: Time Tour

Thursday, August 12, 2010 9:00-12:00 PM South Coast Field Station
Thursday, August 12, 2010 9:00-12:00 PM Ed And Pat Valdivia
Thursday, August 12, 2010 9:00-11:00 AM Don Winterstein

Friday, August 13, 2010 9:00-11:00 AM Melissa's (Tour Closed)
Friday, August 13, 2010 10:00- 1:00 PM Huntington Gardens

Friday, August 13, 2010 1:00- 2:00 PM Center for Regenerative Studies
Friday, August 13, 2010 2:30- 3:30 PM Pitahaya Plantation

Saturday, August 14, 2010 All Day Speakers & Other Events

Sunday, August 15, 2010 9:00-11:00 AM Elk Creek Ranch
Sunday, August 15, 2010 9:00-12:00 PM Fullerton Arboretum

FESTIVAL OF FRUIT 2010 Plant Sales
(Saturday August 14th)
This list of participants is subject to change
If you wish to participate in Plant Sales at the 2010 Festival of Fruit, please notify Edgar Valdivia

We will also need the following:

1) The name of the Vendor (or business)
2) The vendor's mailing address
3) The vendor's email address
4) A list of what the vendor will be selling.
5) A $50 fee for insurance that CRFG must purchase for the vendors
6) The vendor's registration in the Festival of Fruit
(this can be done separately, on-line or it can be included with the above)
The registration fee is $35 without meals plus any optional fees for meals:
$10 to include lunch, $20 to include dinner, or $30 to include both meals.
Print the registration form or register online here.
Both methods allow you to specify the types of meals that you wish to have included (if any).

We will need all this information with payment by July 31st-that is when we will close all vendor participation.
Make out the check payable to: CRFG-LA Chapter and
mail to K. Payton
22275 Dardenne St.
Calabasas, CA 91302-5869

Papaya Tree Nursery
The Arboreum Company Growers of finest varieties of backyard fruits available as bare root trees.
Roger Meyer
Encanto Farms
Elk Creek Ranch
Southern Sun Seeds
Ken Love Posters
Beverly Alfeld Books related to cooking, caning and preserving
Exotica Nursery

Instructions To Plant Sales Participants:
On the day of the Festival everyone will be parking in Lot C. Someone will be working
at the booth to hand out tickets and give directions. The Plant Sales Participants will
go to parking lot C and when they get to the booth they should tell the person at the
gate (by the unloading zone) that they are a plant sales participant to be let through

supermario
07-15-2010, 12:21 AM
Hey guys, I have some more 'American Beauty' dragon fruit cuttings. Due to limited supply, this time I am selling them for $12 each, that includes shipping to anywhere in the continental United States. I will ship worldwide for $22-30 total($30 would be to Australia or Japan, have to double check though.. if shipping is less than expected..$22 is fine with me).

I have not taken the cuttings yet, so I will cut them as I receive requests.

Let me know if any of you are interested.

harveyc
07-15-2010, 01:33 AM
To help demonstrate how Pine Island acknowledges the source of some of these varieties, see how their listing for American Beauty shows "QOSF" at the end of the link:

http://www.tropicalfruitnursery.com/dragon/pages/QOSF.htm

Again, QOSF stands for Quang Ong Self Fertile. Quang operates a nice nursery in San Diego where I purchased my lychee and jaboticaba plants.

SOCALROCKER
07-15-2010, 09:08 PM
http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/DRAGONFRUIT03.jpghttp://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/DRAGONFRUIT02.jpghttp://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/DRAGONFRUIT01.jpghttp://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/SOCALROCKER64/DRAGONFRUIT05.jpg


Here is some of my Dragonfruit plants...

Patty in Wisc
07-15-2010, 10:11 PM
Would I LOVE to go to that Festival of Fruit!
My DF has 3 little growths on one branch/segment, that seems to be attracting black ants. They are nowhere else on the plant. Could these be the start of flowers??
WOOHOO

supermario
07-15-2010, 10:39 PM
Nice looking plants Socal! There are several fruit festivals here in South Florida throughout the year. I think there is one this weekend at Botanical Gardens. They hold a mango festival once a year during mango season. I am now picking several mangos off my trees, so I assume the festival is this weekend or next. I haven't checked though, so it may have passed already.

The fruit & spice park in the Redlands also has several shows throughout the year. They sell plants, fruit, and hold several classes on pretty much anything gardening.

Hope you guys don't mind, but also wanted to remind everyone that I'm selling 'American Beauty' Dragon Fruit cuttings. It is a self fertile variety that is also known as 'Quang Ong Self Fertile'. $12 to anywhere in the continental United States ..WOW, I had put size 6 for it to stand out and it was HUGE!! LOL Sry if anyone had to see that!

I recently was lucky enough to try some fruit from the mother plant, they are excellent! My personal favorite.. although 'David Bowie' is a CLOSE second.

Congrats Ante! It looks like you may have a winner! The growth looks a little skinny(and has bigger spines) compared to mine, maybe it is time to fertilize? I use a water soluble fertilizer(20-20-20). I am no expert though.. It could just be the different climate. As long as it is green, you are good to go from what I understand. If it looks a little yellow, it definitely needs fert. Experts, please feel free to chime in if I'm wrong.

Patty in Wisc
07-15-2010, 11:56 PM
On the pitaya forum they told me a high K (npk) fert is best. So, I use nana fert - 15-5-30. William Chow ( whom I bought my cuttings from) told me to use higher P fert so I will do that now as it is good for producing blossoms. Well, I'll just go back & forth on that, but I guess they don't like a lot of nitrogen.

SOCALROCKER
07-16-2010, 11:56 AM
I Have this question that everyone probably is asking about fertilizing there Dragonfruit, Pitaya,Hylocereus undatus.What brands of food/fertlizer are you using,and what npk ratio is working for you.I have read that Tomato plant food or fruit fertilizer can help also.Whick type are you using for the vegative state or blooming stage to produce fruit to start flowering new growth.I have heard to feed them good amounts of potasium is this right and how much to start off from new cutting's after they are established.

Thank's :-) :bananas_b

supermario
07-16-2010, 12:10 PM
I use water soluble 20-20-20. My plant is fairly young, so I have not seen any fruit yet.

I use the above mentioned fertilizer because that is what is used at the nursery where I purchased the plant. They sell the fruit from their plants/trees and all have been of good size and quality.

Jananas Bananas
07-18-2010, 09:50 AM
I went to the Asian Market to get a Dragon Fruit. Since I have five different kinds now I was curious to know what they tasted like. I was surprised at the size and weight of one fruit. The flavor of this one was mild and slightly sweet and the crunchiness of the seeds was an interesting texture in the soft flesh. Do the other colors taste differently or the same? Thanks!

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=34405&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=34405)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=34403&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=34403)

~JaNan

Patty in Wisc
07-18-2010, 11:22 AM
I feed mine the same I use for nanas... 15-5-30. I was told they like high K (NPK). Since using it this spring, I have 3 little growths on end of one segment that is attracting black ants. Could these be the start of flowers? Ants aren't anywhere else on the very large plant... I knock them off (6ft up) & they are back in a short time. I can't tell yet if these are reg growth of new branches or start of flower.
Jana, I heard the red fleshed ones taste best.

harveyc
07-18-2010, 11:30 AM
JaNan, the white pitaya I've eaten have been the least flavorful (bland could be used, but might be a bit too negative) of the varieties I've eaten, though still pleasant, IMO. Dark red pitaya from Nicaragua are also a bit lacking in flavor. Red pitaya from Guatemala are very nice and yellow Colombian are often reported to be the best, though I haven't had the chance to taste one yet. There are many selection/varieties within these, as well as hybrids, and some of these are very good.

capthof
07-18-2010, 11:44 AM
Without a doubt the yellow are the sweetest, once you get past the spines.
If your were looking for a burst of flavor grab a mango.
It is the uniqueness of the pitaya, the large blooms at night, the size and shape of the fruit that make it attractive.
Just another part of God's little garden we are here to enjoy.

Jananas Bananas
07-18-2010, 11:45 AM
Thanks Patty, Thanks Harvey, Thanks Scott (I eat Mango all the time, HA HA!)! I will have to try and find some red flesh variety. Maybe at a different market as that one only offered the one kind. ~J

Want Them All
07-20-2010, 04:59 PM
I use water soluble 20-20-20. My plant is fairly young, so I have not seen any fruit yet.

I use the above mentioned fertilizer because that is what is used at the nursery where I purchased the plant. They sell the fruit from their plants/trees and all have been of good size and quality.

Where do you get 20-20-20?
How often do you fertilize?
Mine are growing like crazy, but no flowers/fruits.

Thanks,

sunfish
07-20-2010, 05:13 PM
I am using the same fert. I use on bananas and I have buds.

Want Them All
07-20-2010, 05:34 PM
I am using the same fert. I use on bananas and I have buds.

How often do you fertilize?
Do you keep the soil moist all the time, or do you let it dry out, like for citrus?

Thanks,

sunfish
07-20-2010, 05:49 PM
How often do you fertilize?
Do you keep the soil moist all the time, or do you let it dry out, like for citrus?

Thanks,

I water twice a week with the same fert. you got from Richard. All my plants are bone dry between watering. If your Dragon fruit is growing ,then I don't think it's lacking anything. It may just need to mature more before it fruits. I bought three different varieties in summer of 08. One variety flowered in the summer of 09. This year I have two different one's flowering and the third has yet to flower.So I think it's just a matter of time before you get buds.But I could be wrong.

Want Them All
07-20-2010, 06:00 PM
I water twice a week with the same fert. you got from Richard. All my plants are bone dry between watering. If your Dragon fruit is growing ,then I don't think it's lacking anything. It may just need to mature more before it fruits. I bought three different varieties in summer of 08. One variety flowered in the summer of 09. This year I have two different one's flowering and the third has yet to flower.So I think it's just a matter of time before you get buds.But I could be wrong.

I don't think I can water just twice a week like you can, Underground Weather show you're at 77 F and I'm at 103 F! I've been watering every other day, I need to fertilize more often since they're actively growing now.

sunfish
07-20-2010, 06:08 PM
All my plants could use more water that's for sure. But again if your plants are actively growing I don't believe that using 10-10-10 fertilizer is going to make them flower. What you are using should be fine,there just not ready to flower yet.

sunfish
07-20-2010, 06:20 PM
Wait about a month after planting or until plants begin to grow to start fertilizing. Fertilization in the first year should be frequent (every 2 months) with light applications of 0.25 lb (118 g) per plant. Use a 6-6-6, 8-3-9, 8-4-12 (palm special) with 2-3% magnesium or similar

Irrigation (watering)

Although pitayas are members of the cactus family and may withstand dry periods, they have a fairly high water requirement. However, excessive soil moisture will result in the development of bacterial and fungus diseases. A dry period is required for abundant bloom induction, but once plants flower, periods of drought may result in poor production. Therefore, no watering is recommended during the spring once summer rains begin or watering is initiated since flowering will be induced.

sunfish
08-04-2010, 08:50 PM
Opened at 6:30pm

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=35255&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=35255&ppuser=2868)

Want Them All
08-05-2010, 11:30 PM
Beautiful Tony! I'm jealous.

harveyc
08-05-2010, 11:59 PM
Tony, are these flowers from the same plant or do you now have more than one variety that's bloomed for you?

sunfish
08-06-2010, 12:29 AM
Tony, are these flowers from the same plant or do you now have more than one variety that's bloomed for you?

From the same plant. I have buds but no blooms yet on the others

Richard
08-06-2010, 08:22 PM
http://www.plantsthatproduce.com/image_gallery/H_ocamponis_bud_400x300.jpg

Hylocereus ocamponis - Pitahaya roja. The skin as well as the sweet pulp of the fruit are wine-red color. Usually eaten out of hand. Also grown as an ornamental hedge plant. [Cornucopia II, page 64. Stephan Facciola, Kampong Publications 1998].

Note: the cacti seen behind and under the bud in the photo are not H. ocamponis.

Richard
08-11-2010, 02:02 PM
Hylocereus guatemalensis fruit. Eliminates any desire to grow watermelon.

http://www.plantsthatproduce.com/image_gallery/H_guatemalensis_fruit_halves.jpg

sunfish
08-11-2010, 02:45 PM
http://www.plantsthatproduce.com/image_gallery/H_ocamponis_bud_400x300.jpg

Hylocereus ocamponis - Pitahaya roja. The skin as well as the sweet pulp of the fruit are wine-red color. Usually eaten out of hand. Also grown as an ornamental hedge plant. [Cornucopia II, page 64. Stephan Facciola, Kampong Publications 1998].

Note: the cacti seen behind and under the bud in the photo are not H. ocamponis.

Richard what photo are you referring to.

Richard
08-12-2010, 12:19 AM
Richard what photo are you referring to.

That one -- you see the bud of the H. ocamponis coming out of a very spiny pod on the right. The other pods in the photo are coming from a Physical Graffiti plant off the left side. Notice that they are not spiny compared to the H. ocamponis.

sunfish
08-12-2010, 01:02 AM
That one -- you see the bud of the H. ocamponis coming out of a very spiny pod on the right. The other pods in the photo are coming from a Physical Graffiti plant off the left side. Notice that they are not spiny compared to the H. ocamponis.

For some reason the photo did not show until I posted the question.Now the photo is showing.

Richard
08-12-2010, 04:04 PM
Here is another look at pods of the Hylocereus ocamponis.
1. They are 3-4 inches across at the widest.
2. The needles are 3/4 to 1 inch long.
3. The skin becomes covered with a blueish dust generated by the plant, reflecting white in the sunshine on most pods visible here. Notice the younger horizontal pod with the "dust" coating emerging on the left half but not present towards the right.

(If you don't see an image, press reload on your browser.)
http://www.plantsthatproduce.com/image_gallery/H_ocamponis_stems_400x300.jpg

harveyc
08-12-2010, 08:12 PM
Hylocereus guatemalensis fruit. Eliminates any desire to grow watermelon.

http://www.plantsthatproduce.com/image_gallery/H_guatemalensis_fruit_halves.jpg

I have eaten quite a few pitaya, including H. guatemalensis, and enjoy them but I've had many watermelons that I've enjoyed much more than any pitaya. For me, a good deal of the pleasure in pitaya is their appearance.

One summer I grew about 20 varieties of watermelons and most were great and a few were marginal.

I'm still waiting for my first chance to enjoy the fruit of a Yellow Colombian. I've heard from several folks in prime pitaya regions that these are their favorites.

sunfish
08-12-2010, 08:54 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=35679&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=35679&ppuser=2868)

sunfish
08-12-2010, 09:42 PM
Looks like these fruit are going to hold.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=35683&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=35683&ppuser=2868)

Richard
08-12-2010, 09:51 PM
Looks like these fruit are going to hold.


Yes.

sunfish
08-12-2010, 09:55 PM
Yes.

I think this is the White Pitaya are they self fertile ?

Richard
08-12-2010, 10:45 PM
I think this is the White Pitaya are they self fertile ?

Yes, the Hylocereus undatus are self-fertile and can self-pollinate provided some ants, other insects, or human intervention moves pollen into the pollen tube of the stigma.

Richard
08-25-2010, 02:09 PM
Hylocereus undatus "Paul Thomson" erupts!

http://www.plantsthatproduce.com/image_gallery/Hylocereus_undatus_eruption_400x300.jpg

sunfish
08-25-2010, 03:43 PM
This plant is loaded with buds.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=36054&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=36054&ppuser=2868)

sunfish
08-25-2010, 03:49 PM
Any idea on the variety

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=36054&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=36054&ppuser=2868)

Patty in Wisc
08-25-2010, 04:16 PM
WOOHOO, I think I have a flower bud...as big as a large pea.

Richard
08-28-2010, 03:08 PM
Hey, maybe some of you folks down south can help. Do these look like yellow dragon fruit buds (Selenicereus megalanthus) ??

Any idea on the variety?

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=36054&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=36054&ppuser=2868)

Richard
08-28-2010, 11:33 PM
For tonight's viewing we have:

The second bloom on my Hylocereus ocamponis:
http://www.plantsthatproduce.com/image_gallery/H_ocamponis_2nd_bloom_400x300.jpg

An eruption of blooms on 'Physical Graffiti':
http://www.plantsthatproduce.com/image_gallery/H_Physical_Graffiti_eruption_400x300.jpg

sunfish
08-28-2010, 11:59 PM
For tonight's viewing we have:

The second bloom on my Hylocereus ocamponis:
http://www.plantsthatproduce.com/image_gallery/H_ocamponis_2nd_bloom_400x300.jpg

An eruption of blooms on 'Physical Graffiti':
http://www.plantsthatproduce.com/image_gallery/H_Physical_Graffiti_eruption_400x300.jpg

Beautiful

sunfish
08-29-2010, 07:31 PM
Hey, maybe some of you folks down south can help. Do these look like yellow dragon fruit buds (Selenicereus megalanthus) ??

Looking at photo's it's Yellow Dragon Fruit
Selenicereus megalanthus

harveyc
08-29-2010, 09:20 PM
I'm still trying to find you if the name for Yellow Pitaya has changed or not. I find several references to it having been changed, but haven't found anything citing an authoritative source.

Yellow Pitaya, formerly in Selenicereus - Google Search (http://www.google.com/search?q=Yellow+Pitaya%2C+formerly+in+Selenicereus&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a)

harveyc
08-31-2010, 12:35 PM
I'm still trying to find you if the name for Yellow Pitaya has changed or not. I find several references to it having been changed, but haven't found anything citing an authoritative source.

Yellow Pitaya, formerly in Selenicereus - Google Search (http://www.google.com/search?q=Yellow+Pitaya%2C+formerly+in+Selenicereus&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a)

Someone gave me a referred me to The New Cactus Lexicon, a two volume set published in 2006 and put together with 130 contributors. See New Cactus Lexicon Home Page (http://newcactuslexicon.org/) for information about this project. Also, I found at CactiGuide.com Compare Publications On-line Guide to the positive identification of Members of the Cactus Family (http://www.cactiguide.com/compare_publications/) an extensive listing of the name changes, including one where Selenicereus megalanthus
is now Hylocereus megalanthus (though the Selenicereus genus still exists for other species).

Now, if I can just get one to flower and ripen! I think mine will be spending the winter in my greenhouse.

sunfish
09-08-2010, 07:39 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=36410&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=36410&ppuser=2868)

sunfish
09-20-2010, 03:02 PM
Starting to blush red
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=36825&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=36825&ppuser=2868)

sunfish
09-25-2010, 12:06 AM
First flower on Yellow
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=36955&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=36955&ppuser=2868)

sunfish
09-25-2010, 08:38 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=36964&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=36964&ppuser=2868)

sunfish
09-26-2010, 08:42 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=36997&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=36997&ppuser=2868)

sunfish
09-27-2010, 08:20 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=37041&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=37041&ppuser=2868)

harveyc
09-27-2010, 08:53 PM
Congrats!

sunfish
09-27-2010, 10:14 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=37046&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=37046&ppuser=2868)

sunfish
09-30-2010, 11:25 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=37160&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=37160&ppuser=2868)

sunfish
10-15-2010, 05:03 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=37551&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=37551&ppuser=2868)