Dragon Fruit

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by dablo93

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
... and some photos in my Gallery: Banana Gallery - Pitayas
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

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorax

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorax

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:

Richard · 07-01-2008, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorax

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:

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, or stay tuned for the next time some appear in the Classifieds here, or post your own wanted ad there indicating what you will pay or trade.

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorax

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!

American Beauty

Physical Graffiti

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!

06-13-2008, 11:27 AM	#1 (permalink)
Mason The Top Banana In Town! Mason's Photo Gallery Location: San Diego Zone: 9-11 Name: Mason Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 94 BananaBucks : 1,161 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 10 Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts Welcomes: 0	Dragon Fruit 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. __________________ -Mason

06-13-2008, 01:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
dablo93 dablo93 's Photo Gallery Location: Randstad North Find me on the map! Zone: Z8b-Z9a, wet cold winters and mild summers Name: daen Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 753 BananaBucks : 3,541 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 83 Thanked 154 Times in 104 Posts Welcomes: 119	Re: Dragon Fruit 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. __________________ -=

06-13-2008, 09:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
hydrojeff Bananacitus Location: orange city,FL Find me on the map! Zone: zone 9b Name: jeff Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 221 BananaBucks : 797 Feedback: 8 / 100% Thanks: 55 Thanked 30 Times in 30 Posts Welcomes: 75	Re: Dragon Fruit 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 __________________ Jeff

06-14-2008, 06:28 AM	#5 (permalink)
Pablo Vega Banana or nice cold beer! Pablo Vega's Photo Gallery Location: South Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 10-11 Name: Pablo Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 44 BananaBucks : 468 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 6 Posts Welcomes: 0	Re: Dragon Fruit 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. __________________ PJV

06-20-2008, 08:46 PM	#6 (permalink)
Richard Hermitian Operator Richard's Photo Gallery Location: NW San Diego, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 9+ / 10- Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2,001 BananaBucks : 1,997 Feedback: 1 / 100% Thanks: 290 Thanked 437 Times in 292 Posts Welcomes: 550	Re: Dragon Fruit Here's a link to an article I wrote on Dragon Fruit: Pitaya, The Dragon Fruit ... and some photos in my Gallery: Banana Gallery - Pitayas I should probably update the photos as the plants are now much larger. __________________ . . . http://www.plantsthatproduce.com Last edited by Richard : 07-26-2008 at 12:28 PM.

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06-20-2008, 08:53 PM	#7 (permalink)
lorax <div style="color: Yellow;">Banana Coloured</div> lorax's Photo Gallery Location: Ecuador, South America Zone: 12/13 Tropical Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 349 BananaBucks : 1,704 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 34 Thanked 107 Times in 73 Posts Welcomes: 82	Re: Dragon Fruit 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. __________________ I speak for the trees.

07-01-2008, 02:41 AM	#9 (permalink)
harveyc Been nuts, gone bananas harveyc's Photo Gallery Location: Isleton, Calif Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Harvey Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 875 BananaBucks : 5,424 Feedback: 4 / 100% Thanks: 360 Thanked 169 Times in 98 Posts Welcomes: 33	Re: Dragon Fruit 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. __________________

07-01-2008, 08:36 AM	#10 (permalink)
lorax <div style="color: Yellow;">Banana Coloured</div> lorax's Photo Gallery Location: Ecuador, South America Zone: 12/13 Tropical Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 349 BananaBucks : 1,704 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 34 Thanked 107 Times in 73 Posts Welcomes: 82	Re: Dragon Fruit 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. __________________ I speak for the trees.

07-10-2008, 08:04 PM	#13 (permalink)
SherryC Location: Mount Forest Ontario Find me on the map! Zone: I think 6 Name: SherryC Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 5 BananaBucks : 448 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Welcomes: 0	Re: Dragon Fruit 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 __________________ Sherry's on Main...Gifts & Goodies Providing unique gifts for any occasion featuring the works of over 30 Area Artisans.

07-10-2008, 11:15 PM	#14 (permalink)
Richard Hermitian Operator Richard's Photo Gallery Location: NW San Diego, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 9+ / 10- Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2,001 BananaBucks : 1,997 Feedback: 1 / 100% Thanks: 290 Thanked 437 Times in 292 Posts Welcomes: 550	Re: Dragon Fruit 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, or stay tuned for the next time some appear in the Classifieds here, or post your own wanted ad there indicating what you will pay or trade. __________________ . . . http://www.plantsthatproduce.com

07-11-2008, 12:16 AM	#15 (permalink)
Mason The Top Banana In Town! Mason's Photo Gallery Location: San Diego Zone: 9-11 Name: Mason Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 94 BananaBucks : 1,161 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 10 Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts Welcomes: 0	Re: Dragon Fruit Dragon Fruit looks a lot like a cactus. __________________ -Mason

07-11-2008, 08:59 AM	#16 (permalink)
lorax <div style="color: Yellow;">Banana Coloured</div> lorax's Photo Gallery Location: Ecuador, South America Zone: 12/13 Tropical Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 349 BananaBucks : 1,704 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 34 Thanked 107 Times in 73 Posts Welcomes: 82	Re: Dragon Fruit 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. __________________ I speak for the trees.

08-02-2008, 11:09 PM	#18 (permalink)
D_&_T 1st winter growing indoor D_&_T's Photo Gallery Location: Northern Indiana Find me on the map! Zone: 5-6 Name: Dan and Tara Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 626 BananaBucks : 2,112 Feedback: 2 / 100% Thanks: 337 Thanked 79 Times in 69 Posts Welcomes: 138	Re: Dragon Fruit Here is our start of Dragon Fruit, Thanks to Richard! American Beauty Physical Graffiti __________________ Dan & Tara in need of greenhouse

08-08-2008, 05:59 PM	#19 (permalink)
AnnaJW AnnaJW's Photo Gallery Location: Riverside, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Anna Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,276 BananaBucks : 6,675 Feedback: 6 / 100% Thanks: 15 Thanked 38 Times in 26 Posts Welcomes: 1	Re: Dragon Fruit 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! __________________ -Anna Banana - From the earth we came, to the earth we return... in between we garden