Dragon Fruit update - Page 3

justjoan · 08-05-2009, 07:29 AM

These plants are crazy growers, I got a couple from Patty too last year and they have gone crazy this summer, they are easy propagate and you can almost watch their progress!!!

Richard · 08-05-2009, 10:10 AM

Capthof, have you tried H. guatemalensis or its cultivar "American Beauty" ?

capthof · 08-05-2009, 11:23 AM

I picked up a cutting of American Beauty from a friend of mine and built a small 2X4 frame in a 15 gallon pot. They I rapped it with some hemp rope for the roots. I am waiting to see how it develops and if it will flower in a small setting.
The Others I got were just labeled White, Red and Yellow. The ones I got from Pine Island flowered but never set fruit and I don't have the time or the patience to run around with a paint brush in the middle of the night trying to find another species to cross pollinate them with.

Especially considering they need to be cross pollinated within 48 hours of each other.

But I do enjoy watching them flower at night and seeing what bugs and animals will visits them.
Scott

Lagniappe · 08-05-2009, 12:36 PM

I got my cuttings from Richard and planted them in a pure compost mix. The nursery I bought the compost from uses it alone (on 1 gallon plants and up) with no amendments (other than osmocote) and has the most healthy plants I've ever seen.
I'll need much larger containers. Imagine that half of these cuttings are in the soil.

sbl · 08-05-2009, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capthof

I picked up a cutting of American Beauty from a friend of mine and built a small 2X4 frame in a 15 gallon pot. They I rapped it with some hemp rope for the roots. I am waiting to see how it develops and if it will flower in a small setting.
The Others I got were just labeled White, Red and Yellow. The ones I got from Pine Island flowered but never set fruit and I don't have the time or the patience to run around with a paint brush in the middle of the night trying to find another species to cross pollinate them with.

Especially considering they need to be cross pollinated within 48 hours of each other.

But I do enjoy watching them flower at night and seeing what bugs and animals will visits them.
Scott

Bummer--I guess that means mine will not set since it was a lone flower.

Lagniappe · 08-05-2009, 01:26 PM

Richard, I'd like to know more about pitaya flavors, etc. and was wondering if you could send me a copy or link to the tastings you've mentioned .

capthof · 08-05-2009, 02:01 PM

SBL
Some species are self pollinating, I was bummed because after two years and twenty something blossoms the one variety I had never set fruit. The blossoms would open, a small fruit would form then turn yellow and fall off. My others are self pollinating and have done great, however you may increase fruit size and quality by getting out the night when they open up and playing the part of a bumble bee. Good Luck!

sbl · 08-05-2009, 02:06 PM

I grew this one from seed, so I can only hope--Thanks!

capthof · 08-05-2009, 03:01 PM

This is a picture of the same Yellow Dragon Fruit as it ripens. The spines fall off as it gets riper.

Richard · 08-05-2009, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lagniappe

Richard, I'd like to know more about pitaya flavors, etc. and was wondering if you could send me a copy or link to the tastings you've mentioned .

The information I've provided comes from (1) attending the annual Pitaya meeting at the South Coast Research Center in Irvine, (2) talking with Edgar Valdivia at meetings of mutual interest, and (3) talking with Ramiro Lobo, our local Ag extension advisor and lead researcher on the Pitaya test bed in Irvine.

There have been a few articles in the CRFG Magazine "Fruit Gardener" providing details and photos from the annual meetings. Perhaps a CRFG member here knows what issue(s) and has an electronic copy?

harveyc · 08-05-2009, 03:46 PM

There's quite a bit of taste test information at Taste Results and the 2007 results are also contained in this UC publication: http://cesandiego.ucdavis.edu/files/63550.pdf.

The 2006 pitaya festival was covered in the January/February 2007 CRFG Fruit Gardener in an article written by Emory Walton, a friend of Edgar Valdivia. There's not really any mention about taste results in that article. Interestingly, the writer indicated his favorite pitaya is H. peruviana but Edgar hadn't brought any to the tasting that year.

Richard · 08-06-2009, 02:33 PM

Here's a full-length photo of the dragon fruit espaliers, complete with lots of other clutter.

And the Physical Graffiti bud has now grown to 7 inches in length:

harveyc · 08-06-2009, 02:44 PM

Looking good, Richard. Do your pitaya get some shade in the afternoon? Or do anything else to protect them from too much sunlight?

Richard · 08-06-2009, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harveyc

Looking good, Richard. Do your pitaya get some shade in the afternoon? Or do anything else to protect them from too much sunlight?

So far it hasn't been a problem. I selected self-fertile varieties that perform well in full sun at the Irvine site.

Richard · 08-07-2009, 11:29 PM

This afternoon, the largest of the buds began expanding in diameter.

By 8pm it looked like this:

and by 9pm it had opened:

capthof · 08-08-2009, 07:02 AM

Awesome Flowers Both of them!
Is that the American Beauty to the right?

Richard · 08-08-2009, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capthof

Awesome Flowers Both of them!
Is that the American Beauty to the right?

Well that is my wife Sue, and I certainly think so!
The flower is on the hybrid cultivar "Physical Graffiti".

Lagniappe · 08-08-2009, 10:44 AM

My Hylocereus undatus is freaking out!
I tried to get a good pic, but I believe my camera is at it's end.

Richard · 08-08-2009, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lagniappe

My Hylocereus undatus is freaking out!

Adventurous air roots!

Richard · 08-08-2009, 11:24 AM

At 9am, the flower is about finished and starting to close. Look at the size of the stigma!

Several hours earlier there were many insects (and my paintbrush for good measure) visiting the blossom.

08-05-2009, 07:29 AM	#41 (permalink)
justjoan justjoan Location: suburb of Minneapolis Mn Find me on the map! Zone: 4A Name: Joan Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 338 BananaBucks : 3,611 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 106 Times Was Thanked 311 Times in 180 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 179 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update These plants are crazy growers, I got a couple from Patty too last year and they have gone crazy this summer, they are easy propagate and you can almost watch their progress!!! __________________ Friends are the siblings God never gave you

08-05-2009, 10:10 AM	#42 (permalink)
Richard Hermitian Operator Richard's Photo Gallery Location: Vista, CA Find me on the map! Zone: numerous Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 6,908 BananaBucks : 3,839 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2,013 Times Was Thanked 5,301 Times in 2,598 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,371 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update Capthof, have you tried H. guatemalensis or its cultivar "American Beauty" ? __________________ PM and Email questions welcome. website: http://www.PlantsThatProduce.com

08-05-2009, 11:23 AM	#43 (permalink)
capthof capthof's Photo Gallery Location: Jupiter; Fl Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Scott Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 408 BananaBucks : 7,506 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 45 Times Was Thanked 341 Times in 100 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 49 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update I picked up a cutting of American Beauty from a friend of mine and built a small 2X4 frame in a 15 gallon pot. They I rapped it with some hemp rope for the roots. I am waiting to see how it develops and if it will flower in a small setting. The Others I got were just labeled White, Red and Yellow. The ones I got from Pine Island flowered but never set fruit and I don't have the time or the patience to run around with a paint brush in the middle of the night trying to find another species to cross pollinate them with. Especially considering they need to be cross pollinated within 48 hours of each other. But I do enjoy watching them flower at night and seeing what bugs and animals will visits them. Scott __________________

08-05-2009, 12:36 PM	#44 (permalink)
Lagniappe Lagniappe's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 2,110 BananaBucks : 57,794 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,372 Times Was Thanked 1,370 Times in 545 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 534 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update I got my cuttings from Richard and planted them in a pure compost mix. The nursery I bought the compost from uses it alone (on 1 gallon plants and up) with no amendments (other than osmocote) and has the most healthy plants I've ever seen. I'll need much larger containers. Imagine that half of these cuttings are in the soil.

08-05-2009, 01:26 PM	#46 (permalink)
Lagniappe Lagniappe's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 2,110 BananaBucks : 57,794 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,372 Times Was Thanked 1,370 Times in 545 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 534 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update Richard, I'd like to know more about pitaya flavors, etc. and was wondering if you could send me a copy or link to the tastings you've mentioned .

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08-05-2009, 02:01 PM	#47 (permalink)
capthof capthof's Photo Gallery Location: Jupiter; Fl Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Scott Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 408 BananaBucks : 7,506 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 45 Times Was Thanked 341 Times in 100 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 49 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update SBL Some species are self pollinating, I was bummed because after two years and twenty something blossoms the one variety I had never set fruit. The blossoms would open, a small fruit would form then turn yellow and fall off. My others are self pollinating and have done great, however you may increase fruit size and quality by getting out the night when they open up and playing the part of a bumble bee. Good Luck! __________________

08-05-2009, 02:06 PM	#48 (permalink)
sbl sbl's Photo Gallery Location: Pensacola, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 8/9 Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,010 BananaBucks : 28,667 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 177 Times Was Thanked 691 Times in 386 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 154 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update I grew this one from seed, so I can only hope--Thanks!

08-05-2009, 03:01 PM	#49 (permalink)
capthof capthof's Photo Gallery Location: Jupiter; Fl Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Scott Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 408 BananaBucks : 7,506 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 45 Times Was Thanked 341 Times in 100 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 49 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update This is a picture of the same Yellow Dragon Fruit as it ripens. The spines fall off as it gets riper. __________________

08-05-2009, 03:46 PM	#51 (permalink)
harveyc Been nuts, gone bananas harveyc's Photo Gallery Location: Isleton, Calif Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Harvey Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 4,868 BananaBucks : 10,511 Feedback: 4 / 100% Said "Thanks" 5,615 Times Was Thanked 3,603 Times in 1,678 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,776 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update There's quite a bit of taste test information at Taste Results and the 2007 results are also contained in this UC publication: http://cesandiego.ucdavis.edu/files/63550.pdf. The 2006 pitaya festival was covered in the January/February 2007 CRFG Fruit Gardener in an article written by Emory Walton, a friend of Edgar Valdivia. There's not really any mention about taste results in that article. Interestingly, the writer indicated his favorite pitaya is H. peruviana but Edgar hadn't brought any to the tasting that year. __________________

08-06-2009, 02:33 PM	#52 (permalink)
Richard Hermitian Operator Richard's Photo Gallery Location: Vista, CA Find me on the map! Zone: numerous Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 6,908 BananaBucks : 3,839 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2,013 Times Was Thanked 5,301 Times in 2,598 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,371 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update Here's a full-length photo of the dragon fruit espaliers, complete with lots of other clutter. And the Physical Graffiti bud has now grown to 7 inches in length: __________________ PM and Email questions welcome. website: http://www.PlantsThatProduce.com

08-06-2009, 02:44 PM	#53 (permalink)
harveyc Been nuts, gone bananas harveyc's Photo Gallery Location: Isleton, Calif Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Harvey Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 4,868 BananaBucks : 10,511 Feedback: 4 / 100% Said "Thanks" 5,615 Times Was Thanked 3,603 Times in 1,678 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,776 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update Looking good, Richard. Do your pitaya get some shade in the afternoon? Or do anything else to protect them from too much sunlight? __________________

08-07-2009, 11:29 PM	#55 (permalink)
Richard Hermitian Operator Richard's Photo Gallery Location: Vista, CA Find me on the map! Zone: numerous Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 6,908 BananaBucks : 3,839 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2,013 Times Was Thanked 5,301 Times in 2,598 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,371 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update This afternoon, the largest of the buds began expanding in diameter. By 8pm it looked like this: and by 9pm it had opened: __________________ PM and Email questions welcome. website: http://www.PlantsThatProduce.com

08-08-2009, 07:02 AM	#56 (permalink)
capthof capthof's Photo Gallery Location: Jupiter; Fl Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Scott Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 408 BananaBucks : 7,506 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 45 Times Was Thanked 341 Times in 100 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 49 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update Awesome Flowers Both of them! Is that the American Beauty to the right? __________________

08-08-2009, 10:44 AM	#58 (permalink)
Lagniappe Lagniappe's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 2,110 BananaBucks : 57,794 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,372 Times Was Thanked 1,370 Times in 545 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 534 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update My Hylocereus undatus is freaking out! I tried to get a good pic, but I believe my camera is at it's end.

08-08-2009, 11:24 AM	#60 (permalink)
Richard Hermitian Operator Richard's Photo Gallery Location: Vista, CA Find me on the map! Zone: numerous Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 6,908 BananaBucks : 3,839 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2,013 Times Was Thanked 5,301 Times in 2,598 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,371 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update At 9am, the flower is about finished and starting to close. Look at the size of the stigma! Several hours earlier there were many insects (and my paintbrush for good measure) visiting the blossom. __________________ PM and Email questions welcome. website: http://www.PlantsThatProduce.com

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