Re: Dragon Fruit
 

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

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

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.

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

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

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

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Nice :)

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

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!!!!

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

I purchased a small 'American Beauty' Pitaya plant today. :)



:woohoonaner::woohoonaner:

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

Looks great!

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

Mario, I'm curious what something like that sells for in Miami. They should be plentiful, I would think.

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

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).

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

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

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

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.

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

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

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

hold out?

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

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. :(

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

No worries, Mario, I have cuttings of about 20 varieties which is probably a few too many as it is!

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

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.

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

usually illegal but check your state's laws

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

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.

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

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.

Re: Dragon Fruit
 

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?