Dragon Fruit update - Page 6

harveyc · 09-04-2009, 10:42 PM

Congrats, Tony. I was thinking about posting earier "Tonight's the night!", but then I wasn't 100% sure. Now I am!

sunfish · 09-04-2009, 10:51 PM

Thanks. When I could see some white showing earlier today I new it was going to open tonight.

sunfish · 09-04-2009, 11:03 PM

Richard · 09-04-2009, 11:05 PM

Oh yea, multiple blossoms. Those are bound to get pollinated!

harveyc · 09-04-2009, 11:42 PM

David Karp was at the festival last Saturday.....Mitchel, he was shootting with a D3

.... and here's his article on the festival and the fruit economics, etc.

Pitahaya, or dragon fruit, finds a place at SoCal farmers markets -- latimes.com

Quote:

Pitahaya, or dragon fruit, finds a place at SoCal farmers markets
More growers are discovering this exotic fruit. The bright pink spineless cactus fruit has a mild, sweet flavor and edible seeds.

By David Karp

September 4, 2009

It's happening at farmers markets all over Los Angeles. A shopper stops short, agape, at a table of fruits that look like artichokes from Mars, and asks the vendor, "What on Earth are they?"

"They" are flaming pink, spineless cactus fruits, with neon magenta flesh and a mild, sweet flavor, reminiscent of watermelon. They have tiny, edible black seeds, similar to a kiwi's, which are not at all gritty, as are those in common prickly cactus pears.

They grow on climbing cacti native to the tropical forests of Mexico, Central America and parts of South America, where they are called pitahaya; in Southeast Asia, where they were brought by French colonists more than a century ago, they're known as dragon fruit. Now grown domestically, they mostly are eaten fresh, in wedges or cut in half and scooped out with a spoon, but imported juice also is trendy, as in the recently introduced Bacardi Dragon Berry rum.

The farmers market vendor is Pedro Gallardo, 41, who was born in Aguascalientes, in central Mexico, although he never encountered pitahaya there. After immigrating to the United States he worked for the Port of Long Beach, and made enough money in real estate that he was able to acquire 21 acres of farmland, including organically grown avocados and pitahayas, in De Luz, a gorgeous agricultural area in northern San Diego County. Last year he quit his day job and devoted himself to selling these fruits at farmers markets, and he is now at more than a dozen venues.

Henri Gerwig, who sold Gallardo the pitahaya planting and still farms it, also sells commercially under his DeVine Tropical Dragonfruit label; the fruit is often available in season at local supermarkets such as Whole Foods and Gelson's. The harvest started a month ago, and in most years peaks in September, although there's currently a slight lull; production ends some time from November to January, depending on the advent of rain and cold weather.

Adventurous farmers started trying to grow pitahaya in California in the 1990s, and began selling fruit commercially on a small scale early this decade. Now there are close to 200 acres, estimates Ramiro Lobo, a UC Cooperative Extension farm advisor for San Diego County, who has a test planting in Irvine of 19 varieties that he is studying to see which will perform best for local farmers. Compared with avocados, pitahayas require substantially less water, an important advantage in this time of mandatory cutbacks, he said.

Last Saturday, Lobo hosted a huge turnout, 140 home gardeners and aspiring growers, for the fifth annual Pitahaya Festival and Field Day, held at the UC ANR South Coast Research and Extension Center. Visitors attended lectures, received cuttings, toured the test plot and tasted varieties.

When pitahaya cultivation began in California, most growers planted white-fleshed varieties, which were predominant in Vietnam and could be grown without hand-pollination, which was thought to be required for many of the varieties with magenta and red pulp. That's no small matter, since the huge, showy white flowers bloom mostly at night.

"I like the red-flesh varieties because they're sweeter, but they're very difficult to do commercially," said La Do, a Vietnamese American whose Do King Dragon Fruit Farm grows 25 acres of pitahaya in Escondido, producing 200,000 pounds a year -- possibly the largest planting in the state.

Now Lobo is finding that at least some red-fleshed varieties can be grown without hand-pollination. It will be crucial for repeat sales that growers select varieties with superior flavor, he said.

Edgar Valdivia, a rare-fruit enthusiast who has been a major booster of California pitahaya cultivation, encouraged growers at the festival to experiment with seedlings, which vary from their parents in fruit characteristics, so as to come up with tasty new varieties adapted to local conditions.

Pitahayas were rare and expensive when they debuted here and are still quite pricey. Eco Farms, Gerwig's distributor, wholesales them for $4 or $5 a pound, and retail prices easily are twice that. At farmers markets, Gallardo and his workers sell pitahaya for $4 to $7 a pound, depending on size and quality.

Prices may decline in the face of increasing competition, both domestic and international. In the last decade Florida growers have also put in about 200 acres of pitahaya, and wholesale prices are lower than in California, about $1.50 to $4 a pound, said Roger Washington of Red Dragon Fruit Co., based in Redland, Fla.

Last year the U.S. Department of Agriculture permitted Vietnam, which grows more than 33,000 acres of pitahaya, to export the fruit, treated with irradiation to kill or sterilize fruit flies, to this country. However, the shelf life of pitahaya is only about two weeks under optimal conditions, so for fruit to arrive in good condition, it needs to be flown, which erases much of the cost advantage.

Serious competition may come some day from Mexico, which currently grows about 5,000 acres of pitahaya, and has for several years been permitted to export it from fruit-fly-free districts to the U.S. Most of the plantings currently are not in such areas, but if that changes, the fruit may become as common as mangoes here.

Pedro Gallardo (Pedro's Ranch) sells at these farmers markets: Hermosa Beach (Fri.); Huntington Beach (Fri.); Cerritos (Sat.); Santa Monica (Sat. Organic and Wed.); Torrance (Sat. and Tues.); Hollywood (Sun.); Montrose (Sun.); Silver Lake (Sun.); Manhattan Beach (Tues.); Huntington Park (Wed.). For locations and times, see the Los Angeles Times farmers market map.

Copyright © 2009, The Los Angeles Times

Blake09 · 09-05-2009, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harveyc

I'd PM you my address so you could share, but I have a boatload to plant already!

Are these cuttings of some named varieties?

I ment share the photoes

I just got these and there my first DF plant...When I have a big plant in a few years I would share with ya...

The person who sent them to me dosent know the name to this varietie.

-

island cassie · 09-05-2009, 02:45 PM

I was going to compost my red-fleshed dragon fruit seedlings for lack of space - but the I followed this thread and saw the blooms - so I will keep some - who cares if they ever fruit - the flowers are enough!!!

sunfish · 09-13-2009, 05:18 PM

Ten days after flower. How can I tell if they set fruit ?

capthof · 09-13-2009, 05:38 PM

My experience has been when the fruit turns yellow, it is most likely about to fall off.

Want Them All · 09-13-2009, 05:38 PM

Mine has sprouted lots of aerial roots, trying to attach themselves to the wooden fence. Does anything need to be done to these roots? Should I fasten the branches closer to the fence so those roots can contact it? As it is, some can make contact, some don't.

Thanks,

Richard · 09-13-2009, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Want Them All

Mine has sprouted lots of aerial roots, trying to attach themselves to the wooden fence. Does anything need to be done to these roots? Should I fasten the branches closer to the fence so those roots can contact it? As it is, some can make contact, some don't.

Thanks,

Let nature take its course.

Clare_CA · 09-14-2009, 12:29 AM

I had lots of roots attaching themselves to my brick retaining wall. Air roots are a natural part of the plant, I think. I would give them some water from time to time. Sometimes, they become detached due to the wind or weight. They are epiphytes by nature, I believe, meaning they climb trees in the wild and get water and nutrients from their host via the roots.

Want Them All · 09-14-2009, 12:54 AM

Clare CA: that's a healthy bunch of pitaya you got growing there. What city are you in?

Clare_CA · 09-14-2009, 01:13 AM

WanThemAll, I should have clarified that that last one isn't my picture or my plant. I believe it was taken by a fellow gardener named Bob over at Dave's Garden, and I think it was taken at Huntington's Gardens.

My dragon fruit was getting to be fairly big when I had to move. The potted plant that I took with me is much smaller. Here's my plant that I was growing at my old place before I moved. I'm in Camarillo in Ventura County.

capthof · 09-14-2009, 06:43 AM

Want Them All,
I have and have seen post rapped in burlap, this makes is easy for the roots to attach to some medium. Because the burlap decomposes I have started to use burlap and then covered it with shade cloth as an experiment. It is my belief that the plants get some nourishment from the roots and I have seen faster growth from roots attached to burlap as opposed to plain wood. Good Growing!
Scott

Richard · 09-14-2009, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capthof

... It is my belief that the plants get some nourishment from the roots and I have seen faster growth from roots attached to burlap as opposed to plain wood. Good Growing!
Scott

I second that belief! It rains almost once a week in their native environment. I water both the plants and the ground, using a weak nutrient solution.

Want Them All · 09-14-2009, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

I second that belief! It rains almost once a week in their native environment. I water both the plants and the ground, using a weak nutrient solution.

So can I use the 2 fertilizers I bought from you, if so which one is better?
28-8-18 or 20-5-30.

Richard · 09-14-2009, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Want Them All

So can I use the 2 fertilizers I bought from you, if so which one is better?
28-8-18 or 20-5-30.

As a rule, 28-8-18. For "well established subtropical plants", a potassium supplement in late autumn and late spring will give them endurance. You could do this by switching to 20-5-30 for a few weeks during those times.

FamilyManDude · 09-14-2009, 04:50 PM

Hi Richard, I have acquired some more cuttings. This gives me a total of eight different varieties. These are supposed to be all self-pollinating. I have decided that I would like to plant in an orchard-style like I have seen posted on this thread. You know, on a post in the open and in rows. Anyway, here is my question: I will need to separate the varieties if I want to keep the fruit pure, right? If I plant them together, will I always have a mish-mosh due to cross pollinating?

09-04-2009, 10:40 PM	#101 (permalink)
sunfish Banned sunfish's Photo Gallery Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Name: Tony Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 18,429 BananaBucks : 1,629,235 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,210 Times Was Thanked 20,593 Times in 7,760 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,716 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update

09-04-2009, 10:42 PM	#102 (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: 5,130 BananaBucks : 471,874 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6,050 Times Was Thanked 4,493 Times in 1,906 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,785 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update Congrats, Tony. I was thinking about posting earier "Tonight's the night!", but then I wasn't 100% sure. Now I am! __________________

09-04-2009, 10:51 PM	#103 (permalink)
sunfish Banned sunfish's Photo Gallery Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Name: Tony Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 18,429 BananaBucks : 1,629,235 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,210 Times Was Thanked 20,593 Times in 7,760 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,716 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update Thanks. When I could see some white showing earlier today I new it was going to open tonight.

09-04-2009, 11:03 PM	#104 (permalink)
sunfish Banned sunfish's Photo Gallery Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Name: Tony Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 18,429 BananaBucks : 1,629,235 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,210 Times Was Thanked 20,593 Times in 7,760 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,716 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update

09-04-2009, 11:05 PM	#105 (permalink)
Richard un-Retired Richard's Photo Gallery Location: Vista, CA Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 10b Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 9,674 BananaBucks : 994,995 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,636 Times Was Thanked 12,537 Times in 4,719 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,685 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update Oh yea, multiple blossoms. Those are bound to get pollinated! __________________ Back in business at plantsthatproduce.com

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09-05-2009, 02:45 PM	#108 (permalink)
island cassie island cassie's Photo Gallery Location: Dominican Republic Find me on the map! Zone: 11+ I guess Name: Island Cassie Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,170 BananaBucks : 569,651 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,708 Times Was Thanked 2,079 Times in 874 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 416 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update I was going to compost my red-fleshed dragon fruit seedlings for lack of space - but the I followed this thread and saw the blooms - so I will keep some - who cares if they ever fruit - the flowers are enough!!!

09-13-2009, 05:18 PM	#109 (permalink)
sunfish Banned sunfish's Photo Gallery Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Name: Tony Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 18,429 BananaBucks : 1,629,235 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,210 Times Was Thanked 20,593 Times in 7,760 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,716 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update Ten days after flower. How can I tell if they set fruit ?

09-13-2009, 05:38 PM	#110 (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 : 18,572 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 45 Times Was Thanked 367 Times in 103 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 49 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update My experience has been when the fruit turns yellow, it is most likely about to fall off. __________________

09-13-2009, 05:38 PM	#111 (permalink)
Want Them All Want Them All's Photo Gallery Location: Central California, USA Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 553 BananaBucks : 593,637 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3 Times Was Thanked 333 Times in 140 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update Mine has sprouted lots of aerial roots, trying to attach themselves to the wooden fence. Does anything need to be done to these roots? Should I fasten the branches closer to the fence so those roots can contact it? As it is, some can make contact, some don't. Thanks, __________________

09-14-2009, 12:29 AM	#113 (permalink)
Clare_CA Clare_CA's Photo Gallery Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 590 BananaBucks : 188,809 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,156 Times Was Thanked 844 Times in 277 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update I had lots of roots attaching themselves to my brick retaining wall. Air roots are a natural part of the plant, I think. I would give them some water from time to time. Sometimes, they become detached due to the wind or weight. They are epiphytes by nature, I believe, meaning they climb trees in the wild and get water and nutrients from their host via the roots.

09-14-2009, 12:54 AM	#114 (permalink)
Want Them All Want Them All's Photo Gallery Location: Central California, USA Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 553 BananaBucks : 593,637 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3 Times Was Thanked 333 Times in 140 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update Clare CA: that's a healthy bunch of pitaya you got growing there. What city are you in? __________________

09-14-2009, 01:13 AM	#115 (permalink)
Clare_CA Clare_CA's Photo Gallery Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 590 BananaBucks : 188,809 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,156 Times Was Thanked 844 Times in 277 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update WanThemAll, I should have clarified that that last one isn't my picture or my plant. I believe it was taken by a fellow gardener named Bob over at Dave's Garden, and I think it was taken at Huntington's Gardens. My dragon fruit was getting to be fairly big when I had to move. The potted plant that I took with me is much smaller. Here's my plant that I was growing at my old place before I moved. I'm in Camarillo in Ventura County.

09-14-2009, 06:43 AM	#116 (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 : 18,572 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 45 Times Was Thanked 367 Times in 103 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 49 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update Want Them All, I have and have seen post rapped in burlap, this makes is easy for the roots to attach to some medium. Because the burlap decomposes I have started to use burlap and then covered it with shade cloth as an experiment. It is my belief that the plants get some nourishment from the roots and I have seen faster growth from roots attached to burlap as opposed to plain wood. Good Growing! Scott __________________

09-14-2009, 04:50 PM	#120 (permalink)
FamilyManDude FamilyManDude's Photo Gallery Location: Visalia, California, US Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Orin Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 129 BananaBucks : 54,400 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 100 Times Was Thanked 62 Times in 20 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update Hi Richard, I have acquired some more cuttings. This gives me a total of eight different varieties. These are supposed to be all self-pollinating. I have decided that I would like to plant in an orchard-style like I have seen posted on this thread. You know, on a post in the open and in rows. Anyway, here is my question: I will need to separate the varieties if I want to keep the fruit pure, right? If I plant them together, will I always have a mish-mosh due to cross pollinating? __________________ Orin

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