Dragon Fruit update

Richard · 07-24-2009, 10:30 PM

About two years ago I obtained some fruiting Hylocereus (Dragon Fruit) cuttings and rooted them in pots. When they became of size, I placed them alongside a west-facing fence and erected horizontal lattice over them at about shoulder height. The varieties I have are:
Hylocereus guatemalensis
Hylocereus undatus 'Paul Thomson'
Hylocereus x 'Physical Graffiti'
Hylocereus ocamponis

They have grown ... and grown ... and grown!

Here they were at installation in February 2008:

Here they are now (July 2009), amid various clutter:

The exciting part is the bud formation on the 'Paul Thompson' and 'Physical Graffiti':

LilRaverBoi · 07-24-2009, 10:49 PM

Looks like they're doing great! That's exciting that you're getting some buds. I've never had a dragon fruit...what do they taste like?

Richard · 07-24-2009, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LilRaverBoi

Looks like they're doing great! That's exciting that you're getting some buds. I've never had a dragon fruit...what do they taste like?

The tastes are variations of melon: some sweet like honeydew, some more like a bland watermelon, some like cantalope x boysenberry, etc. People that have been to the double-blind taste trials at the South Coast Research Station will tell you that there are also some with a very poor taste, something like unripe cucumber.

harveyc · 07-25-2009, 01:25 AM

They've grown a lot since I saw them last June. Congratulations on the flower buds!

Dalmatiansoap · 07-25-2009, 03:56 AM

Hey folks, what is big secret of this Dragon fruit? I dot think we have that here

.
Can it be germinate from seeds? Cuttings? Something else?

island cassie · 07-25-2009, 05:16 AM

Congratulations Richard - thay have grown well.

Richard · 07-25-2009, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dalmatiansoap

Hey folks, what is big secret of this Dragon fruit? I dot think we have that here

.
Can it be germinate from seeds? Cuttings? Something else?

See PTP_2008_03_Pitaya

Dalmatiansoap · 07-25-2009, 06:31 AM

THX Richard
U have very usefull web

. Lot of good information that are easy to undersand and follow.

sbl · 07-25-2009, 07:29 AM

I just recently got a bud that is about to open--it is a red that I grew from seed started a couple yrs ago--I grew it in a hanging basket--it now has many stems that are over 2 ft long.

Bob · 07-25-2009, 08:51 AM

Great idea using a hanging basket. Any problems with segments breaking off? This might be a good choice for me since they're not hardy here and I can't use the traditional espalier.

Ohio'sBest · 07-25-2009, 09:38 AM

I was looking at some pics, and since we are on the subject of Dragon Fruit. What is the green fruit to the left of the DF in this pic?

[IMG]

[/IMG]

Richard · 07-25-2009, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob

Great idea using a hanging basket. Any problems with segments breaking off? This might be a good choice for me since they're not hardy here and I can't use the traditional espalier.

Here's an idea for a roll-away espalier:

capthof · 07-25-2009, 11:03 AM

The fruit to the left are Sugar apples.
By the way I have found that Dragon fruits love to climb the cabbage Palms.
But then you can't take them inside if it freezes.

harveyc · 07-25-2009, 12:27 PM

A friend of mine in Puerto Rico had said his have never flowered but yesterday discovered that he had many flowers and fruits. They've climbed up his trees 40-50 feet and it seems that the were too deeply shaded until they dropped back down to get sunlight. Fortunately, he said his trees have a good branch structure to make for easy climbing. I still don't know that I'd limb that high up in a tree to pick fruit, though. Fortunately, I don't think I'll ever have that problem. Even my PR friend says he plans to eventually plant some on a trellis.

I'm going to eventually plant mine into portions cut out of 50 gallon plastic barrels and will probably build a trellis similar to what Richard has shown. I'll move mine around in the loader bucket of my small tractor (I have fork attachments so I can move around pallets).

Lagniappe · 07-25-2009, 12:43 PM

You guys shouldn't post these sort of threads here. I'm already swimming in plants and now I absolutely must have Pitaya. Perhaps another homemade greenhouse is in order........

Patty in Wisc · 07-25-2009, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ohio'sBest

I was looking at some pics, and since we are on the subject of Dragon Fruit. What is the green fruit to the left of the DF in this pic?

[IMG]

[/IMG]

Those are sugar apple or Cherimoya.
Bob, I'll post a pic somewhere of my trellis made of pvc in a plastic (17X20) shallow bin. I can cart it in & out on a dolly. I also have a hanging basket of them.

LilRaverBoi · 07-25-2009, 01:47 PM

I really wish I could find a place to buy exotic fruit like this in my area. They don't even sell plantains or starfruit here....it's pathetic. Damn you Missouri!!! Probably the most exotic it gets here are mangoes or Asian pear apples

adrift · 07-25-2009, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LilRaverBoi

I really wish I could find a place to buy exotic fruit like this in my area. They don't even sell plantains or starfruit here....it's pathetic. Damn you Missouri!!! Probably the most exotic it gets here are mangoes or Asian pear apples

(like many things) They are better if left to ripen on the plant but they have very little shelf life after that so the ones at the market are not only expensive, but not as sweet. More better to grow your own.

Simply Bananas · 07-25-2009, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LilRaverBoi

I really wish I could find a place to buy exotic fruit like this in my area. They don't even sell plantains or starfruit here....it's pathetic. Damn you Missouri!!! Probably the most exotic it gets here are mangoes or Asian pear apples

I saw some in the asian store here on wednesday. Did not get one as I was working and had no place to keep it safe. Will get one and a durian soon.

Dalmatiansoap · 07-25-2009, 05:13 PM

Grrrrr,.....
Im affraid that I ll have to quit with .org

.
You guys are going to make me poor, poor man.
WHERE AM I GOING TO GET ALL THESE PLANTS FROM????
Sugar apples, pitayas,.........,......

I am on pooo pooo way.....

07-24-2009, 10:30 PM	#1 (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	Dragon Fruit update About two years ago I obtained some fruiting Hylocereus (Dragon Fruit) cuttings and rooted them in pots. When they became of size, I placed them alongside a west-facing fence and erected horizontal lattice over them at about shoulder height. The varieties I have are: Hylocereus guatemalensis Hylocereus undatus 'Paul Thomson' Hylocereus x 'Physical Graffiti' Hylocereus ocamponis They have grown ... and grown ... and grown! Here they were at installation in February 2008: Here they are now (July 2009), amid various clutter: The exciting part is the bud formation on the 'Paul Thompson' and 'Physical Graffiti': __________________ Back in business at plantsthatproduce.com Last edited by Richard : 07-25-2009 at 03:46 AM.

07-24-2009, 10:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
LilRaverBoi Nanner Time! LilRaverBoi's Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Rapids, IA Find me on the map! Zone: 5 Name: Bryan Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,937 BananaBucks : 160,325 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 534 Times Was Thanked 2,243 Times in 1,245 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 855 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update Looks like they're doing great! That's exciting that you're getting some buds. I've never had a dragon fruit...what do they taste like? __________________ BANANA RAVE! Feel the beat from start to stop, dancin' and movin' from bottom to top! [email protected] RIP Tog Tan. We love you and will always remember you! I'm Bryan with a Y! There is no 'I' in BRYAN!

07-25-2009, 01:25 AM	#4 (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 : 471,974 Feedback: 6 / 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 They've grown a lot since I saw them last June. Congratulations on the flower buds! __________________

07-25-2009, 03:56 AM	#5 (permalink)
Dalmatiansoap Let there be light Dalmatiansoap's Photo Gallery Location: Makarska, Croatia Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Ante Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 9,161 BananaBucks : 740,384 Feedback: 10 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6,509 Times Was Thanked 8,385 Times in 3,032 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 720 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update Hey folks, what is big secret of this Dragon fruit? I dot think we have that here . Can it be germinate from seeds? Cuttings? Something else? __________________ https://abnb.me/AXJty518xib

07-25-2009, 05:16 AM	#6 (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 Congratulations Richard - thay have grown well.

07-25-2009, 06:31 AM	#8 (permalink)
Dalmatiansoap Let there be light Dalmatiansoap's Photo Gallery Location: Makarska, Croatia Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Ante Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 9,161 BananaBucks : 740,384 Feedback: 10 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6,509 Times Was Thanked 8,385 Times in 3,032 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 720 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update THX Richard U have very usefull web . Lot of good information that are easy to undersand and follow. __________________ https://abnb.me/AXJty518xib

07-25-2009, 07:29 AM	#9 (permalink)
sbl sbl's Photo Gallery Location: Pensacola, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 8/9 Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,013 BananaBucks : 91,907 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 177 Times Was Thanked 733 Times in 395 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 154 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update I just recently got a bud that is about to open--it is a red that I grew from seed started a couple yrs ago--I grew it in a hanging basket--it now has many stems that are over 2 ft long.

07-25-2009, 08:51 AM	#10 (permalink)
Bob Orang Puteh Bob's Photo Gallery Location: Washington Twp N.J. Find me on the map! Zone: 6a Name: bob Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 3,529 BananaBucks : 262,207 Feedback: 16 / 100% Said "Thanks" 9,550 Times Was Thanked 4,062 Times in 1,695 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 565 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update Great idea using a hanging basket. Any problems with segments breaking off? This might be a good choice for me since they're not hardy here and I can't use the traditional espalier.

07-25-2009, 09:38 AM	#11 (permalink)
Ohio'sBest Ohio'sBest's Photo Gallery Name: Chris Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 175 BananaBucks : 90,540 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 57 Times Was Thanked 104 Times in 38 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update I was looking at some pics, and since we are on the subject of Dragon Fruit. What is the green fruit to the left of the DF in this pic? [IMG][/IMG]

07-25-2009, 11:03 AM	#13 (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 : 18,573 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 45 Times Was Thanked 367 Times in 103 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 49 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update The fruit to the left are Sugar apples. By the way I have found that Dragon fruits love to climb the cabbage Palms. But then you can't take them inside if it freezes. __________________

07-25-2009, 12:27 PM	#14 (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 : 471,974 Feedback: 6 / 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 A friend of mine in Puerto Rico had said his have never flowered but yesterday discovered that he had many flowers and fruits. They've climbed up his trees 40-50 feet and it seems that the were too deeply shaded until they dropped back down to get sunlight. Fortunately, he said his trees have a good branch structure to make for easy climbing. I still don't know that I'd limb that high up in a tree to pick fruit, though. Fortunately, I don't think I'll ever have that problem. Even my PR friend says he plans to eventually plant some on a trellis. I'm going to eventually plant mine into portions cut out of 50 gallon plastic barrels and will probably build a trellis similar to what Richard has shown. I'll move mine around in the loader bucket of my small tractor (I have fork attachments so I can move around pallets). __________________

07-25-2009, 12:43 PM	#15 (permalink)
Lagniappe Lagniappe's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 2,111 BananaBucks : 319,651 Feedback: 23 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,378 Times Was Thanked 1,402 Times in 558 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 535 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update You guys shouldn't post these sort of threads here. I'm already swimming in plants and now I absolutely must have Pitaya. Perhaps another homemade greenhouse is in order........

07-25-2009, 01:47 PM	#17 (permalink)
LilRaverBoi Nanner Time! LilRaverBoi's Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Rapids, IA Find me on the map! Zone: 5 Name: Bryan Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,937 BananaBucks : 160,325 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 534 Times Was Thanked 2,243 Times in 1,245 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 855 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update I really wish I could find a place to buy exotic fruit like this in my area. They don't even sell plantains or starfruit here....it's pathetic. Damn you Missouri!!! Probably the most exotic it gets here are mangoes or Asian pear apples __________________ BANANA RAVE! Feel the beat from start to stop, dancin' and movin' from bottom to top! [email protected] RIP Tog Tan. We love you and will always remember you! I'm Bryan with a Y! There is no 'I' in BRYAN!

07-25-2009, 05:13 PM	#20 (permalink)
Dalmatiansoap Let there be light Dalmatiansoap's Photo Gallery Location: Makarska, Croatia Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Ante Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 9,161 BananaBucks : 740,384 Feedback: 10 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6,509 Times Was Thanked 8,385 Times in 3,032 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 720 Times	Re: Dragon Fruit update Grrrrr,..... Im affraid that I ll have to quit with .org . You guys are going to make me poor, poor man. WHERE AM I GOING TO GET ALL THESE PLANTS FROM???? Sugar apples, pitayas,.........,...... I am on pooo pooo way..... __________________ https://abnb.me/AXJty518xib