Selenicereusspp.
Dragon fruit , also known as pitahaya or pitaya , is a tasty tropic goody – and with the ripe technique and know - how , you may uprise your own crop at home .
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colored pitayas are bear on the succulent stems of jungle cacti , which can bring out a big harvest home in under two eld , crap an exciting summation to the edible landscape .
Photo by Forest and Kim Starr, Wikimedia Commons, viaCC BY-SA.
In this clause , you ’ll discover how professional pitaya growers cultivate these fruits , so you may apply their well - honed techniques to your at - home attempt .
We ’ll grok into the detail of everything you want to know for both indoor and outdoor dragon fruit growing – as well as everything else you ’ll want in terminal figure of tearing , dirt type , harvest , and much more .
While producing pitayas is in no style a humbled - upkeep intimacy , the payoff will surely be worth it .
Ready for a sneak peep at what we ’ll cover ?
What You’ll Learn
What Is Dragon Fruit?
Dragon fruit , or pitaya , are names give to the large , edible fruit of several type of tropic cacti , as well as the names given to the plants themselves .
These cacti have a mounting and vining increment habit , and can attain telling heights as they sputter up trees , produce 30 foot magniloquent or more , and attach themselves with aerial roots .
In addition to climbing , flying dragon yield industrial plant have a rambling and branching growth habit .
These vining plant are leafless , but stem have ridge , usually three , and in grumpy - section look slightly like the letter “ y. ”
Pitaya stem are also segmented , like those ofChristmas cacti , and most have spines along their ridges .
These stem lean to have crinkly gross profit margin that are punctuated by halo , where spines , new branches , or flowers can grow .
The bloom of pitayas are telling – both quite large and quite showy – but they are short lived , hold up only one dark .
Dragon fruit prime are usually livid , and are pollenate at night by moths and bat , though bee will also visit them in the early morning .
While there are some ego - fertile types of pitayas , many require crossbreeding - pollination in purchase order to produce yield .
And when a flower is successfully pollinated , an comestible fruit is produced . That ’s why you ’re here , right ?
Pitaya fruit run to be turgid , yet it is botanically considered to be a berry ( yes , a berry ! ) . Its cutis ripen from unripened to colorful shades of yellow , pink , or red , depending on the specie or cultivar .
The fruit of some flying lizard fruits are spiny , while most others are covered with protruding , scale - like bracts .
Pitaya flesh can be white , red , pink , or purple , and is studded with small black seed . The pulp can be mildly sweet to very sweet , with a diffuse or stiff grain , and some cultivars have a sprightly acidity as well .
There ’s also another type of cactus that farm a yield commonly bid “ pitaya . ” Those cacti , from the genusStenocereus , are not vining cacti like the subject of our article , but are upright , columnar growers that are more altered to desiccate locations .
Their fruit are rounder than those of dragon yield and have more of a sour flavor – Stenocereuscacti fruits are sometimes called “ pitaya agria , ” mean “ rancid pitaya . ”
This article will focus on growing the vining character of pitaya cactus rather than the columnar case .
Cultivation and History
Dragon yield is carry on the vines of several different species , which are native to the Caribbean , Central America , and South America .
These metal money are members of the cactus family or Cactaceae .
While many pitaya species were formerly classified as members of theHylocereusgenus , all of the members of that genus have beenreclassified as members of theSelenicereusgenus .
TheSelenicereusgenus include plants such as fern leaf cactus and fishbone cactus , which also make edible , pitaya - like fruits .
This genus is classified within the Hylocereeae tribe , whose other members include both Christmas cacti , and epiphyllum .
The genus nameSelenicereuswas yield in reference to the species ’ night - blooming heyday , inspired by the goddess Selene , the personification of the moon in Greek mythology .
These plants have several different common names , which may vary depending on location .
Local equivalent for the English condition “ firedrake yield ” are normally used for this fruit in Southeast Asia , while it is known as “ pitahaya ” in Mexico , and “ pitaya ” in Central and South America .
The fruits of these plants are also known by the mouth - lacrimation moniker “ strawberry pear . ”
And these cacti are sometimes called “ fairy of the night ” and “ nighttime - blooming cereus , ” though that name can also refer to a type ofepiphyllumas well as to a type of columniform cactus in theStenocereusgenus .
Pitayas were first cultivated in the Americas in pre - Columbian times .
Much later in the history of these plants , the French spell them to Southeast Asia at the beginning of the nineteenth 100 , giving the dragon fruit its introduction to Asia .
Today the Acanthocereus pentagonus continue to be cultivated commercially in its aboriginal image as well as throughout Asia , but it is also cultivated in other tropic and semitropical regions , such as Israel and northerly Australia .
And in the US , this harvest is now being produced commercially in California , Florida , and Hawaii .
Although spring up primarily as a food crop , pitayas are also used in make food for thought coloring and natural dyes .
Dragon fruit can be grown outdoors year - round inUSDA Hardiness Zones10 to 11 . In cooler zones , the plants ask to be overwintered in agreenhouseor an indoor location with plenty of sun or supplemental grow lights .
Propagation
Pitayas can be distribute from seeds or from slip , as well as through grafting , though we ’ll focalise only on the first two pick for the design of this clause .
Before you start with either method acting , it ’s ripe to have sex what each will bring you in term of time lag time and fruit production .
It can take two age or less to get a harvest home of strawberry Pyrus communis from rooted cuttings , while circularize seed can take up toseven year to bear yield .
Also , new plant life grown from seminal fluid will not inevitably produce yield identical to that of the parent plant , while pitaya press clipping will , since they are clones .
Here ’s what each method implicate :
From Seed
While propagating pitaya from seed sure enough is n’t the fastest method acting to bring yield to reap , it is one that can leave you to make newfangled crosses between dissimilar varieties – as well as being a fun and prosperous multiplication task that will be rewarding for kids or get-go gardeners .
Here ’s what you ’ll need : pitaya seeds or a ripe dragon yield , ejaculate starting growing metier , a nursery can or tray , a pocket-sized bowl , a misting feeding bottle , and a humidity dome or resealable plastic bag that will accommodate over your nursery pot .
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To get the seeds out of a mature tartar yield , trump some of the fruit out from the rind .
These seminal fluid have a fairly high sprouting charge per unit , so a heaping spoonful of flesh will be enough .
Place the pulp in a roll , and mix it with some water so the pulp starts to disintegrate . Pour off some of the pulpy water , then stream the residue ( admit the seeds ) into a sieve .
Now you should have mostly cum in the sieve – if there ’s a little pitaya pulp mixed in still , it ’s not a job . Your seeds are quick to plant .
train your tray or nursery pot by occupy it with a worthy growing medium , leaving about half an column inch to an inch of space between the top of the soil and the rim of the pot .
come in the pitaya seeds on the potting soil – planting them middling densely is fine . Then cover with a thin bed of grease about an eighth of an inch deep .
Next , use the mister to water the ejaculate in , then plow the nursery pot with the bag or place the humidness bean on the tray .
Keep the sown pitaya germ in collateral , bright spark at 65 to 70 ° atomic number 9 , and keep the medium moist but not sluggish as they germinate , which can take two to three weeks .
For profligate sprouting , you may try rate your tummy or tray on a heat mat , which can reduce germination meter down to a few days .
From Cuttings
There ’s a understanding that pitaya plants are chiefly grown from cuttings – this is the fastest fashion to get a new industrial plant to produce yield . Gardeners can produce a harvest from cuttings in six month to two years , depending on the grow conditions .
What you ’ll need for this projection : dragon fruit cutting , cactus and succulent grow medium , and one four - inch nursery crapper per cutting .
you could reprocess sometime nursery crapper for this project , but ensure you fix them first to avoid acquaint pathogen .
cut should be about 10 to 18 inches prospicient and stiff , not flexible . To get these , you ’ll want to take cuttings from mature pitaya stem rather than mark new branches . For best resultant , take an intact prow section .
If you are charter the pitaya cuttings yourself , verify to expend sterilized pruning hook .
Also , if assume more than one cutting from a stem , make certain to mark the newspaper clipping so you know which end is up and which is down .
rent the pitaya cuttings callus over for one to two weeks in a location off from direct sunlight before planting them .
Once the pitaya cut are callus , fill the four - inch pots with pot filth , go away about an inch of way at the top .
Insert a cutting into the middle of each pot , sinking the cutting a few inches deep . Be sure to plant the cuttings right side up !
commit the pots in indirect bright light-headed indoors or part shade outdoors and keep the soil moist but not waterlogged , watering about once a week or as needed .
Potted cuttings can be step by step acclimated to more unmediated sunshine if you disseminate a cultivar that is liberal offull sun .
Wait until the rootage arrangement is well developed before transplant , which can take four to six months .
Once a pitaya cutting has filled its pot with ascendant , you’re able to either repot it into a gallon - size charge card container temporarily , or transfer it into its permanent growing location , whether ina set up bottom , a large mountain , or direct in the ground .
From Transplants
Taking cues from the pros , one of the most common method used for growing pitayas outdoors is to transpose four rooted cuttings or seedling into a 25 - gallon peck , with one plant place along each of the four incline of a four - by - four - inch post .
Before you transfer , you ’ll need to settle what case of post , wager , or trellis system you ’re go bad to use . We ’ll talk more about staking and trellising shortly , so keep reading to get the lowdown .
Four pitaya industrial plant per gravid nursery pot is an efficient setup .
Set of 5 25 - Gallon Nursery dope
A twenty- or twenty - five - gallon nursery pot is the sizing you ’ll need . You might like this set of five 25 - Imperial gallon black plastic baby’s room potsavailable via Wayfair .
But there are also other options .
You may opt to cultivate your pitayas in aDIY bring up bottom , for example .
On the other hand , if you live in a USDA Hardiness Zone or equivalent that is cooler than Zone 10 , you will ask to transplant into a pot that can be moved indoors or toa heated greenhousefor the wintertime , so you may prefer to plant your pitayas into smaller , more manageable containers .
In this caseful , one cut per five - gallon planter is a good choice – you could always repot afterwards if needed .
For gardeners growing pitayas directly in the footing , make certain the dirt is very well draining or plant can rot .
Ready to get start ? First , set your position , stake , or trellis .
Next , position the dragon yield cutting or seedling so the top of its ascendent ball is at the level of the soil surface , and the stem is quick to grow up alongside its support system .
If transfer into a batch , backfill with growing metier , keeping a couple of inch of space between the top of the grease and the rim of the pot to allow elbow room for lachrymation .
batten the pitaya cuttings to their stakes or trellis with twine , and water the transplants in .
specimen grown outdoors on heavy - duty post should be allowed nine to 15 feet of blank between posts .
Keep in creative thinker that if you are grow a ego - sterile variety , you will need a 2d variety too for cross - pollination . You ’ll memorise more about this in the incision on deal pollination below , so keep learn .
How to Grow
Growing pitayas necessitate not just supply plants with the right-hand amount of light and weewee , but also entail offering support , and most often , a raised bed or container of some variety to ensure adequate drainage .
Staking and Trellising
Let ’s lead off with support considerations , which are quite literally foundational when growing pitayas .
I ’ll precede this by saying that create a trellis or interest for pitayas can be childbed intensive , but since these industrial plant can live for 30 to 50 years with proper aid , it ’s worth taking metre at the outset to create a desirable accompaniment arrangement for your cacti .
These plant are climbers , and they do indeed need something to climb !
If you are growing them for yield and not just as a capricious act of consummate playfulness , then you ’re going to ask averysturdy trellis system since they produce masses of laborious foliage and punishing dragon fruit .
However , there are many different setups you may choose from when growing pitayas and you may accommodate your plant ’s living system to your growing conditions .
Explaining exactly how to retrace such a support system is beyond the scope of this article , but I will cater some basic ideas to help get you bug out .
If you ’re growing outdoors all twelvemonth long , you ’re going to desire some backbreaking - responsibility supporting to maximize your dragon fruit produce potential drop .
Professional pitaya growers often use a four - by - four wood place or a cementum post reenforce with rebar , sink into the ground . shaping drainage pipes are often used to make a mould for making cement spot .
Often a get up bed or container of some sort is used in conjunction with this type of wager to control right drainage .
On the other hand , if your climate constraints mean you will need to fetch your pitaya plant indoors for the winter , you ’ll require to keep it pruned to a more manageable size of it and check that its container and trellis are uncompromising but mobile .
One trellising system recommend for small - scale pitaya growers comes viaSpicy Exotics , a nursery particularise in firedrake yield , which is based in the sultry climes of Louisiana .
20 ” Resin Wine Barrel Planter
These pros advocate creating a trellis by placing a love apple cage in a large resin commode , such as this 20 - inch resin wine-coloured barrel elan plantation owner , available via The Home Depot .
check that you choose a plantation owner with drain holes in the bottom , or exercise your own .
54 ” Galvanized Steel Tomato Cage
As for love apple cages , choose one that is sturdy and four to five feet marvelous , such as this 54 - in galvanized steel love apple coop , alsoavailable for purchase at The Home Depot .
According to thisplan , you ’ll need to drill four holes in the sides of the pot about an inch above the base . Next , place the leg of the tomato cage in the skunk , put in them through the jam by a few column inch , then bend the legs up , anchor the cage to the heap .
In plus to climbing support , the pitaya works will also necessitate canopy support .
For gardeners emulating the pro when grow tree - like cacti , canopy must be able to support the system of weights of the Mass of foliage and punishing dragon yield , which can become a load of several hundred pounds .
To accomplish this , two section of rebar are often secured at the top of the post with a public square of enceinte - duty wire meshwork localise across it .
However , since telegram will cut into the succulent stems of these cacti , a cushion of some kind is total on top of the mesh to prevent damage to the pitaya ’s stems , such as a split tyre orgarden hose , or some other eccentric of tube .
gardener in tropical or subtropical locations can even let this plant do what it does naturally – let it go up up a tree .
So that strawberry pear are still within reach , check that to opt a Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that is little but sturdy , or be prepared to snip the pitaya to size .
Not all professional pitaya growers use heavy - obligation , tree - similar posts , though . Some of the pros use shorter , more horizontal trellis systems made from bamboo .
There are many different way of life to patronize pitaya plants and you may sure as shooting adjust your growing arrangement to your distance and climate limitations .
Pitayas may be trained to mature over a rock wall , to climb on the T - saloon of a clothesline , or they can even be grown in orotund advert baskets if you ’re willing to keep up with pruning to exert the specimen and keep it on the small side .
If you ’re specially motivated to maturate dragon yield , reckon creatively and I bet you ’ll find a plant reinforcement organisation that will work well for you .
Light
Pitayas can rise in full sun to part Dominicus , with some cultivars being more tolerant of verbatim sun and others less so .
If you are garden in a raging mood with temperatures that on a regular basis exceed this plant ’s preferred maximum temperature of 80 ° F , you may postulate to deposit your flora in part shade – but double - check your cultivar ’s Lord’s Day permissiveness to be certain .
When offering part shade , propose for full sun in the early part of the daytime and some subtlety in the later part of the day , when weather condition are hottest .
For those hope to bring forth a dragon fruit harvesting indoors , provide as much lineal sunlight as potential , and supplement with grow lights if needed .
You ’ll learn more about using grow lights in our article .
Even for pitaya cultivars that tolerate full sunshine , always acclimate new industrial plant to full sun gradually . Too much sun can top to scalding , which can cause stem to rot , and finally go .
Soil
When pick out a grow culture medium for planting dragon yield you have plenty of option , but there are two moldiness – this cactus must have a well - draining growing medium , and it must hold a lot of organic matter .
Also , the soil should be slightly acid , with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 .
Using a pre - sundry potting culture medium for cactus and succulent that contains some compost is a right choice .
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larn more about making your own cactus pot stain here .
Water
Pitayas are cacti , but as we ’ve already get a line , they ’re not the type of cacti that survive in desiccated deserts . These succulents do best in grunge that is moist – but not miry .
To give you an idea of how much water they need , many sources will tell you that they require 25 to 50 in of water a year .
Pitayas are drought kind and more piddle efficient than many other fruit crops grown in similar climates , but tartar fruit quality will diminish if plants are allow to dry out out too much between watering .
So , H2O regularly during the active growth stop for safe results when the growing culture medium is dry to the jot .
During periods of little or no rain , pitayas may involve to be water doubly a week .
When dragon fruit flora are not actively maturate in wintertime , reduce watering to account for forgetful day length and reduced moisture needs .
And too much water during fruiting can cause strawberry pears to split , so take care not to overwater .
Temperature
Pitaya plants will produce well in temperature between 65 and 80 ° F , but mature plants can tolerate temperatures of 100 ° degree Fahrenheit or more if provided with some wraith .
On the frigid end of the spectrum , they can jounce back from a swooning frost , but can be damage by cold weather that dips below 32 ° F.
And while freezing weather can harm plant , too much photo to cool weather condition can prevent prime production .
Growing Tips
Pruning and Maintenance
I ’m not go to lead astray you – pitayas require a significant amount of maintenance , at least at the start . But the pounds and lb of strawberry pear you grow will be well worth your efforts .
If all these steps seem like a lot to keep organized , I commend creating reminder for each job in a calendar orgarden planner .
Pruning
Do you own a good pair ofgarden pruners ? I hope so because pruning is going to be a frequent task when growing pitayas .
There are five dissimilar reasons you will need to prune this cactus and I ’m run to walk you through each of them .
The first eccentric of pruning you ’ll do is when you are encouraging erect growth on your potted dragon fruit cuttings or paw bring up seedlings .
As the pitaya grows up its support , it will produce branches . You ’ll need to warn this until the plant reaches the top of its situation or trellis by trim off any side branches that seem .
Once the plant attain the top of its trellis or bet , you ’ll want to switch train and allow branching at the top of the plant .
Pitaya stems will hang over the sharpness of the canopy support , tag down , where they will acquire their fruit .
The next type of pruning you ’ll need to know about is make believe cuts to kick upstairs flowering and yield yield , sometimes call in “ tipping ”
This eccentric of pruning should be carried out in late wintertime on plant life that have already developed a canopy of increase . Usually , flora are at least two twelvemonth old by this decimal point .
Cut back the tips of some of the stems hanging down from the canopy by two or three inches . This will put stress on the plants , encouraging those stems to flower .
you could do this to several radical per flora , but do n’t tip stem that already have flower buds on them .
As specimens age and produce masses of leaf , you ’ll also desire to trim for sanitization . In this eccentric you are basically thinning some of the raft of growth from the plant life .
A tip for this type of pruning is to prune so that the middle of the flora is seeable from all directions .
You may also require to take cuttings of your plant to propagate Modern specimens !
However , check that to let these age before you shorten them – they should be fairly stiff compared to jr. increase .
Finally , if any offset face pathological , sunburned , or rotten , trim down these off with pruners .
And whatever your purpose when pruning , make certain your tools are knifelike and sterilise .
Training
Along with pruning , you will also ask to check your dragon fruit plant to grow on its stake or treillage .
While the main stem turn of your works first get going growing vertically along its support , it will involve a bit of assistance to keep it latch on before it develops aerial theme of its own .
Many gardeners habituate plastic sleeper for this purpose , but I prefer a biodegradable option such as sisal string – the industrial plant will produce aerial roots after all , so it just needs some impermanent help .
Sisal Binder Twine
you could buy a 2,500 - ft axial motion of single - ply Agave sisalana twinefrom Lehman ’s .
Sometimes gunny is also added around the support post to aid the aeriform roots latch on . Burlap cloth can be wrapped around a stake and attached with twine .
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You ’ll find a two - pack of burlap fabric in 24 - by - three - foot rollsavailable for leverage via The Home Depot .
Weeding
Weeding is an important task to keep on your pitaya maintenance agenda .
If you let the weeds get in the lead of you , they can vie with your young cacti when they are taste to get established .
But there ’s an even more pressing concern with weeding : Some sess can harbor pathogens that may cause disease in pitayas .
Is weed not your favorite task ? It ’s not mine either .
But assistance is here – we have plenty of summit onhow to spend less metre weeding and more clip horticulture in our article .
Mulching
Mulching around pitaya plant is also a just melodic theme . It can assist suppress green goddess emergence and prevent water vaporisation , stand for less water needs to be dedicated toirrigation .
When mulching pitayas , check that to leave an unmulched circle around the stem , about eight column inch wide . This will avail prevent overly dampish term which could lead to rotting .
There are many different materials you might look at as a mulch – translate our article for idea aboutdifferent types of mulch to expend in scummy - maintenance gardening .
Fertilizing
Many professional Draco yield growers use moo-cow manure as their fertiliser of choice .
Francis Zee and colleagues atthe College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at the University of Hawaii at Manoarecommend implement nine pounds of compost cow manure per mature flora .
Be sure to expend only aged or composted manure rather than the fresh stuff , as it can incorporate an overabundance of nitrogen , which can burn plants .
In addition to this , they also recommend a balanced fertilizer , such as Dr. Earth ’s Premium Gold All Purpose Fertilizer , enforce according to package instructions .
Dr. Earth ’s Premium Gold All Purpose Fertilizer
Premium Gold All - Purpose Fertilizer is available in a one - quid bagfrom Dr. Earth via Amazon .
Both of these should be utilize together every four months throughout the growing time of year start out in April .
Hand-Pollinating
In their aboriginal habitats , pitaya - acquire mintage would be pollenate by bat or moths .
Grown outside of their native ambit , pollinator may not be present to help plant attain this task . While bee and ants sometimes pollinate these plants , hand - pollenation can make up for missing pollinators and hike yields .
inadequate pollination is the primary reason for deficiency of yield on pitayas , so hand - pollenation will give you better fruit production whether you ’re develop a self - sterile cultivar or a self - fertile one .
If you have a ego - unimaginative cultivar , you will need to grow a second salmagundi , one with an overlap bloom time , and provide pollen from that second variety to farm a harvest .
Self - sterile plants can only cross - pollinate with pitayas of different varieties – they do n’t have to be the same species though , and some varieties are considered general pollinators . It ’s a good thought to check the compatibility of take cultivars before you purchase them .
On the other hand , if you have a ego - fertile cultivar , you’re able to hand - pollinate with pollen from the same works or even the same flower .
Self - fertile plants can be pollinated with pollen from the same flower , a dissimilar bloom on the same industrial plant , or a flower on a different works .
Before undertaking this labor , lease ’s have a quick follow-up of the bloom function imply – you ’ll require to be able-bodied to recognize the bloom ’s anther ( the male parts ) and stigma ( the distaff part ) , both of which are found within each flower ’s petals .
The anthers are numerous and wispy , and these are the parts that have pollen on them . The stigma is situated below the anthers . It tends to bulge out beyond them , and looks ( to me , at least ) similar to a ocean windflower .
Here ’s what you ’ll take for hired man pollinating : a small , two-dimensional key brush with bristle about one to two inches wide , and a small container or jar for pollen collection .
If you have a self - sterile pitaya variety , you may need to collect pollen when a flower opens , stack away it , and then expect until a flower from another diversity opens if the two are n’t flower at the same time – so choosing two cultivars with overlapping efflorescence times is significant .
you’re able to store collected pollen in the fridge for a day – but after 24 hours , pollination success rate will lead off to refuse .
If possible , do manus - pollination within two hours after the flower open , which will be after night falls .
To roll up pollen , dab the copse against the anther , then tapdance it into the container . Some of the pollen may pass out on the flower ’s petal – if it does , collect it by brushing it from the flower petal into the container .
After collect the pollen , use the brush to scratch it gently against the mark of an open flower .
If you are cross-pollinate a ego - prolific variety , you do n’t need to pick up the pollen in a container . you may alternatively just pat the bristle of your thicket against the anthers , roll up pollen on them , and then swob the pollen onto the stigma .
yield set will take position within a few day if your pitaya hand - pollenation endeavor are successful .
Cultivars to Select
There is an amazingly huge regalia of pitaya cultivars available to choose from . Gardeners should choose a kind that matches their uprise stipulation as well as their flavor preferences .
American Beauty
‘ American Beauty ’ is a cultivar ofS. guatemalensisthat bears fruits with ruby-red - green , flimsy skin .
The fruits of this pitaya variety are round , count half a Cypriot pound to a British pound each , and containing pulp that is delicate and very spicy .
With a Brix grievance of 18.51 , the flesh of ‘ American Beauty ’ is bright pink , and highly scented and flavoursome .
Plants have small spines on dark immature stems , producing heyday that are self - fertile .
This variety fly high in part sun , being less kind of full sun , and fruit is ready for crop between June and November .
‘ American Beauty ’ Cuttings
You ’ll find cuttingsavailable for purchase via Amazon .
Colombiana
‘ Colombiana ’ is a cultivar ofS. megalanthusthat raise yellow fruit .
With this selection , not just the plants are spiny , but also the yield . However , if you have a sweet tooth , you ’ll probably be unforced to put up with a few spines because this variety is one of the sweetest around .
This Colombian cultivar is also bang as “ yellow dragon ” and produces little , briery , oblong fruit with thick yellow skin . Their flesh is translucent blanched with a stiff texture , and contains large seeds .
yield of ‘ Colombiana ’ are small to medium - sized , weighing in at eight to 12 ounce , and they are extremely odoriferous , with a Brix score of about 21 .
Plants are olive green , bearing flowers that are fragrant and self - fat . Harvest takes position during the wintertime , normally from November through February .
This character of pitaya is a routine sensitive – it does n’t like cold , heating system , or full sun , and is prostrate to eat in areas with a raft of rain .
‘ Colombiana ’ is best suited for more experienced strawberry pear agriculturalist .
Sin Espinas
If you love dragon yield but do n’t like cactus spine , ‘ Sin Espinas ’ is the cultivar for you .
But that ’s not all ‘ Sin Espinas ’ has go for it – this Nicaraguan motley is self - prolific , has gorgeous pinkish skin , and was one of the top - rated selection for feeling in a unreasoning predilection test conducted by theUniversity of California at San Diego Cooperative Extension .
The yield is also a delight to front at , with deep carmine flesh that is firm and has a lemonlike flavor , and a Brix score of 16.5 .
These dragon fruits weigh in at about one pound each and are bear on plants that have such tiny backbone along their ribs that the variety is considered spineless .
This little pick of pitaya cultivars is justbarelyscraping the surface ! Discover more in our clause on some of thebest miscellany of dragon fruit .
Managing Pests and Disease
The types of pestis and diseases you may encounter while grow pitayas will depend for the most part on your location and climate . Here ’s what to look out for :
Herbivores
Whilerabbitsanddeercan also be debatable , birds personate the bang-up danger for many Acanthocereus pentagonus gardeners , since they will savour pecking into dragon fruits as they ripen .
4 ’ x 8 ’ Zippered Crop Cage
To keep birdie from abstract your harvest , utilise bird net or look at produce your pitayas inside a crop cage , such as this six - understructure - magniloquent , zippered crop cagefrom Gardener ’s Supply .
Crop cages will keep most four - legged critter out as well as razzing .
Insects
Not all insect visitors to your pitaya flora are cause for alarm , but there are a few pests you ’ll want to depend out for :
Aphids can feed on both the flush and the fruit of these industrial plant .
Aphids insert their mouth parts into plant tissue to suck out nutrients , leaving behind a sticky track of honeydew , which can in crook boost fungous pathogen to proliferate .
To keep aphid population in check , encouragebeneficial insectssuch as leechlike wasps to visit your garden with nearby planting of some of their favourite food and habitat sources , likedill , Chinese parsley , carrotflowers , andQueen Anne ’s lacing .
ladybeetle and dark-green lacewing will also help keep aphid in bank check on pitayas .
Learn more about controlling and root out aphid in our article .
Related tosquash bugs , leaf - foot bug are well-to-do - to - daub pests thanks to their flipper - same appendage .
These true bugs may tip on pitaya halt , flowers , and fruits . They go forth puncture wounds on flowers , which cause bloom to abort , and can damage maturing strawberry mark pears by introduce fungi and bacterium .
These bugs are fateful in color and can be up to an column inch long , pee-pee them leisurely to spot .
They can be move out when less active in the early aurora or former eventide by either picking them off by hired man , or using a shop vac to vacuum them off of plants . After collect them , why not course them to yourchickens ?
Also check stems for eggs , which are brown and usually laid in long rows . These can be removed by handwriting .
good worm such as tachinid flies and leechlike WASP can help keep populations under control , while keeping weeds down around plants can remove additional food and testis - laying habitats for these pests .
Like aphids , thrips also have mouthpart which they utilize to pierce plant tissue paper and suck out nutrients .
Adults lay egg on flowers . When the larvae hachure , they will eat the pitaya flowers , ruining their chances of developing yield .
These gadfly can also feed directly on fruit , have cosmetic damage .
rude enemy of these pests should be encouraged , and include ladybird beetle , green lacewing , and minute pirate bug .
Learn more about key out and operate thrips in our clause .
Disease
Pitayas are n’t particularly prostrate to disease , but as always , you ’ll want to have intercourse what to face for , just in typesetter’s case . Here are some of the most usual pitaya diseases :
If your cherished crop of tartar fruit is suddenly showing brown to black lesion , Bipolaris fruit rot is a fungal disease that might be to blame .
lesion are orbitual and set out off pocket-sized and tan colored , becoming larger and growing black as they progress .
While it ’s primarily the fruits that are affected , younger stems can also show signs of this unwellness , while magnanimous stem lean to go unaffected .
Bipolaris fruit rotting can occur in humid conditions during warm and live weather . This disease is caused byBipolaris cactivora , a type of fungi .
The best treatment for this type of buncombe is prevention . Plants should be watered in the morning and at the territory level to allow time for leaf to dry during the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. .
Prune affected works textile , sterilizing lopper between stinger , and dispose of it to avoid spreading this disease .
Cactus virus X is a disease that expunge members of the cactus family , including pitayas .
sign of this disease include stunted plants , a lack of new shoot or flowers , mottle or speckled coloring on the foliation , and twisted stem turn . However , sometimes specimens are asymptomatic .
unluckily , there is no known treatment for this virus so prevention is imperative .
Sterilize tools and rinse your hands between handle unlike cactus specimen . If reusing pots , be sure to thoroughly rinse and sterilize them first .
nurseryman who own only one cactus sometimes choose to let their plant live with this disease if symptom are mild .
However , to avoid infection of other members of the cactus family , infected specimens should be disposed of .
Too much water supply and insufficient drainage can lead to root rot , a spot where the industrial plant ’s roots start to rot by , impairing their ability to transport urine .
Pitaya plants ca n’t tolerate boggy base , which is why grand planting in stir beds or container , proper drainage , and regular irrigation are important .
you’re able to learn root bunkum in yield , nut , and landscape trees in our article .
Harvesting
Using the best techniques for harvest home tartar fruit can stand for the conflict between a harvest home packed with flavor , and one that is suave .
After your plants flower and are pollinate , within a few twenty-four hour period you will notice fruits set . you may count forward 30 to 50 day from fruit set for an judge date image when the strawberry Pyrus communis will be quick to harvest .
Unlikebananasandapricots , pitayas do n’t go on to ripen once picked , so do n’t get too eager and blame when the fruits are still mostly green .
In general , flying lizard fruit is ready to pick when the skin has colored up , but most of each bract is still unripe .
Nicaraguan and pink - flesh variety are more acidulent than other case and can be allowed to ripen a morsel more , when just the steer of the bract are green .
Yellow - skinned types with spines are harvested when the peel has turned wholly yellow .
If you ’re growing a kind that has spiny fruits , spines can be brush off with a sporty dustpanful brush prior to harvesting .
Sometimes a faded prime is still bond to the yield when it ’s quick to pick – you’re able to just pull it off andput it in the compost .
Young plant life will only produce a few fruits , but their productivity will increase as they senesce . Expect 20 to 60 pounds of fruit per fledged plant .
Preserving
Draco fruit are tastiest when corrode soon after harvesting . However , if you retrieve yourself with more than you may eat at once , you may want to know how best to keep and preserve them .
Pitayas can be stored on the kitchen counter for two to three day , and some common people discover they take on a sweeter flavor after a few days spent on the comeback .
But dragon fruit will keep longer in the electric refrigerator . They can be stash away in ventilated credit card pocketbook in the refrigerator for up to two hebdomad .
Once pitayas have been cut up , they will keep in the fridge for a couple of days in a plastered container .
For longer - condition storehouse , these tropical kickshaw can be frozen . To freeze down , transfer the shape from the Robert Peel , and trim it into small third power .
Place the cubes on a bake piece of paper and suspend them for at least four hours or overnight .
Once the cubes are fixed , lay them in a plastic udder or airtight freezer container . These cubes can be used in charmer , pudding , or baked good , and will keep in the freezer for up to 12 months .
slice dragon fruit can also be dehydrated into flimsy chips .
Need some tips on how to get start with dehydrating?Read our complete templet to dehydrating your garden ’s bounteousness .
Recipes and Cooking Ideas
The flesh of a ripe dragon yield can be enjoy naked as a jaybird , scooped out of its Sir Robert Peel with a spoon – and when enjoy this path , some get it tastes better chilled . Raw strawberry pears taste especially nice with a little linden tree juice squirt on top .
Looking for more idea on how to use flying lizard yield ?
Pitaya bring itself naturally to dish on the mellisonant side , such as smoothie , pudding , popsicles , and water ice , but it can also be transform into jam .
you’re able to teach more about make jams and jellies atour sister site , Foodal .
For another invigorated use , strawberry pear flesh can be bestow to yield salads , and the peel can be used as a cosmetic serving vas .
For those who require to experiment with something more on the savory side , pitahaya can be bring to fresh salsa , guacamole , seafood dishes , curries , or salads .
Quick Reference Growing Guide
Perfectly Planted Pitayas
extolment gardener – if you have absorbed all of the information and technique described here , you are well on your way to becoming an expert Draco yield grower .
Now you ’ll just have to resolve what to do with all those gorgeous strawberry pears !
Are you planning to cultivate a low woodlet of these jungle cacti ? Or are you going to arise a single indoor specimen as a yield - produce houseplant ? Or – be honest – are you just here for the fun , at - home project of growing these tiny cacti from seeds in your windowsill ?
Interested inother case of succulentswith eatable and medicative attribute ? We have more guides you ’ll love right here :
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Kristina Hicks - Hamblin
