Return to the Arizona Gardening Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
Dragon Fruit
| | |
Posted by
alber99 Phoenix, Arizona (
My Page) on
Thu, Jun 15, 06 at 12:20
| Does anyone have experience growing Hylocereus Undatus in the Phoenix area? I want to grow it for its fruit - the Dragon Fruit. The plants or cuttings can be ordered from a nursery in California or Florida, but I am wondering how they will do here. There is plenty of info on the web that indicates thy will do well in hot, dry climate but I am hoping someone has some first hand experience in the Phoenix area: best location in the garden, water, soil, fruiting success? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Dragon Fruit
| | |
| I have some planted under a Mesquite tree. They are crawling up the trunk. I would say easter exposure with afternoon shade or filtered light. It's a pretty easy grower actually. Just make sure the soil drains reasonably well and give it extra water in summer. I know people that have fruited them here. I just planted mine a year ago and it needs to get bigger (originally from cuts). |
RE: Dragon Fruit
| | |
| Better know here as Pitahaya or Pitaya. I've seen a couple of large ones in the barrio in Glendale |
RE: Dragon Fruit
| | |
- Posted by bolt z8 Phx (My Page) on
Sun, Jun 18, 06 at 15:48
| I have some growing in Queen Creek, they are on their third year in the ground. They are either growing under an orange tree or under a lattice for shade, they do get sunburned if left in full sun and they do require more water than a regular cactus. Mine have required very little supplemental feeding. The only one to bloom for me so far was my UNself fertile one, so of course HUGE blooms with no fruit, maybe this fall or next spring I'll finally get some flowers and fruit. If you're ordering from somewhere, be sure you get a self fertile variety! Good luck,
Kevin |
RE: Dragon Fruit
| | |
| Does anyone know of a nursery in Phoenix area where I could purchase Hylocereus Undatus (Pitaya or Dragon Fruit)? |
RE: Dragon Fruit
| | |
I've seen them occasionally at TropicaMango nursery.
Looks like they've got a new website and a new name (link below).
Also, there's the Arizona Chapter of the California Rare Fruit Growers. They have monthly meetings that I used to attend, good group of people that really know their stuff. Several of them grow dragon fruit. There's a tropical fruit demonstration garden at the county extension office, it used to have dragon fruit growing there as well. Their website is: http://www.azrfg.com/ Kevin |
Here is a link that might be useful: Tropica Mango
RE: Dragon Fruit
| | |
| They are more tropical than most cactus and do prefer richer soil and more water, although they will tolerate dryness and poor soil. I have found that they like to climb and will bloom when they reach the top of the trellis and *hang* down over it-must stimulate some hormone that says "bloom now" lol. Some growers will create umbrella type trellis' for that purpose. They would need protection in phx areas from sunburn, perhaps filtered light since they are used to growing up trees. |
RE: Dragon Fruit
| | |
| whats it taste like or is it sweet |
RE: Dragon Fruit
| | |
| Yeah, Alex's Tropica Mango nursery has bunches. The plant takes a hit when the temp. is 110 and higher so shade or filtered light is best during the hottest months, otherwise will take full sun the rest of the year. I have mine climbing a palo verde tree and water about once a week and planted in well draining cactus mix with lots of sand. Native plants receive 80inches of water a year so do take much more water than desert cactus. They taste wonderful too. Best if eaten after dinner or as a stand alone snack, the taste resembles watermelon. However if you eat it with or after something sweet it will taste more like water. There is a guy in Mesa that has dug up all his tropical plants and converted his whole yard to different kinds of pitahaya and they are doing really well. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Alex's Tropica Mango Nursery
RE: Dragon Fruit
| | |
| Some Home Depot Garden department carry this plant not all year around and just a few of them |
Post a Follow-Up
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in.
If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Arizona Gardening Forum
Instructions
- You must be a registered member and logged in to post messages on our forums.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review the contents and make changes.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- It is illegal to post copyrighted material without the owner's consent.
- HTML codes are allowed in the message field only.
- No advertising is allowed in any of the forums.
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.
