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| I've noticed that there has been a lot of interest in Dragon Fruit/Pitaya here lately and how to grow them. Well today was the annual Pitaya field day at the University of California Research Center where they have about 1300 plants growing, with some demonstration trellises, a discussion of various varieties they're trying for suitability to Southern California, and a tasting. Thought you all might enjoy seeing some pictures of sample trellises and of some of the "trees" they have growing. It's amazing the mass of growth they have all coming from one small stem crawling up a short post.
Here are some samples of trellises, posts with iron bars and concrete wiring, A frames, posts with wires... the fruiting plants at the center are all done with single posts, iron bars and concrete wire baskets: Various pictures from the day:
My three year old, Guatemalan red: My new trellis for a variety called Purple Haze: Both trellises were made with $5 treated wood posts from Home Depot. Seem to be working so far. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| Thanks so much for the photos. I couldn't make it to the Irvine tour, but will go on the Pomona tour tomorrow. I have some questions about your plantings. [1] What is the groundcover you have around your trellis, is it hay? or cut grass from your lawn? [2] I notice you have both a triangular and square trellis, why did you change from triangle to square? [3] How deep does each leg of the trellis go into the ground? [4] What is the length of the short horizontal segments? [5] What soil do you grow the DF in and what fertilizer do you use? [6] I also have several plumerias, they flowered over the winter under my grow light, but since then no flower, what do you feed yours? Thanks again, much appreciated! |
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- Posted by mjhuntingtonbeach (My Page) on Sat, Aug 14, 10 at 0:26
| Wow, lots of questions. 1) I use grass clippings for everything, great mulch decomposes quickly and builds the soil, can't see throwing it out. I've heard that dragon fruit really respond to a thick mulch of dried grass clippings so we'll see. Good luck with it ;) |
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| mj: My plumerias are in full sun, but I think I overwater them. I need to learn how to control that water hose 8-)) |
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- Posted by karyn1 MD 7 (bhkalen@aol.com) on Sat, Aug 14, 10 at 9:26
| Great pics. Thanks for posting them. There's something on the plant in the 8th pic, little tan spots. What is it? I have that on one of mine. Is it some type of scale? I only have one pitaya that has produced fruit and it was quite bland but the blooms are beautiful and the fruit is so cool looking. |
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- Posted by mjhuntingtonbeach (My Page) on Sun, Aug 15, 10 at 5:07
| mmmmmm, looking at those spots, I'm guessing a bit of sun burn or possibly insect damage that has healed over. Doesn't look like scale or anything living. |
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- Posted by costaricafinca Costa Rica (My Page) on Wed, Aug 25, 10 at 15:02
| Great photos, thanks! And I was pleased to see 6 blooms this week.... We are still decided on what type of trellis for growing some more plants. Here in Costa Rica it is a 'short day' and so far have only seen the red fruited pitaya but would love to get some with white fruit. |
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| I need help I live in Costa Rica and have a plant the locals call a Pitaya But can't find any photos of Pitaya that looks like the one I have.It looks like a Pitaya in stalk and thorns. It has rose like flowers, but the fruit is bright yellow and shaped like a martini glass and is very smooth |
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