Dragonfruit plant/tree wanted

[Dot]

I tasted a red dragonfruit recently, and it was soooo good! Anyone know where I can purchase one, cuttings or anything?

I googled it, and found that they are grown on Maui and Kona, but no information on buying individual plants. Any info greatly appreciated - thanks much!

Dot

[Carey]

Have seen the plants at the BiIAN sale. It is a succulent that kinda drapes around... be aware that the first pitaya brought to the islands never fruited (and some of these plans are still around, even in Hilo), so make sure any cutting is from a fruiting plant... There is a grower on Manona in Hilo, always has his fruit in protective veg bags, so I am guessing that fruit flies may be a problem

CTAHR page:
http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/F_N-9.pdf

[rainyjim]

Be aware this is one of the more difficult fruits to propagate and flower.

You must hand pollinate each budding flower individually in the dark of night in order to make it produce, also a complex support system is necessary in order to prevent the weight of the fruit from snapping the plant itself under the additional weight.

That said its just as tasty as you described and you should definitely grow some! Just do your homework and don't be disappointed by the difficulty! Best of luck

Cheers

rainyjim

[Dot]

Thanks Jim and Carey! Sounds like it will be a fun plant to attempt, with caution []

Happy New Year - Dot

[Cagary]

Like all succulent plants, they are full of water and don't need much moisture. This means that they do poorly if exposed to too much water (rain). Best to plant them on a slope or mound so excess water flows away. Too much water also dilutes the sugar content and can make them taste watery and not sweet. Best to harvest them after a few days of dry weather.

[Kelena]

I had two. Got them both at Big Island Association of Nurserymen (BIAN) sale, but have seen it now and then at Garden Exchange. Heard somewhere you need two. One of them died. The other is slowly creeping up the lava rock wall. It is not growing with the same speed as other plantings. I planted a papaya at the same time. It is over my head now and is producing papayas. The dragonfruit is about 2 feet long and seems to be under attack by something. I think support is key. They really want to climb on things, like on that giant trellis at the house on the corner on Manono Street.

I sure do like the taste of dragonfruit and it has become very expensive at the farmer's markets when you can find it, so I am going to keep trying but may wait until I build a good trellis system for the next one I get.

[liskir]

http://honolulu.craigslist.org/big/grd/3429084114.html
***Dragonfruit plants, bare rooted, no green thumbs necessary - $5 (Hamakua, mm40)

Date: 2012-11-23, 8:02AM HST
Reply to this post z6gbk-3429084114@sale.craigslist.org[?]
All proceeds donated to nonprofit. Healthy and easy to grow, drought resistant, beautiful posies, yummy fruit...like huge kiwis without the tart. $5 per foot, 5 foot or 5 plants min. 775-9885


"An idea whose time has come cannot be stopped" Dr. Ron Paul 2012

[Lee M-S]

I planted several a few years ago, and they've never done well. I got a new one at the BIAN sale in Sept, put it in the greenhouse, and it's growing like crazy.