Jump to content

  • WELCOME GUEST

    It looks as if you are viewing PalmTalk as an unregistered Guest.

    Please consider registering so as to take better advantage of our vast knowledge base and friendly community.  By registering you will gain access to many features - among them are our powerful Search feature, the ability to Private Message other Users, and be able to post and/or answer questions from all over the world. It is completely free, no “catches,” and you will have complete control over how you wish to use this site.

    PalmTalk is sponsored by the International Palm Society. - an organization dedicated to learning everything about and enjoying palm trees (and their companion plants) while conserving endangered palm species and habitat worldwide. Please take the time to know us all better and register.

    guest Renda04.jpg

Enter the Dragon Fruit

MattyB

By MattyB
in TROPICAL LOOKING PLANTS - Other Than Palms

 Share

Recommended Posts

MattyB Grand Master

MattyB

Posted
Posted

I constructed a heavy duty permanent trellis out of some industrial handrailing for my dragon fruit to grow on. Eventually these plants will weigh several hundred pounds and the thought of having to destroy mature plants to rebuild a wooden trellis just didn't sound right. Here's the pics:

5-16-10-009.jpg

5-16-10-004.jpg

5-16-10-005.jpg

5-16-10-007.jpg

Matt Bradford

"Manambe Lavaka"

Spring Valley, CA (8.5 miles inland from San Diego Bay)

10B on the hill (635 ft. elevation)

9B in the canyon (520 ft. elevation)

MattyB Grand Master

MattyB

Posted
  • Author
Posted

5-16-10-010.jpg

Five rooted cuttings of the white fleshed variety.

5-16-10-011.jpg

3 rooted cuttings of the pink fleshed variety.

And I have a cutting of the yellow type rooting out to go up the middle pole eventually.

Matt Bradford

"Manambe Lavaka"

Spring Valley, CA (8.5 miles inland from San Diego Bay)

10B on the hill (635 ft. elevation)

9B in the canyon (520 ft. elevation)

Peter Grand Master

Peter

Posted
Posted

Nice Matty-how long until you get some fruit?

San Fernando Valley, California

DoomsDave Grand Master

DoomsDave

Posted
Posted

Hmm.

You sure don't mess around!

Looks like a funky old cactus to me . . . . :lol:

Let's keep our forum fun and friendly.

Any data in this post is provided 'as is' and in no event shall I be liable for any damages, including, without limitation, damages resulting from accuracy or lack thereof, insult, or lost profits or revenue, claims by third parties or for other similar costs, or any special, incidental, or consequential damages arising out of my opinion or the use of this data. The accuracy or reliability of the data is not guaranteed or warranted in any way and I disclaim liability of any kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, liability for quality, performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose arising out of the use, or inability to use my data. Other terms may apply.

MattyB Grand Master

MattyB

Posted
  • Author
Posted

It's pretty much the ugliest thing you can grow. I'm not sure how long until it fruits. I've read that each plant needs to reach a weight of about 10 pounds before it fruits. How long that takes I have no clue.

Matt Bradford

"Manambe Lavaka"

Spring Valley, CA (8.5 miles inland from San Diego Bay)

10B on the hill (635 ft. elevation)

9B in the canyon (520 ft. elevation)

Steve the palmreader Proficient

Steve the palmreader

Posted
Posted

That looks like some kind of trelus Is that the normal way to grow dragon fruit?

Palms not just a tree also a state of mind

MattyB Grand Master

MattyB

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Yes steve it needs to have something to support it. I don't know what normal is.

Matt Bradford

"Manambe Lavaka"

Spring Valley, CA (8.5 miles inland from San Diego Bay)

10B on the hill (635 ft. elevation)

9B in the canyon (520 ft. elevation)

Fouquieria Proficient

Fouquieria

Posted
Posted
It's pretty much the ugliest thing you can grow. I'm not sure how long until it fruits. I've read that each plant needs to reach a weight of about 10 pounds before it fruits. How long that takes I have no clue.

Matt, mine's been growing in the Jacaranda tree for a number of years now. It blooms in small spurts at the end of Summer. Mine has never set fruit. Seems like they grow pretty slow. Having said that...I have a friend who lives in Escondido who has one growing up a HUGE and ancient CIDP and I saw his in bloom one year. It was spectacular with hundreds of blooms up the trunk...incredible sight.

-Ron-

Please click my Inspired button. http://yardshare.com/myyard.php?yard_id=384

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts.

Daniel Patrick Moynihan

Jerry@TreeZoo Grand Master

Jerry@TreeZoo

Posted
Posted

It grows a lot faster with a lot of water in well drained soil. I had one in the nursery with irrigation every day and it grew like crazy. Planted it in the ground and it almost stopped growing. Was it shown on here that wrapping the struts with burlap encourages it to root into the framework better? Saw pictures somewhere.

So many species,

so little time.

Coconut Creek, Florida

Zone 10b (Zone 11 except for once evey 10 or 20 years)

Last Freeze: 2011,50 Miles North of Fairchilds

epicure3 Grand Master

epicure3

Posted
Posted

Pretty smart, foward thinking.

Coastal San Diego, California

Z10b

Dry summer subtropical/Mediterranean

warm summer/mild winter

Dr. George Mentor

Dr. George

Posted
Posted

Hey Matt - Here is our set up for a little larger scale production than yours. 420 posts supporting 1,260 plants.

post-3609-12741367540204_thumb.jpg post-3609-12741367240818_thumb.jpg

A key to successful production is knowing if the variety you select is self fertile (if can be fertilized with its own pollen or needs pollen from another variety) and if it is self pollinating (will pollinate itself or has to be hand pollinated). If the variety is not self pollinating, since they are night blooming flowers, you have to go out at night and collect pollen and hand fertilize flowers in order to get fruiting.

We chose Selenocereous megalanthus for production because it is both self fertile and self pollinating (well, with a little help from the bees).

post-3609-1274136782371_thumb.jpg post-3609-12741367966478_thumb.jpg post-3609-12741368106885_thumb.jpg

post-3609-12741378568732_thumb.jpg post-3609-12741373984113_thumb.jpg post-3609-12741376645208_thumb.jpg

If you need another discussion group to join, there is one for dragon fruit (Pitaya) folks: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PitayaFruit/

gmp

BS Man about Palms Grand Master

BS Man about Palms

Posted
Posted

That set up looks very "BS Man". Are you feeling OK? :huh:

Zone 10a at best after 2007 AND 2013, on SW facing hill, 1 1/2 miles from coast in Oceanside, CA. 30-98 degrees, and 45-80deg. about 95% of the time.

"The great workman of nature is time."   ,  "Genius is nothing but a great aptitude for patience."

-George-Louis Leclerc de Buffon-

I do some experiments and learning in my garden with palms so you don't have to experience the pain! Look at my old threads to find various observations and tips!

Just1MorePalm Community Regular

Just1MorePalm

Posted
Posted

"If the variety is not self pollinating, since they are night blooming flowers, you have to go out at night and collect pollen and hand fertilize flowers in order to get fruiting"

It helps if you have Barry White on the MP3... :wub:

MattyB Grand Master

MattyB

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Great pics Dr. George! Thanks for the link too. We have lots of critters so I hope that helps with pollination.

Matt Bradford

"Manambe Lavaka"

Spring Valley, CA (8.5 miles inland from San Diego Bay)

10B on the hill (635 ft. elevation)

9B in the canyon (520 ft. elevation)

Fouquieria Proficient

Fouquieria

Posted
Posted

Here's my Hylocereus undatus growing in the Jacaranda tree. After the Jacaranda leafs out, parts of the Hylocereus aren't so noticeable.

post-81-12742181062698_thumb.jpg

-Ron-

Please click my Inspired button. http://yardshare.com/myyard.php?yard_id=384

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts.

Daniel Patrick Moynihan

MattyB Grand Master

MattyB

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Cool Ron! I bet if you watered it and gave it a bit of Phosphorus it'd flower for you. Looks big enough.

Matt Bradford

"Manambe Lavaka"

Spring Valley, CA (8.5 miles inland from San Diego Bay)

10B on the hill (635 ft. elevation)

9B in the canyon (520 ft. elevation)

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing



  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...