When the warm days announce that it’s tomato growing season and you’re ready to choose which varieties to include in your garden, there are many characteristics to consider.What will they taste like? How big will they get? What do they look
12.06.2023 - 01:01 / gardenerspath.com / Kristina HicksHamblin
How to Grow Your Own Dragon Fruit (Pitaya) Selenicereus spp.Dragon fruit, also known as pitaya, is a tasty tropical treat – and with the right techniques and know-how, you can grow your own crop at home.
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Colorful pitayas are borne on the succulent stems of jungle cacti, which can produce a bountiful harvest in under two years, making an exciting addition to the edible landscape.
In this article, you’ll discover how professional pitaya growers cultivate these fruits, so you can apply their well-honed techniques to your at-home efforts.
We’ll dig into the details of everything you need to know for both indoor and outdoor dragon fruit growing – as well as everything else you’ll need in terms of watering, soil type, harvesting, and much more.
While producing pitayas is in no way a low-maintenance affair, the payoff will certainly be worth it.
Ready for a sneak peek at what we’ll cover?
What Is Dragon Fruit?Dragon fruit, or pitaya, are names given to the large, edible fruits of several types of tropical cacti, as well as the names given to the plants themselves.
These cacti have a climbing and vining growth habit, and can reach impressive heights as they clamber up trees, growing 30 feet tall or more, and attaching themselves with aerial roots.
In addition to climbing, dragon fruit plants have a sprawling and branching growth habit.
These vining plants are leafless, but stems have ridges, usually three, and in cross-section look somewhat like the letter “y.”
Pitaya stems are also segmented, like those of Christmas cacti, and most have spines along their ridges.
These stems tend to have wavy margins that are punctuated by
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