Harvest dragon fruits when they are close to fully ripe. Once the color of the fruit has changed from green to yellow or red, then it is ready to harvest. The small leaves on the sides of the fruit (also known as the “wings”) will also start to fade or turn brown as the fruit ripens.

How do you know when dragon fruit is ripe?

Ripe dragon fruit has a bright pink color with smooth skin. The dragon fruit should not be rock hard. Instead, let it ripen a little until the flesh gives a little big, similar to a ripe avocado. If the dragon fruit feels mushy, it is overripe.

What does a ripe dragon fruit feel like?

The easiest way to tell if dragon fruit is ripe is to feel it. According to nutritionist Susan Schenck, a ripe dragon fruit should feel a little bit soft because you won’t be able to cut through the flesh of a hard fruit. Make sure the fruit isn’t too soft, though.

Which dragon fruit is red inside?

Hylocereus costaricensis (Pitaya roja or red-fleshed pitaya, also known as Hylocereus polyrhizus) has red-skinned fruit with red flesh.

Is dragon fruit supposed to be purple inside?

What Color Is Dragon Fruit Inside? Dragon fruit can be red, white, purple or pink inside.

Is dragon fruit seasonal?

Marketing Channels. The summer (June through September) is the main season for fresh dragon fruit. August and September are the peak months for most varieties; however, varieties of Selenecereus megalanthus produce fruit during the winter months of November through February (Lobo et al, 2015).

How long does it take for dragon fruit to fruit?

Plants can begin flowering in as little as six to eight months, although container-grown plants may take up to two years to bear fruit. The good news is that once the plant is mature, you could see four to six fruiting cycles a year from a plant that is capable of bearing fruit for 20 to 30 years.

Which dragon fruit is the sweetest?

Yellow dragonfruit (hylocereus megalanthus) also known as the yellow pitahaya, is the sweetest dragon fruit of all. It is part of the cactus family – and is by far the most popular cactus among the world. The yellow pitahaya is smaller than the red-skinned species, but sweeter and juicier.

Should you refrigerate dragon fruit?

How to store a dragon fruit. Once cut, you should eat your dragon fruit immediately or store it in the fridge for a day or so until it begins to brown. If you’d like to slow the ripening of an uncut dragon fruit, place it in a plastic bag and store it in the fridge.

Why does my dragon fruit taste like nothing?

The fruit’s flavor differs when ripe and when unripe, and picking a ripe one is very difficult. Dragon fruit does not have a definite taste when unripe; that is why most people say it tastes like nothing. Ripe dragon fruit has a slightly sweet and syrupy taste, while an unripe one tastes bland with some sourness.

What are the side effects of dragon fruit?

Are There Known Side Effects of Dragon Fruit? The good news is that there don’t appear to be any side effects or health risks associated with eating dragon fruit. Even so, if you eat dragon fruit and develop symptoms of an allergic reaction, stop eating the fruit immediately.

Do dragon fruit have thorns?

In contrast, the red-fleshed dragon fruit (pitaya) doesn’t have any thorns on the fruit so it makes for easy handling. I picked up our first plant from a local nursery and now have several new plants growing from cuttings.

How can you tell if a dragon fruit is red or white?

Red dragon fruit and sometimes pink and purple fruit have curvy scales or ears, which are tiny triangles on the fruit body. Their color is green and they are thicker. Also, red fruit has narrower, darker, and more number of scales than those in white fruit.