The dragon fruit plant is part of the cactus family, so the colorful fruit grows on long stalks rather than vines. Make sure that the dragon fruit is ripe by checking the color and softness, then pick it by twisting it or cutting it off the stalk. Cut off the flowers at the base and rinse off the fruit.

How do you pick a dragon fruit from the tree?

Once your dragon fruit tree has started fruiting, harvesting is easy. Look for well-colored fruits whose “wings” (the flaps of skin on the outside of the fruit) have started to wither. Twist the fruit gently —if it’s ripe, it will easily give way from the stem.

How do you know when to pick dragon fruit?

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.

How long does it take a dragon fruit cutting to produce fruit?

Leave the treated stem segment to dry for 7-8 days in a dry, shaded area. After that time, dip the cutting into a root hormone and then plant directly in the garden or in a well-draining soil in a container. Cuttings will grow rapidly and may produce fruit 6-9 months from propagation.

How many months does it take for a dragon fruit to grow?

If dragon fruit has intrigued you, the small seeds scattered throughout its flesh can be sprouted easily and grown into a dragon fruit plant of your own. 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.

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.

How can you tell if a dragon fruit is pink 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.

Should dragon fruit be refrigerated?

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.

How do I get my dragon fruit to bloom?

How to Induce Flowering in Dragon Fruit

1. Move your plant into a greenhouse.
2. Extend the length of daylight your dragon fruit plant receives.
3. Train the dragon fruit plant up a trellis.
4. Prune the tips of the plant’s uppermost stems after it climbs up the trellis.

How many dragon fruit does a tree produce?

Dragon fruit normally fruits after 18-24 months after plantation. It is a vegetative fruit plant which normally fruits during or after monsoons. It fruits in 3 to 4 waves during one season. Each Pole fruits approx 40 to 100 fruits per wave.

Is rain bad for dragon fruit?

Dragon fruit grows in areas with sufficient rainfall ranging from 1730-2540 mm/year. The minimum temperature required by the plants is 20-30˚C.

What is the best fertilizer for dragon fruit?

Choose a fertilizer with a balanced NPK ratio. However, most experts agree that some type of balanced fertilizer, like 16-16-16 or 13-13-13, is a good choice for your dragon fruit. You can use fertilizer granules, or spread fertilizer through your irrigation system. Slow-release fertilizer is also an option.

How long does a dragon fruit tree live?

Dragon fruit live for about 20 years, though fungal diseases can cut their life short, especially in poorly drained soil.