Dragon fruit, pitaya, pitahaya exoticfruitsandvegetables.com

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The Cactaceae family of plants, which includes
cacti, came from North, Central, and South
America. They live in many places, from the coast
to high mountains to tropical rainforests. Their
looks are just as different. There are species
the size of a thimble, species with huge columns,
and climbing species. The cactus family is very
good at adapting to new places. The plants can
stand heat, cold, drought, and poor soil. The
plants can handle harsh conditions because the
stems are changed to store water, there are fewer
or no leaves, the surfaces are waxy, and the
tissues open at night to take in carbon dioxide
(this is called the CAM process). Words like
"xerophyte" and "succulent" are used to describe
plants that have adapted in this way. The
above-ground parts of the plant have changed to
help it live in dry, hot places. The roots aren't
succulent, so they only need a small amount of
water and temperatures that are cooler. Cacti
won't grow in places that are too salty or too
wet, and they also won't grow where there are no
other plants.
In their home countries, the plants were used for
many things, but the fruit was a very important
food source. Fruit was taken from trees that had
grown there on their own. Later, cuttings from
plants that made a lot of food were taken and
grown around houses. Several countries around the
world now use a similar method to grow
plantations of columnar, shrubby, and climbing
cacti with edible fruit. Epiphytic, or climbing,
cacti use roots that grow from their stems to
hold on to rocks and trees. The host plant
doesn't feed these roots. The plant can live even
if the base is cut off because the aerial roots
can get water and nutrients from their
surroundings. This also makes it possible for
cuttings to grow into healthy plants.
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One food source is the climbing cactus Hylocereus
undatus (Haworth) Britt and Rose, which is
thought to come from the tropical rainforests of
Central and northern South America. It is already
known all over the world as an ornamental plant
because of its large, fragrant flowers that bloom
at night. It is now known for its fruit all over
the world, especially in Israel, Vietnam, and
Australia. Hylocereus polyrhizus and Selenicereus
megalanthus are two other climbing cactus species
with fruit that can be eaten. H. polyrhizus has
red skin and red flesh with black seeds that you
can eat. On the other hand, S. megalanthus, also
called the pitaya amarillo or yellow pitaya, has
yellow skin and clear to white flesh with black
seeds that you can eat. Some columnar cacti, like
the apple cactus (Cereus peruvianus) and the
cactus pears (Opuntia species), are also grown
for their fruit, which can be eaten. People also
know about the Opuntia species because they are
considered to be weeds. Plants grow quickly and
spread far from their roots and seeds. At this
point, we don't know if Hylocereus could become a
weed.
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The nutritional value of the dragon fruit The
benefits of the dragon fruit The different types
of dragon fruit Growing areas Flowering and
fruiting How to grow care How to eat dragon
fruit Conclusion
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The nutritional value of the dragon fruit The
dragon fruit is a tropical fruit that is native
to Central and South America. The fruit is also
known as the pitaya or pitahaya. The dragon fruit
is a member of the cactus family and is grown in
many parts of the world. The dragon fruit has a
unique taste and is rich in nutrients. The dragon
fruit is an excellent source of dietary fiber. It
also contains vitamins C and B, as well as
minerals such as iron and calcium. The dragon
fruit has a high water content, which makes it a
refreshing and healthy snack. The flesh of the
dragon fruit can be eaten fresh or used in
juices, smoothies, and desserts. The nutritional
value of the dragon fruit makes it a delicious
and healthy option for people of all ages.
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The benefits of the dragon fruit The dragon
fruit, also known as the pitaya, is a delicious
and exotic fruit that offers many health
benefits. Here are just a few of the ways that
this unique fruit can improve your health 1.
The dragon fruit is rich in antioxidants, which
can help to protect your cells from damage and
may even help to prevent some chronic
diseases. 2. This unusual looking fruit is
also a good source of fiber, which can promote
digestive health and help you to feel full after
eating. 3. The dragon fruit is also a good
source of vitamins C and B6, which are essential
for maintaining a healthy immune system. So, next
time you see a dragon fruit at your local grocery
store, be sure to give it a try! You may be
pleasantly surprised by how delicious it is - and
how good it is for you!
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The different types of dragon fruit Dragon fruit
come in many different colors, shapes, and sizes.
The most common type of dragon fruit is the red
dragon fruit. It is oblong in shape and has a
bright red exterior. The flesh of the red dragon
fruit is white with black seeds. The second most
common type of dragon fruit is the yellow dragon
fruit. It is round in shape and has a yellow
exterior. The flesh of the yellow dragon fruit is
white with black seeds. The third most common
type of dragon fruit is the green dragon fruit.
It is oblong in shape and has a green exterior.
The flesh of the green dragon fruit is white with
black seeds.
Growing areas The fruits of the cactus are called
pitaya, pitahaya, pitajaya, pitaya roja, and
pitahaya de Cardon in Mexico, Guatemala, and
northern South America. The name pitaya has been
taken up in Israel. In Vietnam, the fruit is
called Thanh Long, which means "dragon
fruit". The plants grow naturally in Mexico,
Central, and South America, and people also plant
them in their own yards. There are now orchards
set up to grow fruit for markets in North America
and Europe, both locally and for export.
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In Israel, the strong sunlight is too much for
Hylocereus undatus to handle. Plantations are set
up in shade houses with metal trellis systems so
that fruit can be grown for both the local market
and for export to Europe.
About 100 years ago, the French brought H.
undatus to Vietnam, where it was grown only for
the king. Later, it became popular among rich
people all over the country. Recently, it has
been set up as a backyard and orchard plant that
grows fruit for the local market and for export
to South East Asia and Europe.
Flowering and fruiting
In warm places, growth slows or stops during the
dry season. H. undatus flowers can only make
fruit with the same species, but they can still
cross-pollinate with other
Hylocereus species. H. undatus is a long-day
plant, which means that it needs longer days to
flower. The main fruiting season in the Northern
Hemisphere is from May to October. The season in
Darwin runs from October to April, according to
recent observations. H. polyrhizus doesn't depend
as much on how long the days are, so it will have
fruit most of the year.
Along the three-ribbed stem are aerioles that
hold buds that open in the summer. When the buds
open, they grow into stems or flowers.
The white, fragrant flowers that bloom at night
attract bats and moths. Before dusk, when the
petals open, bees and other insects visit the
flowers.
After dawn, when the petals start to close, they
leave. Flowers only bloom for two days, and after
that, fruit quickly forms and grows. About 28
days after the flower dies, the fruit can be
picked.
The fruit has to be fully grown and have 85 of
its skin colored pink. At this point, fruit can
stay birds might eat it.
on the stem for 10 to 15 days, but
350 g is the average weight of a fruit. The
flowers and fruit can be cut back so that only
one or two fruits grow on each branch. This will
make sure that the exported fruit is the same
size and quality.
Unripe fruits have mucilage, which is a sticky
substance that makes them taste bad. When the
fruit is fully colored, the stem is cut off and
the fruit is packed for sale. At this stage, the
skin turns pink-red and the scales stay green.
The fruit doesn't go through a climacteric stage,
and it tastes, has the most soluble sugar, and
has the most acidity when it is fully colored. At
the green-pink stage, the fruit will change
color, but it won't get its full flavor yet.
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At 7-10C and 90-98 relative humidity, pitaya
can be kept for two to three months. The yellow
pitaya (S. megalanthus) can be kept for four
weeks at 10C and for a week or more at 20C. At
both 60 and 70, the relative humidity is the
same. In Vietnam, it is possible to get a second
fruiting season by using lights to make the days
longer or potassium nitrate to make the plants
bloom. Induction starts 70 days before the
expected harvest, but flower induction produces
less fruit. How to grow care Seedlings grow
slowly and don't always produce fruit, which
makes them not good for spreading. For fast
growth, it's best to use cuttings that are
healthy and green. Cuttings should come from
plants that have already produced fruit, and they
should be about 30 cm long for a good start. The
cutting is "cured" by putting it in a dry place
for a week. Then, it is potted into a mix that
drains well. Before roots grow, cuttings need to
be in the shade and need only a small amount of
water and fertilizer. Once the roots have grown,
the plants can be put out in the sun for a while
and then planted in a mound. Plants should be put
in well-drained beds that are up to 300 mm high,
2.5-3 m apart in a row, and 3-4 m between rows,
depending on the size of the orchard equipment.
As a support, you can use concrete or untreated
wood posts. On top of the posts, you can put a
frame to train the branches. A recommended size
for a post is 300 mm in diameter and 2 m in
height, with 600 mm of it buried in the ground.
Depending on the size of the post, one to four
plants can be used for each one. A single leader
stem grows up the post, and as it gets closer to
the top, side branches are cut off.
Then, the branches need to hang down so they can
flower and bear fruit. This is easier to do in
the middle of the day when the branches are soft.
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The red flesh pitaya grows in a different way. It
likes to grow along a trellis or fence line.
Plants are spaced every 1-2 m along the row, and
the side branches are tied to the fence to keep
them up. Most of the roots are in the top 15-30
cm of soil, and the soil needs to be watered to
make sure it doesn't dry out completely. When the
fruit is growing, wet and dry times can cause the
fruit to split. Irrigation is used to keep the
soil moist during fruit development so that the
fruit doesn't split. Water loss can also be
slowed by putting thick mulch on the mound, away
from the stem. Many of the fruiting cacti grow
naturally in places with a lot of minerals, lime,
and decaying organic matter. H. undatus needs a
balanced NPK fertilizer, organic fertilizer,
lime, and foliar fertilizer while the fruit is
growing. Fertilizer is put in the hole where the
plant goes and then added again after a month.
Fertilizer can be put on plants either as
granules or by watering them. Nitrogen is needed
when the plant is growing leaves, but it is
usually less important when the plant is resting
or getting ready to bloom. At a rate of 100 g per
plant, a suggested fertilizer program of NPK,
dolomite, and dynamic lifter can be used every
other month.
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By cutting off the tips, you can easily move
through the orchard and thin out the flowers and
fruit. By thinning the branches, you can keep the
canopy open, easy to work with, and full of
fruit. In the first year, a plant should have 30
branches. By the fourth year, it should have 130
branches. After the crop is picked, the plant is
trimmed so that it has no more than 50 main
branches and only one or two side branches on
each main branch. Pests can hurt cacti in many
ways, so it's important to keep an eye out for
them and take the right steps to get rid of them.
Ants, scale insects, mealy bugs, beetles, slugs,
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borers, caterpillars, nematodes, fruit flies,
mice, rats, and birds are all examples of pests.
H. undatus might have some or all of these. A
soft, watery rot can be caused by an injury, like
a sunburn, or by being in a wet environment.
How to eat dragon fruit
Dragon fruit is not only a beautiful and exotic
fruit, but it is also delicious and nutritious.
Here are some tips on how to eat dragon fruit so
that you can enjoy all its benefits.
To eat dragon fruit, start by cutting it in half
with a sharp knife. Then, scoop out the flesh
with a spoon and enjoy it as is or add it to your
favorite recipe. If you're juicing or making a
smoothie, simply add the dragon fruit to the
blender with your other ingredients. When
shopping for dragon fruit, look for ones that are
brightly colored and free of blemishes.
Cut the dragon fruit in half lengthwise and scoop
out the flesh with a spoon. You can eat it as is
or add it to smoothies, yogurt, or salads.
Enjoy dragon fruit fresh for the best flavor and
nutritional value. However, you can also find
dragon fruit powder or extract at health food
stores if you want to add it to recipes or take
it as a supplement.
Conclusion
The dragon fruit, also known as the pitaya, is a
tropical fruit that is native to Central and
South America. The fruit is grown on cacti, and
the flesh of the fruit is white or pink with
black seeds. The dragon fruit has a sweet taste,
and it is often used in smoothies or as a topping
for desserts.
The dragon fruit is a healthy option for those
looking for a sweet treat. The fruit is high in
fiber and antioxidants, and it has been shown to
improve digestive health. The dragon fruit can
also help boost immunity and protect against
diseases such as cancer.
While the dragon fruit is generally safe for most
people to eat, there are some potential side
effects that should be considered. Some people
may experience an allergic reaction to the dragon
fruit, and it can also cause constipation or
diarrhea if eaten in large amounts.
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