Photo: Kat Pearson.
BY KAT PEARSON, GIRL IN THE GREEN
This year, I am getting my best crop of dragonfruit ever! They’ve been in the ground for maybe three years; I got one fruit the first year, two the second and this year I’m lined up for over 10! Although, (in my opinion) they are somewhat ugly climbing cactus plants, with spikes prone to rambling up a tree or through your neighbour’s hedge, dragonfruit produce enormous, beautiful blooms and subsequently, refreshing fruit. Due to their inclination to run up trees, they can be a bit of a pest and you might see them untamed in older gardens hanging from trees and rocky cliffs.
Dragonfruit (also known as pitaya) come from Mexico and Central America. As mentioned earlier, they are part of the cactus (Cactaceae) family and different colours are different species in the Selenicereus genus (plus all the cultivars!). Despite being a cactus, they are a tropical plant and do like regular water, especially in hot weather. They still need well drained soil, but will happily accept some compost, and of course, love full sun.
They are a night-blooming cactus and each flower only lasts a night, opening late afternoon and closing up the following morning. As with most night-blooming flowers, they are typically pollinated by moths, but bees will sneak their way in there in the early morning too. Some varieties are self-pollinating, while others require a buddy. Most of the flowers are white (quite common in night bloomers – they’re easier to see in the dark by their pollinators!) but there are a few varieties with coloured petals.
I have a common white flesh variety and a pink flesh one. Hands down the pink flesh is tastier; the white one is almost grainy, and it’s probably only the spines on the plant that are keeping me from binning it (protection from predators of all kinds, haha!). The fruit is best fully ripe, popped in the fridge till cold and enjoyed with a squeeze of fresh lime – delicious on a hot summer’s day. Be warned – the pink ones may have a similar effect to eating too much beetroot at your other end. Gave me quite the surprise once!
ABOUT KAT
I love gardening, growing my own food and plants in general. I’ve been working on our current garden in subtropical Brisbane for the last six-plus years, but have been gardening for much, much longer in all sorts of places. I’m an ex-engineer, recently turned horticulturist (life’s too short not to work in something you love!). I grow edibles and ornamentals in an often wild, rambling jungle, filled with birds and bugs, including a handful of pet chooks and a brand new puppy (who likes to chase said chickens, and is not averse to helping me dig a hole!).
