Dragon fruit does not fruit

[Asu]

Hello fruiters,

I have 2 dragonfruit plants, came from two different locations. They have pale yellow flowers, which they produce about once a month. During their  4-5 years of lifetime they have never turned their flowers into fruits. They grow vigorously. It is well watered, temperature is not a problem obviously. I tried  to cross-pollinate the flowers with no effect.

Any suggestions as to how to start addressing the situation would be welcome.

I read on this board somewhere that pollen can be purchased - true/false?

Thanks.

[spaugh]

Maybe you need a different dragonfruit to get pollen from.  Do you know which varieties they are?  If its the same type then it won't work if they aren't self fsrtile or if they just aren't compatible types. A

Also, try doing it right when they open in the night around 9 or 10pm so the dew isn't ruining the pollen.  If you are near the coast and its wet at night, then cover the flower after pollinating with plastic bag for a day. 

If you want pollen, you can use some of mine but you would need to get it the same day and use it asap. 

[RodneyS]

Look into self-fruiting dragonfruit varieties-
American Beauty
Sugar Dragon
Hailey's Comet
Delight
Giant Vietnamese
Condor
etc.

[FV Fruit Freak]

Look into self-fruiting dragonfruit varieties-
American Beauty
Sugar Dragon
Hailey's Comet
Delight
Giant Vietnamese
Condor
etc.
[/quote

Are you sure Haileys comet is self fruitful? I’ve had a bunch of flowers two years in a row and not a single fruit set, even hand pollinated it, and the vine is huge. I got it from a friend though, so maybe it’s not a true Haileys Comet. Anyone else having trouble with fruit set that has Haileys Comet?

[Johnny Redland]

I have the same problem with mine, and I have many varieties. You are not alone

[TheGivingTree]

I've heard the vine must grow a certain height, then bend or be pruned so growth can grow downwards and that this causes flowering? All the flowering ones I've seen were at least 5-6ft tall vertically.

[roblack]

I feel your pain.

Giving up on dragonfruit. Mine keep flowering, fruiting, and then dropping. Tired of dealing with it.

Finger limes and whatnot are going in their place.

Will buy df from my friends and farmers.

Problem solved. I feel better already.

[Mike T]

Funny how my friend hacked out his condor, american beauty, delight etc because they were not self pollinating and even swarms of pollinators couldn't do the job. He now has trimmed his collection to a dozen or so of the best self pollinating heavy producers which include a few of his own hybrids. Ecuadorian big yellows were worth keeping as were Colombian red and a few purples, and viet crosses. Another friend who personally escorted deserted king from Israel back to Queensland now considers them over rated trash but I think in the right climate they may be acceptable. Some of the FNQ locally grown types including Palmerston purple and purple princess seem to have potential.

[Rannman]

Any dragonfruit that flowers will set fruit if it’s pollinated in the correct way with pollen from a different variety. In my experience, the fruit will also be larger as a result of cross pollination, with the exception of self fertile varieties. I cross pollinate every flower I have, if I have pollen available, and fruit set is never a problem.
If people think dragonfruit are overrated trash, then they haven’t tried decent, homegrown dragonfruit. Varieties like Aztec Gem, Delight, Blush, Halley’s Comet, Frankie’s Red, White Sapp, G-2, Pink Panther, Sugar  Dragon and Physical Graffiti are all worth growing, along with plenty of other varieties. Most of these need to be cross pollinated, but the end result is definitely worth it.
Anyone putting in the time to develop new, self pollinating varieties using any of the above varieties as crosses is onto a good thing.

[Mike T]

I have Aztec gem, Oscar Orange one, had delight, pink panther, halleys comet and physical graffiti and did wonder if frankies red and Aztec gem are the same. I was pretty exciting to think a friend and I were the only ones that had them in QLD at the time and I know one nursery in SEQ had some but changed the names. I suspect you got yours from Cairns northern beaches about 7 or 8 years ago? I do recall lining up condor, physical graffiti and a few others on Daleys nursery about 10 years ago for a taste showdown.
Anyway they are all over the place now and ones like desert king don't get me too excited these days.
There are very good high yielding types that don't require hand pollination because pollinators do it for you. I have to admit I decided to replant a condor and Israeli yellow recently.

[Rannman]

Unfortunately, American Beauty, Delight, Halley’s Comet and Condor aren’t self pollinating/self fertile in my experience. Very few varieties are. Columbian Supreme, Vietnamese White, Sugar Dragon, Frankie’s Red and Megalanthus are the only varieties in my collection of 50 named varieties that don’t need to be hand pollinated.

Frankie’s Red and Aztec Gem are two completely different varieties. Both are great varieties. As far as I am aware, Aztec Gem was created by Bernice at Red Fox Dragonfruit in Nanango. I purchased my original Aztec Gem cutting from her probably 10 - 12 years ago. I would say it’s very closely related to Pink Panther or Voodoo Child. But better!

[Mike T]

I think Red Fox may have rebadged a few and dark star may be closer to Aztec gem. Yes those varieties are also light bearers but fruit taste nice but line them up with the best self -fertile highly productive types and they are not superior in flavour.Heavy producing,self-fertile and goos flavour is not easy to get together but a few have these qualities such as Palmerston purple.

[Rannman]

Dark Star and Aztec Gem. I doubt they are even closely related.

[MorroBay]

Funny how my friend hacked out his condor, american beauty, delight etc because they were not self pollinating and even swarms of pollinators couldn't do the job. He now has trimmed his collection to a dozen or so of the best self pollinating heavy producers which include a few of his own hybrids. Ecuadorian big yellows were worth keeping as were Colombian red and a few purples, and viet crosses. Another friend who personally escorted deserted king from Israel back to Queensland now considers them over rated trash but I think in the right climate they may be acceptable. Some of the FNQ locally grown types including Palmerston purple and purple princess seem to have potential.

I’m going to be bummed if my Condor, American Beauty and delight don’t self pollinate. 

[spaugh]

Unfortunately, American Beauty, Delight, Halley’s Comet and Condor aren’t self pollinating/self fertile in my experience. Very few varieties are. Columbian Supreme, Vietnamese White, Sugar Dragon, Frankie’s Red and Megalanthus are the only varieties in my collection of 50 named varieties that don’t need to be hand pollinated.

Frankie’s Red and Aztec Gem are two completely different varieties. Both are great varieties. As far as I am aware, Aztec Gem was created by Bernice at Red Fox Dragonfruit in Nanango. I purchased my original Aztec Gem cutting from her probably 10 - 12 years ago. I would say it’s very closely related to Pink Panther or Voodoo Child. But better!

American beauty is self pollinating.  I think the dark star and condors are better fruit though.

[Rannman]

I had trouble with the American Beauty setting fruit back in the beginning, so I’ve cross pollinated it ever since, mainly to unsure fruit set. I’ll give it another shot at self pollination this year on a more mature plant and see what happens.
On the topic if  self pollination, my Aztec gem needs assistance to set fruit where I live, but the Aztec Gem (grown from one of my cuttings ) at my sisters place 6 hours south, sets fruit with no help at all. Maybe it’s climatic 🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️

[Mike T]

In my climate which is warm and wet all those celebrated fancy types from 10 to 15 years ago are not self-pollinating and even the insects here don't help much. With hand pollination you get a few fruit but nothing like some other types. Maybe they do behave better in a cooler climate. I see a flower bud on my Ecuadorian big yellow today.