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Tropical Fruit => Tropical Fruit Discussion => Topic started by: FlyingFoxFruits on March 03, 2012, 08:48:44 PM

Title: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: FlyingFoxFruits on March 03, 2012, 08:48:44 PM
I know someone on this forum will have good info on this subject of interest to me and many others.

Some cactus fruits deserve to planted much more! and eaten much more!

I have a feeling we are about to open a whole can of nematodes with this topic!

can't wait to learn something, because I haven't been researching cacti...more so avoiding their thorns and glochids.

Dam thorns! >:( :'(    ;D ;D :) ;)
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: HMHausman on March 04, 2012, 07:33:28 AM
You pose a thorny question.  The answer to which (and this does not apply to dragonfruit which I very much enjoy), from my humble and I am sure very limited experience is....so far, I haven't found any that taste good enough for me to grow.  I am still looking and will be most pleased to learn of one that warrants contact with its prickly protubernaces and pain associated therewith.

Harry
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: jb_fla on March 04, 2012, 08:29:54 AM
I had a prickly pear that I really enjoyed.  It produced hundreds of fruit with a very dark magenta colored flesh.  The problem for me were the glochids which I detested.  I just chopped it down a couple days ago.

I have read that Mammillaria mammillaris produces a very nice tasting fruit. 
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: happyisland on March 04, 2012, 09:44:22 AM
Here in Aruba there's a cactus that you find everywhere (Aruba is a desert island, so it's mostly cactus down here) that produces a fruit that is identical-looking to the Mammillaria mammillaris pics I just saw on google image search. The fruit has tiny seeds that are crunchy like a kiwi's and has an interesting perfumey flavor. Almost no sweetness though, so it's more of a novelty than an actually tasty fruit.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on March 04, 2012, 12:25:13 PM
My friend who is down in Arizona for a plant vacation, talked to a head guy in a Cactus & Succulents club of Tucson (forgot the exact name of the club, will ask friend again). He said the best tasting cactus fruit he has ever tried was from Stenocereus gummosus. He was baffled that it was underutilized and not cultivated on a wide scale yet.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on March 04, 2012, 01:56:57 PM
Like to add that Prickly Pear is more of what I would call a Blender/Processing fruit. The hard seeds and spines are the major drawbacks to its enjoyment. The seeds are quickly destroyed in a high quality blender, the health benefits of the seeds can then be obtained from the resulting juice.

The spine part is a easy fix;
Ttake some tongs burn off the glochids quickly under a gas stove or bbq, then wash off the fruit and throw in blender.

Most of the potential tasty cactus fruit reside in the Cereus and Stenocereus genus. I have taken some time to start collecting these cactus. Plan is to work with grafting experiments to see if it can speed up growth and flowering/fruiting time. I try to avoid spiny cactus fruit, unless the taste, size, and benefits outweigh the negatives.

Fruiting cactus sections of the garden;

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-t0lKgDY19WY/T1O4rCUqP_I/AAAAAAAACJA/JhcRACYIf-g/s400/P1030728.JPG)

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SRuwd1fc_Lg/T1O4tMCmNXI/AAAAAAAACJI/fR1E-h88vzQ/s400/P1030729.JPG)

Preparing grafting stock Opuntia monacantha before and after;
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-tbRZNK3byBc/T1LO7OVdTOI/AAAAAAAACHM/69V1LzoYOG0/s400/P1030706.JPG)

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-dVPWANUKjVg/T1LO5lEjDTI/AAAAAAAACHE/qi-YfPg6fOY/s400/P1030705.JPG)

Stenocereus gummosus
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-RcxIO_bMQLA/T1O5CBqZvWI/AAAAAAAACJc/SOF-qYUHNGc/s400/P1030713.JPG)

Unknown Opuntia sp., so far no flowers used mainly for Nopales. I intend to graft some Opuntia selections to this cactus.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ygRT4qhuqes/T1O4vQFOI1I/AAAAAAAACJQ/quvC4kmv81I/s400/P1030731.JPG)
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: Pancrazio on March 04, 2012, 02:41:36 PM
I have had some very good fruit from Opuntia ficus-indica, my favorites are the green ones (here they are called "bianche" which means white). They are both very sweet and crunchy. Hard to beat when chilled, in my humble opinion, during an hot day in august. I know that the numerous seeds are disliked by many peoples, but the taste alone, is, in my opinion, very good.
I haven't tasted many cactus fruit, aside from these, but the cactus family has usually very small seeds, so, excluded the pricky pears, they shouldn't be a problem.
Cactus anyway have some great advantages. At least in the south of italy they are effortless to grow (literally effortless). They don't need water. You can plant them in any arid soil and forget about them all year long, except for picking the fruits. And are easy to reproduce - very easy. They ship well.
Well, yes, i'm with you adam, i think they deserve to be grown more, at least in places with water shortage.   
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: FlyingFoxFruits on March 04, 2012, 05:58:28 PM
I want to increase the diversity of my diet, while also being the grower of the food I eat.  I think each family of fruits has its benefit, and you will be healthier if you just eat a little fruit from each family, year round, even if you eat BK and Mickey Ds a lot.

Cactus fruits have been devoid in my garden, and I'm ready to find the new rage! other than dragon fruit, which is so saturated of a market place, with limited range to be commercially and casually grown.

I will find one that is special I'm sure! it just may take 2-5-10 yrs or more! I've got nothing better to do than discover new stuff to eat and grow. ;)

I have had some very good fruit from Opuntia ficus-indica, my favorites are the green ones (here they are called "bianche" which means white). They are both very sweet and crunchy. Hard to beat when chilled, in my humble opinion, during an hot day in august. I know that the numerous seeds are disliked by many peoples, but the taste alone, is, in my opinion, very good.
I haven't tasted many cactus fruit, aside from these, but the cactus family has usually very small seeds, so, excluded the pricky pears, they shouldn't be a problem.
Cactus anyway have some great advantages. At least in the south of italy they are effortless to grow (literally effortless). They don't need water. You can plant them in any arid soil and forget about them all year long, except for picking the fruits. And are easy to reproduce - very easy. They ship well.
Well, yes, i'm with you adam, i think they deserve to be grown more, at least in places with water shortage.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: Jackfruitwhisperer69 on March 04, 2012, 06:19:31 PM
Hi,
I got a really bad memory with the Prickly Pear's! When I was about 4-5 years old, I fell backward's onto a Prickly pear! My Back was loaded with spines! So,My mom passed the whole afternoon pulling them out with a tweezer :(, But ever seen that day I was hooked in collecting all types of cacti and succulent's!

Here's my Cacti Garden in South Africa!
https://picasaweb.google.com/107913943714882792944/MyCactusGarden#

Here in Madeira Island the Prickly pear is very invasive! It's all over the Island! Every year I harvest bucket's full of this tasty fruits!

Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: fruitlovers on March 05, 2012, 02:01:25 AM
The purple dragon fruit Hylocereus guatemalensis is quite good, not bland at all. The yellow pitaya Selenicereus megalanthus, (now merged renamed Hylocereus megalanthus) is also very good, very sweet, not bland either. There are also some cultivars of regular ole dragon fruit, Hylocereus undatus that are also quite good. The problem with dragon fruit is that the first commercial growers didn't do their homework, they grew and released all the bland cultivars first...good way to turn off most consumers to a really quite good fruit. I'm not too keen on growing them yet just because of the extra hassle of having to come up with a support system or trellis for them. Also slugs here seem very fond of the plants. I do buy them occasionally in the stores here.
Oscar
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: BMc on March 05, 2012, 03:29:18 AM
There are some good koubo varieties around. Cereus peruvianus. These are spikier than the prickly pear though.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on March 05, 2012, 12:18:53 PM
There are some good koubo varieties around. Cereus peruvianus. These are spikier than the prickly pear though.

The cereus fruit usually has no spikes and is smooth, the cactus segments can be on the spiky side though.

I would love to get a hold of some of those superior Israeli varieties of Cereus. Right now I am growing the following Cereus;

Cereus comarapanus (This just what the cutting source told me but he was not 100%, this is a purple fleshed Bolivian native)
Cereus fernambucensis
Cereus peruvianus (From Roger Meyer)
Cereus peruvianus (From CRFG member)
Cereus peruvianus monstrose

These have unknown potential, I am hoping the fruit quality is good.

Cereus peruvianus monstrose x Cereus aethiops #1 (seedling cutting)
Cereus peruvianus monstrose x Cereus aethiops #2 (seedling cutting)
Cereus peruvianus monstrose x Cereus aethiops #3 (seedling cutting)
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: Ethan on March 05, 2012, 12:42:41 PM
Cylindropuntia arbuscula, a tiny but tasty fruit.

-Ethan
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on March 05, 2012, 12:45:58 PM
Cylindropuntia arbuscula, a tiny but tasty fruit.

-Ethan

Ethan,

I have it growing nicely, you can see it in on of the photos. If you want any Opuntia accessions from the GRIN system, I got 8 selections growing (selected for BRIX and Fruit quality).
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: BMc on March 05, 2012, 05:50:24 PM
There are some good koubo varieties around. Cereus peruvianus. These are spikier than the prickly pear though.

The cereus fruit usually has no spikes and is smooth, the cactus segments can be on the spiky side though.

I would love to get a hold of some of those superior Israeli varieties of Cereus. Right now I am growing the following Cereus;

Cereus comarapanus (This just what the cutting source told me but he was not 100%, this is a purple fleshed Bolivian native)
Cereus fernambucensis
Cereus peruvianus (From Roger Meyer)
Cereus peruvianus (From CRFG member)
Cereus peruvianus monstrose

These have unknown potential, I am hoping the fruit quality is good.

Cereus peruvianus monstrose x Cereus aethiops #1 (seedling cutting)
Cereus peruvianus monstrose x Cereus aethiops #2 (seedling cutting)
Cereus peruvianus monstrose x Cereus aethiops #3 (seedling cutting)

I had two imported cultivars, 'wonder white' and 'max golden'. One rotted in the wet season. The other I dug up and chopped up and distributed to folks around town in cooler and drier microclimates. I left the original rooted piece under the eaves of the house for 5 months and it is now flowering and shooting without any dirt.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: Felipe on March 05, 2012, 06:45:00 PM
So far I haven't tasted fruit of columnar cactus, only many dragonfruit and opuntia species. Sorry about you FL guys, but it seems fruiting opuntias are not suited for humid climate. I can tell you, there is no comparison between good opuntia fruit and the best dragon fruit. Spines and hard seeds? Real men don't care about that  8)

Seriously, good opuntia fruit is in my top ten list of all fruit, close to mangosteen and others...

Nullzy, I think we should become friends and interchange plant material and stuff  ;D
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on March 05, 2012, 09:15:16 PM
So far I haven't tasted fruit of columnar cactus, only many dragonfruit and opuntia species. Sorry about you FL guys, but it seems fruiting opuntias are not suited for humid climate. I can tell you, there is no comparison between good opuntia fruit and the best dragon fruit. Spines and hard seeds? Real men don't care about that  8)

Seriously, good opuntia fruit is in my top ten list of all fruit, close to mangosteen and others...

Nullzy, I think we should become friends and interchange plant material and stuff  ;D

Opuntia is native to Florida, using a different humid/water tolerant rootstock may fix many issues with excessive moisture. I agree about the spines and hard seeds, they don't bother me. However it shines as a processed fruit; jams, pies, smoothies, juices, sorbets, :).

Felipe,

I wouldn't mind sharing material, just don't know about your customs etc. Perhaps I can share some seeds with you some time.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: Felipe on March 06, 2012, 05:38:49 PM
Thanks Null. I think shipping some cactus cuttings shouldn't be any problem. I think the other way is different, right?
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on March 06, 2012, 06:06:05 PM
Thanks Null. I think shipping some cactus cuttings shouldn't be any problem. I think the other way is different, right?

Yeah its tougher the other way around, I don't mind sending you some interesting cactus stuff though. Would just need the cost of shipping covered. The PARL Opuntia selections I have from the NALPGRU;

1     PARL 237 http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/acc/display.pl?1652656 (http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/acc/display.pl?1652656) ?
2     PARL 244 http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/acc/display.pl?1652662 (http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/acc/display.pl?1652662)  BRIX 13.00, S. DEV. 0.52
3     PARL 246 http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/acc/display.pl?1652664 (http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/acc/display.pl?1652664)  BRIX 10.43, S. DEV. 2.82
4     PARL 253 http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/acc/display.pl?1652671 (http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/acc/display.pl?1652671)  BRIX 15.03, S. DEV. 0.85
5     PARL 254 http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/acc/display.pl?1652672 (http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/acc/display.pl?1652672)  BRIX 14.60, S. DEV. 1.15
6     PARL 256 http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/acc/display.pl?1652674 (http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/acc/display.pl?1652674)  BRIX 14.73, S. DEV. 1.37
7     PARL 262 http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/acc/display.pl?1652678 (http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/acc/display.pl?1652678)  BRIX 11.30, S. DEV. 0.82
8     PARL 342 http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/acc/display.pl?1652725 (http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/acc/display.pl?1652725) ?

Give me some time (perhaps 3-6 months), I am going to start grafting these once I get new pads out to Opuntia monacantha rootstocks (This is one of the fastest growing and prolific fruiting, Opuntias I have seen in SoCal). Also going to try grafting a section of Stenocereus gummosus to Opuntia monacantha.

Felipe, I will add you to the friends and feel free to ask me questions or what I have via msgs.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: Felipe on March 06, 2012, 06:50:24 PM
Null, of course I would reimburse you any cost! For this plant material I would wait 6 month or 6 years, anytime it's ok for you ;) Thanks a lot for offering :)

Your selection from the whole germplasm collection at this stations looks very interesting. What references do you have about those opuntias? The sure look beautiful! I wonder about the eating quality..
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on March 06, 2012, 07:28:13 PM
Null, of course I would reimburse you any cost! For this plant material I would wait 6 month or 6 years, anytime it's ok for you ;) Thanks a lot for offering :)

Your selection from the whole germplasm collection at this stations looks very interesting. What references do you have about those opuntias? The sure look beautiful! I wonder about the eating quality..

When you click the links; they will give a brief description of the Opuntia sp. Some are used commercially in Central and South America. One of the curators guided me over to some of these choices.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on March 08, 2012, 12:48:10 PM
For those who think cactus grow slow....

Drooping Prickly Pear (Opuntia monocantha)

9/18/10 Opuntia monocantha
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yXUk4tHhO28/TJWpLkP5jII/AAAAAAAAAcI/PDdoWjma2N8/s800/P1010631.JPG)

9/19/11 Opuntia monocantha
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DpDdn6JTT7I/TngfHo9ki0I/AAAAAAAABhE/twlwgQGm5pA/s800/P1020967.JPG)

This cactus is amazing, this is one of the main rootstocks I intend to use. Size increased around 4 times in a year time frame. It also produces abundant prickly pears, but the spines and glochids are on the higher side. When I eventually start the Opuntia breeding, this rootstock will be used to speed up the fruit development of seedlings.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: FlyingFoxFruits on March 08, 2012, 01:50:44 PM

Opuntia is native to Florida, using a different humid/water tolerant rootstock may fix many issues with excessive moisture. I agree about the spines and hard seeds, they don't bother me. However it shines as a processed fruit; jams, pies, smoothies, juices, sorbets, :).

Felipe,

I wouldn't mind sharing material, just don't know about your customs etc. Perhaps I can share some seeds with you some time.

Ever need pads Null?  I see these darn cacti everywhere...if they aren't protected species, and its legal eagle...I can mail u some.

 :)

Also some other crazy cacti around town, but I don't know what's what.

There is one that looks like a dragon fruit, but stems are like 4 times as thick..and it grows the same way...wonder what fruits taste like, and if I'll get sick eating one?

Only one way to tell.... :o
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on March 08, 2012, 05:43:20 PM
Adam,

Almost all cactus fruit is edible from what I have read, I have never heard of any that are poisonous. I actually have a good plant trading friend who lives nearby you. He has given me so much Opuntia, I am near my limit now. I have Opuntia humifusa, and many others. Thank you for the offer though.

Did I give the selected Opuntia monocantha? I can supply you with some cuttings, I intend to mail my friend some as well out near you. The end goal of the Opuntia monocantha is for a superior rootstock, which will increase fruit and pad yields in a container.

Stenocerues gummosus is said to be the best tasting of all cactus fruits, the downside is the extremely slow growing nature of it! I hope this can be fixed by grafting, so I can reliably produce tasty rare cactus fruit in a few years.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: Felipe on March 08, 2012, 06:48:35 PM
Null, have you heard of this cactus before?

Eulychnia acida - Cactaceae - Copao - Fruta de um cactus, com sabor ácido, da região semi-desértica do Chile - Vicuña - IV Region - Coquimbo - Chile - 23.01.2009 - Foto de Anestor Mezzomo

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-S9V98K89YDg/SYg9NleeZkI/AAAAAAABtU0/ono4STOx2AI/s512/DSC03483.JPG)

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-wPrGiZFHeQU/SYg9MmrOAGI/AAAAAAABtUo/E03GqtW_X1w/s640/DSC03482.JPG)

https://picasaweb.google.com/101936771881917391876/Frutas24Chile#5298552265208915522
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on March 08, 2012, 07:28:52 PM
Null, have you heard of this cactus before?

Eulychnia acida - Cactaceae - Copao - Fruta de um cactus, com sabor ácido, da região semi-desértica do Chile - Vicuña - IV Region - Coquimbo - Chile - 23.01.2009 - Foto de Anestor Mezzomo

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-S9V98K89YDg/SYg9NleeZkI/AAAAAAABtU0/ono4STOx2AI/s512/DSC03483.JPG)

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-wPrGiZFHeQU/SYg9MmrOAGI/AAAAAAABtUo/E03GqtW_X1w/s640/DSC03482.JPG)

https://picasaweb.google.com/101936771881917391876/Frutas24Chile#5298552265208915522

First time hearing of this, Felipe thanks for the mention of it! I will now have to add it to my seed list lol.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on August 19, 2013, 03:37:04 PM
Just ate some excellent tasting Cactus Apples (Cereus sp.). They were the size of a medium apple had an excellent dragon fruit flavor. I believe in a blind taste test it would rank up their with a top tier dragon fruit. It had a nice classic sweet dragon fruit flavor, with mild amount of acid.

I could easily eat 10 or these in one sitting. Actually devoured the 3 fruits and wish I had more. Yield was excellent considering it was seldom watered, not given much fertilizer, and fruited in a 3 gal container!

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-z8INZn2I3QY/UhJuR2qlaUI/AAAAAAAAGM4/X56mK0XZ7o4/s640/DSCN2102.jpg)

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-8b3zbj0vpRs/UhJuUYAA1iI/AAAAAAAAGNA/sqCWiOkJCRQ/s640/DSCN2104.jpg)

The waxy skin separated from the flesh very easily. It actually slide right off with a little push. The skin was edible and tasted like a slightly sour cucumber with a little jalapeno flavor (with no heat or spice, perhaps it has culinary usage as a garnish or blended into a sauce).
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: plantlover13 on August 19, 2013, 04:12:55 PM
Just ate some excellent tasting Cactus Apples (Cereus sp.). They were the size of a medium apple had an excellent dragon fruit flavor. I believe in a blind taste test it would rank up their with a top tier dragon fruit. It had a nice classic sweet dragon fruit flavor, with mild amount of acid.

I could easily eat 10 or these in one sitting. Actually devoured the 3 fruits and wish I had more. Yield was excellent considering it was seldom watered, not given much fertilizer, and fruited in a 3 gal container!

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-z8INZn2I3QY/UhJuR2qlaUI/AAAAAAAAGM4/X56mK0XZ7o4/s640/DSCN2102.jpg)

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-8b3zbj0vpRs/UhJuUYAA1iI/AAAAAAAAGNA/sqCWiOkJCRQ/s640/DSCN2104.jpg)

The waxy skin separated from the flesh very easily. It actually slide right off with a little push. The skin was edible and tasted like a slightly sour cucumber with a little jalapeno flavor (with no heat or spice, perhaps it has culinary usage as a garnish or blended into a sauce).

Any clue what species of cerus?
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on August 19, 2013, 04:28:07 PM
Source of this original plant was from Roger Meyer cutting. No idea on the exact sp. just was stated that it was Peruvian cactus apple from Roger Meyer. If I had to guess, I would say its Cereus repandus.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: plantlover13 on August 19, 2013, 04:31:25 PM
Source of this original plant was from Roger Meyer cutting. No idea on the exact sp. just was stated that it was Peruvian cactus apple from Roger Meyer. If I had to guess, I would say its Cereus repandus.

Ok, thanks.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: Jack, Nipomo on August 19, 2013, 04:43:09 PM
How about Stenocereus thurberi?  Not as pretty as Stenocereus gummosus, but more highly flavored.  S. gummosus is called pitaya agria (sour), whereas S. thurberi is called pitaya dulce (sweet) in Mexico.  In the fall of the year all over Baja Sur, these fruits (mainly dulce) are sold by the roadside.  Both fruits are the same size, agria is not sour, but dulce is sweeter.  S. gummosus is a rambling thorny cactus, S. thurberi is an erect columnar cactus, smaller thorns, easier to get fruit.  One day I'll post about the "second harvest" of the pitaya in early Baja California.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on August 19, 2013, 04:53:33 PM
How about Stenocereus thurberi?  Not as pretty as Stenocereus gummosus, but more highly flavored.  S. gummosus is called pitaya agria (sour), whereas S. thurberi is called pitaya dulce (sweet) in Mexico.  In the fall of the year all over Baja Sur, these fruits (mainly dulce) are sold by the roadside.  Both fruits are the same size, agria is not sour, but dulce is sweeter.  S. gummosus is a rambling thorny cactus, S. thurberi is an erect columnar cactus, smaller thorns, easier to get fruit.  One day I'll post about the "second harvest" of the pitaya in early Baja California.

Jack,

I am growing Stenocereus gummosus, Stenocereus stellatus, Stenocereus griseus, and Polaskia chichipe also. No fruit so far from the others yet, they seem to be slower growers then Cereus sp.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: plantlover13 on August 19, 2013, 05:17:14 PM
HOw long would a cerus or an opuntia take to fruit from seed?
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on August 19, 2013, 05:21:52 PM
HOw long would a cerus or an opuntia take to fruit from seed?

I would say 3-5 years, the majority of the time is spent building up size of the main segments. Once it reaches a certain mass, most seem to began flowering. The great thing about cuttings, is it already has some nice mass to it and can fruit soon after rooting (if the mother plant was already fruiting before).

So unless you are growing some crosses or breeding a new selection, I would stay away from seedlings in most cases.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: luc on August 19, 2013, 06:17:53 PM

(http://s7.postimg.cc/xu04m58yf/Dscn0043.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/xu04m58yf/)

(http://s17.postimg.cc/4dyr21yqz/DSCN2040.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/4dyr21yqz/)

(http://s8.postimg.cc/okeahvyoh/Pitahaya_Sonora.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/okeahvyoh/)
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: FlyingFoxFruits on August 19, 2013, 06:38:48 PM
wow Luc!
those look excellent.

I wonder how they'd perform in FL.

thanks for sharing!

Nullzy,

thanks for sharing!

I didn't know the skin on those was edible!

Those fruits grow all over central FL...I've tasted one that was delicious, and I've had others the were bland.  I'm ready to try more this year!
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on August 19, 2013, 06:45:48 PM
Luc,

Did they taste as good as they looked? I would be interested in some seeds of the Stenocereus sp. whenever you are able to get some. Those colors look amazing, I hear the taste really good as well.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: plantlover13 on August 19, 2013, 06:51:33 PM

(http://s7.postimg.cc/xu04m58yf/Dscn0043.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/xu04m58yf/)

(http://s17.postimg.cc/4dyr21yqz/DSCN2040.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/4dyr21yqz/)

(http://s8.postimg.cc/okeahvyoh/Pitahaya_Sonora.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/okeahvyoh/)

So these are the "stenocerus? species?
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: LEOOEL on August 19, 2013, 08:47:48 PM
Wow, the tree, the fruit color and the photos are amazing. I've never seen anything like it.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: plantlover13 on August 19, 2013, 08:51:09 PM
Wow, the tree, the fruit color and the photos are amazing. I've never seen anything like it.
Totally agree. THis is something i will be on the lookout for.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on August 19, 2013, 08:54:50 PM
I am pretty sure those are Stenocereus queretaroensis or Stenocereus stellatus fruits (referring to Luc's second and third picture).
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: JoeP450 on August 19, 2013, 09:22:28 PM
I am growing cereus peruvianus and I also like the taste of it, the flesh is more like shaved ice compared to thick flesh of dragon fruit with about the same sweetness IMO. I also have a cereus peruvianus monstrose variety but it is a slow grower and only a bout a foot tall. The flowers on cereus peruvianus are one of the prettiest I have ever seen and are very short lived. Both my cacti were grown from gorilla gardened cuttings from ones growing in random vacant lots, so easy to propagate just gotta keep your eyes pealed and you might find them randomly growing and can grab a cutting.

-JoeP450
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on August 19, 2013, 09:40:07 PM
I am growing cereus peruvianus and I also like the taste of it, the flesh is more like shaved ice compared to thick flesh of dragon fruit with about the same sweetness IMO. I also have a cereus peruvianus monstrose variety but it is a slow grower and only a bout a foot tall. The flowers on cereus peruvianus are one of the prettiest I have ever seen and are very short lived. Both my cacti were grown from gorilla gardened cuttings from ones growing in random vacant lots, so easy to propagate just gotta keep your eyes pealed and you might find them randomly growing and can grab a cutting.

-JoeP450

I got monstrose as well, slow grower for me. I also have a purple fleshed Cereus validus as well. Always up for future trades of cuttings, atm though not enough segments to trade.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: ScottR on August 20, 2013, 11:39:36 PM
Null and Jack, thank's for I.D on the Stenocereus thurberi, I have some seedlings of this plant , fruit from Edgar V. used different columnar cactus flowers  for hybridizing his dragon fruit and came up with some nice cultivars. Also Adam, a nice variety with blue berry like fruit is Cipocereus bradei doesn't like frost!Stenocereus family has many fruiting plants; S. griseus,S. gummosus, S. pruinosus,S.queretaroensis,S. stellatus, S. thurberi, S. treleasei. Opuntia many many with nice fruits, have one only know as Hawaii-fruit yellow when ripe tropical -melon taste, one with papaya tasting fruit , one with honey dew tasting fruit, one with big round red fruit w/ big round pads common name dinner plant. Have also two cereus peruvianus monstrose from Roger M. one with red fruit , and one with purple or yellow fruit? Don't remember but got cuttings from Roger @ C.R.F.G. conference many yrs. ago, never has fruited either one this yr. flowering tried pollinating time will tell.Also myrtillocactus geometrizans has blue berry shape fruit, had it but lost it in ground.     
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: luc on August 21, 2013, 11:18:33 AM

(http://s7.postimg.cc/xu04m58yf/Dscn0043.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/xu04m58yf/)

(http://s17.postimg.cc/4dyr21yqz/DSCN2040.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/4dyr21yqz/)

(http://s8.postimg.cc/okeahvyoh/Pitahaya_Sonora.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/okeahvyoh/)

The first pic is a very strange one , I found it years ago close to the orchard because it had beautiful yellow cactus like flowers , I kept going back till there was fruit and fortunately collected some baby plants . The original plant is gone , bulldozed when making a road . The fruit was good size like a pear and sweet . It is not a stenocereus , more a tree .

The second pic grows in this state ( Jalisco ) and is very appreciated by the people , is sold on streetcorners when in season . Grows higher up , not in my area .

The 3rd was collected in the state of Sonora .

Alll worth growing .
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on August 21, 2013, 11:28:08 AM
Luc,

That tree cacti looks very interesting. I wonder what it is... possibly some Opuntia sp.? Nice on collecting the plants, seems like a rarer wild plant with good fruit.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: ricshaw on January 29, 2014, 10:26:01 PM
Just ate some excellent tasting Cactus Apples (Cereus sp.). They were the size of a medium apple had an excellent dragon fruit flavor. I believe in a blind taste test it would rank up their with a top tier dragon fruit. It had a nice classic sweet dragon fruit flavor, with mild amount of acid.
I could easily eat 10 or these in one sitting. Actually devoured the 3 fruits and wish I had more. Yield was excellent considering it was seldom watered, not given much fertilizer, and fruited in a 3 gal container!
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-z8INZn2I3QY/UhJuR2qlaUI/AAAAAAAAGM4/X56mK0XZ7o4/s640/DSCN2102.jpg)

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-8b3zbj0vpRs/UhJuUYAA1iI/AAAAAAAAGNA/sqCWiOkJCRQ/s640/DSCN2104.jpg)
The waxy skin separated from the flesh very easily. It actually slide right off with a little push. The skin was edible and tasted like a slightly sour cucumber with a little jalapeno flavor (with no heat or spice, perhaps it has culinary usage as a garnish or blended into a sauce).

That was the experience I had when I tasted what I think was Peruvian Apple Cactus at a CRFG meeting.
It tasted like Dragon Fruit with the crunch of an apple.  At the same meeting we also tasted about a half a dozen Dragon Fruit varieties.
The Apple Cactus fruit came from a columnar cactus named "Pitayo Dulce".

(http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x457/Richard_Renshaw/Pitaya/edgar_1833.jpg)

(http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x457/Richard_Renshaw/Pitaya/edgar_1834.jpg)

I saved some of the seeds and saved a couple of the cactus seedlings.

(http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x457/Richard_Renshaw/Pitaya/pitaya_dulce_x_3710_zpsbfec6e6e.jpg)

I eventually found and bought a Peruvian Apple Cactus at the Cactus Mart nursery in Piru, California.

(http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x457/Richard_Renshaw/Pitaya/cactus_3186_zps29655393.jpg)

I have not got any fruit yet...  so I have no idea if it is any good.



Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: ricshaw on January 29, 2014, 10:39:29 PM
If you are a plant collector, there are few things more exciting than getting one of these in the mail:

(http://www.thepondforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=11558&d=1382212779)

The box came from a cactus collector in Florida.

(http://www.thepondforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=11559&d=1382212921)

The collector had found out that I was looking for Cereus peruvianus.
The collector mentioned that he was in the process of pruning his cactus and if interested he would send me some cuttings of different Cereus peruvianus unrelated varieties and cactus hybrids if I reimbursed him for the postage.
Of course I agreed.

After exchanging some more emails and giving him my mailing address, I found out that this guy collects cactus that people eat.
He offered to include several different opuntia varieties grown for their pads or fruit.
I am not a big cactus fan... I don't like the thorns!
But, I did not object, especially when I found out some were spineless varieties like Opuntia gomei 'Old Mexico' and Opuntia cacanapa 'Ellisiana'.
I am thinking I can feed the pads to our tortoises or maybe try a Nopalitos Con Huevos recipe; http://www.food.com/recipe/nopalitos-con-huevos-eggs-and-cactus-137388 (http://www.food.com/recipe/nopalitos-con-huevos-eggs-and-cactus-137388).

(http://www.thepondforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=11560&d=1382214614)

None of the cactus is rare.   Most can be bought on eBay.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: ricshaw on January 29, 2014, 10:43:50 PM
I ended up planting all the cuttings in pots. I would let the cuttings tell me which ones to keep.
My idea is to keep 4 - 6 cacti in pots and give the rest away. The potted cuttings are outside.
The variegated N. cochenillifera looked interesting and I was concerned that the pad would not make it.
There was another small N. cochenillifera pad that I did not expect to make it.

The first cuttings to show any growth ended up being the three Nopalea cochenillifera.

(http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x457/Richard_Renshaw/Pitaya/cochenillifera_4082_zps3d30d78c.jpg)

(http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x457/Richard_Renshaw/Pitaya/cochenillifera_4081_zpse43b7b0e.jpg)

(http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x457/Richard_Renshaw/Pitaya/cochenillifera_4080_zps6eff8094.jpg)
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on January 29, 2014, 10:50:55 PM
Did you get the (f1) Cereus peruvianus monstrose x Cereus aethiops cuttings? If so I have 2 of them from the FL collector (which I believe is the same you are talking about). I also have Yellow skin Cereus sp. seeds coming and a Purple flesh Cereus sp. I would be interested in trading for those Pitayo Dulce seedling cuttings. I think a lot of people are starting to collect the Cereus sp. and other high quality fruiting cactus (seems to be trending from what I am seeing).
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: ricshaw on January 29, 2014, 11:06:00 PM
Did you get the (f1) Cereus peruvianus monstrose x Cereus aethiops cuttings? If so I have 2 of them from the FL collector (which I believe is the same you are talking about). I also have Yellow skin Cereus sp. seeds coming and a Purple flesh Cereus sp. I would be interested in trading for those Pitayo Dulce seedling cuttings. I think a lot of people are starting to collect the Cereus sp. and other high quality fruiting cactus (seems to be trending from what I am seeing).

Yes, I got 4 C. peruvianus x C. aethiops cuttings (different strains).

There are a couple of Florida collectors with almost the same collections.

I will try and find the rest of the Pitayo Dulce seeds. If I find them, you can have them.

Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: starling on January 30, 2014, 12:05:38 AM

I have a Burbank's Opuntia which is supposedly the creme de la creme of fruit bearing cactus. I know it is legit after some research. It is the only variety he specifically bred for fruit quality, but the downside is, it has spines, whereas those he developed for cattle fodder do not. It does not have glochids--yet, but I have been informed that future paddles may revert, and will have them.
(http://s13.postimg.cc/lgu851xsj/burbank_s_3.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/lgu851xsj/)
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on January 30, 2014, 01:08:01 AM

I have a Burbank's Opuntia which is supposedly the creme de la creme of fruit bearing cactus. I know it is legit after some research. It is the only variety he specifically bred for fruit quality, but the downside is, it has spines, whereas those he developed for cattle fodder do not. It does not have glochids--yet, but I have been informed that future paddles may revert, and will have them.
(http://s13.postimg.cc/lgu851xsj/burbank_s_3.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/lgu851xsj/)

Would love to see the fruits when they are harvested. I have quite a few good selections of Opuntia sp. now. Including one that supposedly taste like banana flavor.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: starling on January 30, 2014, 01:14:11 AM
Not sure if you do overseas postage Null but I would love more Opuntia. Cuurently I have compressa ( Nopales) and the burbanks, and that's pretty much it. I have heard of a variety called crystal which is supposed to be very good, green skinned, white fleshed fruit.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on February 08, 2014, 02:02:46 PM
Here are some recent additions;

Haageocereus pseudoversicolor  (supposedly large sweet fruit columnar cactus)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_ywogknHGiM/UvZ1SEQ7OOI/AAAAAAAAGkA/oEiLG33krbU/s400/P1070414.JPG)

Echinocereus fendleri × dasyacanthus (Hybrid I bought from Ebay, E. fendleri fruits and stems were eaten by native americans, E. dasyacanthus Greenish-purple fruit, of fine flavor) I am hoping the hybrid produces tasty sizable fruits.
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LSbQlp6_q74/UvZ1OU2MamI/AAAAAAAAGjw/g8YmsZpEiMM/s400/P1070412.JPG)

Corryocactus melanotrichus (medium sized kiwi tasting fruits)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-IX5gn7R1sLM/UvZ1Qehp5dI/AAAAAAAAGj4/Ev6kK3FKWUU/s400/P1070413.JPG)

Corryocactus brevistylus (Columnar cacti, Very large fruit lemon acidic flavor)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-lKntg1lQmgg/UvZ1bFgvH2I/AAAAAAAAGkI/mRVQPwWU_h4/s400/P1070416.JPG)

Trichocereus validus (Columnar cacti, Very large sweet fruit 4" diameter)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-luqbIuxMUQQ/UvZ1MHyo6hI/AAAAAAAAGjo/xtwxn9fB7Ts/s400/P1070411.JPG)
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: Ethan on February 08, 2014, 02:43:15 PM
Nice additions N/Z, hopefully it wont be too long before you get fruit.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on February 08, 2014, 02:48:47 PM
Nice additions N/Z, hopefully it wont be too long before you get fruit.

Ethan,

Thanks, I am going to try to push them along with organic fertilizer. Hoping 5 years to fruit on some of them? Once I get them to flowering/fruiting age the cuttings will fruit in 2 years or so in most cases.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: gunnar429 on February 08, 2014, 07:13:09 PM
consider my mind blown!  Now i realize i have to do more acquiring


(http://s7.postimg.cc/xu04m58yf/Dscn0043.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/xu04m58yf/)

(http://s17.postimg.cc/4dyr21yqz/DSCN2040.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/4dyr21yqz/)

(http://s8.postimg.cc/okeahvyoh/Pitahaya_Sonora.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/okeahvyoh/)
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: ScottR on February 09, 2014, 12:18:31 AM
Nice new acquisitions Steven, the collection grows! ;) 8) 8)
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: gunnar429 on February 26, 2014, 12:04:53 PM
anyone growing cereus (for the fruit) in FL?  I see a lot as ornamentals so i gather they grow well here.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on February 26, 2014, 12:12:25 PM
anyone growing cereus (for the fruit) in FL?  I see a lot as ornamentals so i gather they grow well here.

It grows extremely well in Florida. I have seen the this following plant loaded with flowers +50 flowers on it. I assumed the fruit set and was gobbled up by wildlife.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=136+Southeast+Manly+Avenue,+Port+St.+Lucie,+Florida&hl=en&ll=27.303861,-80.347811&spn=0.000628,0.000754&sll=27.303861,-80.347811&sspn=0.000633,0.000754&t=h&hnear=136+SE+Manly+Ave,+Port+St+Lucie,+Florida+34983&z=20&layer=c&cbll=27.303861,-80.347811&panoid=xH3C7PNzQ_Ku_iDpxxmWyg&cbp=12,329.02,,1,3.76
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: gunnar429 on February 26, 2014, 02:55:44 PM
great to hear, Null.  i look forward to obtaining tasty specimens
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on February 26, 2014, 03:44:21 PM
great to hear, Null.  i look forward to obtaining tasty specimens

Gunnar,

No problem, I  have not forgotten about the walking onions. I should be able to get them out on Monday.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: Recher on February 27, 2014, 05:42:06 PM
By far, the best cactus fruit was from a Mammillaria sp.-- tasted exactly like intense strawberry.... beter than field ripe field picked strawberries

Opuntia ficus-indica.. at least one I have.. i prefer to any Hylocereus. I fruit C. jamacuru grown from seed and its on a par with Hylocereus.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: ricshaw on August 24, 2014, 06:30:14 PM
Null and Jack, thank's for I.D on the Stenocereus thurberi, I have some seedlings of this plant , fruit from Edgar V. used different columnar cactus flowers  for hybridizing his dragon fruit and came up with some nice cultivars. Also Adam, a nice variety with blue berry like fruit is Cipocereus bradei doesn't like frost!Stenocereus family has many fruiting plants; S. griseus,S. gummosus, S. pruinosus,S.queretaroensis,S. stellatus, S. thurberi, S. treleasei. Opuntia many many with nice fruits, have one only know as Hawaii-fruit yellow when ripe tropical -melon taste, one with papaya tasting fruit , one with honey dew tasting fruit, one with big round red fruit w/ big round pads common name dinner plant. Have also two cereus peruvianus monstrose from Roger M. one with red fruit , and one with purple or yellow fruit? Don't remember but got cuttings from Roger @ C.R.F.G. conference many yrs. ago, never has fruited either one this yr. flowering tried pollinating time will tell.
Also myrtillocactus geometrizans has blue berry shape fruit, had it but lost it in ground.     

Today at Edgar Valdivia's Dragon Fruit tasting and garden tour, he had me taste the little dried fruit hanging on a columnar cactus he calls "cactus raisin".

The dried fruit taste just like a "raisin"!

(http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x457/Richard_Renshaw/Pitaya/raisin_4625_zps10c867bc.jpg)

I lucked out...  he gave me a cutting.  My guess it is Myrtillocactus.  Edgar said he got it from a collector in Santa Barbara.

Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: starling1 on August 24, 2014, 07:57:33 PM
Null and Jack, thank's for I.D on the Stenocereus thurberi, I have some seedlings of this plant , fruit from Edgar V. used different columnar cactus flowers  for hybridizing his dragon fruit and came up with some nice cultivars. Also Adam, a nice variety with blue berry like fruit is Cipocereus bradei doesn't like frost!Stenocereus family has many fruiting plants; S. griseus,S. gummosus, S. pruinosus,S.queretaroensis,S. stellatus, S. thurberi, S. treleasei. Opuntia many many with nice fruits, have one only know as Hawaii-fruit yellow when ripe tropical -melon taste, one with papaya tasting fruit , one with honey dew tasting fruit, one with big round red fruit w/ big round pads common name dinner plant. Have also two cereus peruvianus monstrose from Roger M. one with red fruit , and one with purple or yellow fruit? Don't remember but got cuttings from Roger @ C.R.F.G. conference many yrs. ago, never has fruited either one this yr. flowering tried pollinating time will tell.
Also myrtillocactus geometrizans has blue berry shape fruit, had it but lost it in ground.     

Today at Edgar Valdivia's Dragon Fruit tasting and garden tour, he had me taste the little dried fruit hanging on a columnar cactus he calls "cactus raisin".

The dried fruit taste just like a "raisin"!

(http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x457/Richard_Renshaw/Pitaya/raisin_4625_zps10c867bc.jpg)

I lucked out...  he gave me a cutting.  My guess it is Myrtillocactus.  Edgar said he got it from a collector in Santa Barbara.

That would be a Bilberry cactus, or blueberry cactus (myrtillocactus geometrizans). The fruit is quite good fresh, quite similar to blueberry.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myrtillocactus_geometrizans (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myrtillocactus_geometrizans)
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on August 24, 2014, 08:48:09 PM
Myrtillocactus geometrizans is a nice sweet fruit, the only issue is the size of the fruit and the yield for the mass of plant. I have a selection from Baja that fruits multiple times a year. Its not a plant I would recommend for fruit quality and yield. Cereus sp. is a much better columnar cactus fruit plant in my opinion.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: ScottR on August 24, 2014, 11:37:28 PM
Nice score Ricshaw, I have that plant but hasn't set fruit yet! Good luck growing, I also have many seedlings of Edgar's " Pitayo Dulce" a few have flowered but haven't set fruit yet! Might have to try and hand pollenate.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: ricshaw on August 24, 2014, 11:48:11 PM
Nice score Ricshaw, I have that plant but hasn't set fruit yet! Good luck growing, I also have many seedlings of Edgar's " Pitayo Dulce" a few have flowered but haven't set fruit yet! Might have to try and hand pollenate.

I have 3 seedlings from Pitayo Dulce...  by the time they get big enough to flower...  I may be dead!   :-\
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: ScottR on August 25, 2014, 12:06:45 AM
Some of my seedlings are 3-4foot tall and started flowering so maybe about  whoa, I just kinda of thought about it I think there about 10-12 yrs. old? I'll have to check my records to see when it was that I visited Edgars place. I know it was after a festival of fruit conf. down in L.A. area maybe Riverside or Pomona?I check and get back with true age of seedlings.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on September 17, 2014, 06:29:13 PM
Anyone tried the fruit of Dendrocereus nudiflorus? The cacti looks like a mix of hylocereus sp. and cereus sp. Supposedly a specimen is growing at Fairchild Gardens, its native to Cuba and has larger smooth skinned fruit.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: ricshaw on September 24, 2014, 10:36:03 PM
I have heard that people who eat prickly pear cactus fruit (tunas) like the green ones.

A local speciality market advertised Green Cactus Pears for sale.

(http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x457/Richard_Renshaw/Pitaya/tunaverdesad2_zpse16be78c.jpg)

I stopped by there to pick up some.  I was surprised how many they had (huge pile) and how big they were.

(http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x457/Richard_Renshaw/Pitaya/tunaverdes_4678_zpsaa705593.jpg)

The biggest one above weighed almost 8 oz. and was over 4" in length.

I checked online and I gather that most people make juice with them.

I cut one open to taste it.

(http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x457/Richard_Renshaw/Pitaya/tunaverdes_4682_zps600a9ce0.jpg)

I was a little disappointed. It tasted like a mild sweet cucumber.

(http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x457/Richard_Renshaw/Pitaya/tunaverdes_4684_zpsfe1b27d1.jpg)

The seed are big and hard. Some people eat the seeds, I spit them out.

I still would like to get a cuttings of an Opuntia that produced fruit like this.

Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on September 25, 2014, 12:06:55 AM
Ricshaw,

That green prickly pear does not look very appealing. I have eaten a lot of prickly pears the last 5-6 years, I would say most of the store bought ones were large with a watered out flavor and hard seeds. Prickly Pears, at least the ones sold in the markets here, seem to be selected for size, durability, and then color. The red and orange flesh prickly pears are most likely healthier due to the compounds which give the prickly pears color.

You really wish I could share some pads atm, I have no pads available right now. But in the next several months to a year more pads will be available.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: ricshaw on September 25, 2014, 12:11:08 AM
Ricshaw,

That green prickly pear does not look very appealing. I have eaten a lot of prickly pears the last 5-6 years, I would say most of the store bought ones were large with a watered out flavor and hard seeds. Prickly Pears, at least the ones sold in the markets here, seem to be selected for size, durability, and then color. The red and orange flesh prickly pears are most likely healthier due to the compounds which give the prickly pears color.

You really wish I could share some pads atm, I have no pads available right now. But in the next several months to a year more pads will be available.

They appeal to some people.  When I bought mine, a lady was buying about a dozen or more. The green ones are popular with some people.  Not sure why.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: NYC_FruitKing on September 25, 2014, 12:19:43 AM
This will sound surprising considering I'm living all the way on the East Coast, but I do prefer the greens over the reds too. The riper ones will have more of a sugary taste (with flavor akin to sugarcane, IMO), the unripe ones do have a tendency to taste like watery cucumbers. Unfortunately the seeds are still hard, making them more for blending up than eating fresh.. Can't afford to crack a filling or two :-X And the reds aren't as flavorful or as sugary, in my opinion. I'd love to try great selections of opuntia or cereus, but that isn't found easily here in New York (if at all!)
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: ricshaw on September 25, 2014, 12:30:14 AM
This will sound surprising considering I'm living all the way on the East Coast, but I do prefer the greens over the reds too. The riper ones will have more of a sugary taste (with flavor akin to sugarcane, IMO), the unripe ones do have a tendency to taste like watery cucumbers. Unfortunately the seeds are still hard, making them more for blending up than eating fresh.. Can't afford to crack a filling or two :-X And the reds aren't as flavorful or as sugary, in my opinion. I'd love to try great selections of opuntia or cereus, but that isn't found easily here in New York (if at all!)


Thanks for the input.  I will wait before trying another one.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on September 25, 2014, 12:49:36 AM
Ricshaw,

That green prickly pear does not look very appealing. I have eaten a lot of prickly pears the last 5-6 years, I would say most of the store bought ones were large with a watered out flavor and hard seeds. Prickly Pears, at least the ones sold in the markets here, seem to be selected for size, durability, and then color. The red and orange flesh prickly pears are most likely healthier due to the compounds which give the prickly pears color.

You really wish I could share some pads atm, I have no pads available right now. But in the next several months to a year more pads will be available.

They appeal to some people.  When I bought mine, a lady was buying about a dozen or more. The green ones are popular with some people.  Not sure why.

I think the green ones have a cultural/society appeal in Mexico (its what people are use to). Reyna and Cristalina prickly pear are both the top 2 major prickly pears sold commercially in Mexico (both are green exterior and white flesh). "The cultivars reported in Table 1 are the most well known and marketed. Six of them 'Reyna', 'Cristalina', 'Naranjona', 'Chapeada', 'Amarilla Montesa', and 'Roja Pelona' share about 90% of production."

Btw, typo I meant to say "I" in the following "You really wish I could share some pads atm"
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1996/v3-446.html#Table (http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1996/v3-446.html#Table)
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: ricshaw on September 25, 2014, 01:12:26 AM
I have yet to see the 'green ones' growing anywhere in my travels around SoCal.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: From the sea on September 27, 2014, 07:30:08 AM
i have a few Opuntia stricta prickly pairs growing from wild plants down here, the fruit are small dark red and have a raspberry like sourness that i love. The place i get them from use to be loaded with the cacti but Hurricane Wilma almost wiped the stand so i decided to collect some pads.
there are a few types of wild cactus down here that i would like to taste but i have never seen flower like, Acanthocereus tetragonus.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: ricshaw on November 14, 2014, 06:10:21 PM
Some people call them "Indian Fig". They are not a fig, and they are not from India.

For those who are on Facebook, check out Confraria do Figo da Índia.
https://www.facebook.com/ConfrariaDoFigoDaIndia/photos_stream?tab=photos_stream (https://www.facebook.com/ConfrariaDoFigoDaIndia/photos_stream?tab=photos_stream)
https://www.facebook.com/search/358074540947166/photos (https://www.facebook.com/search/358074540947166/photos)

or the web site: http://www.cgfi-confraria.pt/ (http://www.cgfi-confraria.pt/)
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: Luisport on November 14, 2014, 06:14:23 PM
Some people call them "Indian Fig". They are not a fig, and they are not from India.

For those who are on Facebook, check out Confraria do Figo da Índia.
https://www.facebook.com/ConfrariaDoFigoDaIndia/photos_stream?tab=photos_stream (https://www.facebook.com/ConfrariaDoFigoDaIndia/photos_stream?tab=photos_stream)
https://www.facebook.com/search/358074540947166/photos (https://www.facebook.com/search/358074540947166/photos)

or the web site: http://www.cgfi-confraria.pt/ (http://www.cgfi-confraria.pt/)
Yes we call it figo da india here!  ;D
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: ClayMango on November 14, 2014, 06:22:31 PM
I have yet to see the 'green ones' growing anywhere in my travels around SoCal.

can confirm...All you see is the reddish looking ones everywhere...all over...tuna growing crazy everywhere in Socal....I've even seen Tuna Borders as fences for many properties.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: emegar on November 14, 2014, 11:16:24 PM
By far, the best cactus fruit was from a Mammillaria sp.-- tasted exactly like intense strawberry.... beter than field ripe field picked strawberries

Opuntia ficus-indica.. at least one I have.. i prefer to any Hylocereus. I fruit C. jamacuru grown from seed and its on a par with Hylocereus.

Recher, you don't happen to know which Mammillaria species you liked, do you?  Does anyone know which species of this genus are reputed to have the best fruit?
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on December 04, 2014, 11:36:58 PM
Found this large tasty Cereus sp. fruit around the corner, growing on the corner next to the sidewalk of a commercial area. I will update with some photos of the mother plant by this weekend. Fruit is very large especially for Cereus sp... it rivals a lot of good dragon fruit selections in size. Taste, is very sweet sugary pear taste with lower acid, flesh texture is very unique and interesting. I had two others taste the fruit, they all seemed to like it a good amount. The texture is like a fluffy pear with a unique crunch and a some lower moisture content.

Production was lighter, but I saw about +20 large fruits on the plant this year. Considering there is not much pollinators around the area, and the area is part sun. I have some seeds drying now btw.

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-YC8EW1OKizk/VIExusKwdtI/AAAAAAAAHXM/b3WJryg51nM/s640/CAM00724.jpg)

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-k6yzhinIWF8/VIEx5pewGyI/AAAAAAAAHXc/KWuQnt1DY_g/s640/CAM00728.jpg)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ldO61LsBn0Y/VIEx0JYlwvI/AAAAAAAAHXU/T1ER0cEbEhI/s640/CAM00725.jpg)
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: From the sea on December 05, 2014, 07:34:14 AM
When I was working in key west earlier this year I found a Cereus that had fruit almost the same size, the cactus was 25'x30' took up the whole lot it was in. I took a cutting from it the fruit was Fuzzy on the inside, like a ball of twine with seeds, I liked it. It got rid of my headache too.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: gunnar429 on December 05, 2014, 09:38:49 AM
When I was working in key west earlier this year I found a Cereus that had fruit almost the same size, the cactus was 25'x30' took up the whole lot it was in. I took a cutting from it the fruit was Fuzzy on the inside, like a ball of twine with seeds, I liked it. It got rid of my headache too.

do you mean fuzzy on the outside?
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: ricshaw on December 05, 2014, 11:54:43 AM
do you mean fuzzy on the outside?

Sometimes the fruit is fuzzy like cotton on the inside.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on December 05, 2014, 12:38:20 PM
Some of the Cereus sp. have really interesting texture. I wonder who is growing Cereus sp. X Dragon Fruit crosses out.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: Luisport on December 05, 2014, 01:23:53 PM
BRASILOPUNTIA BRASILIENSIS:  Fruits from February to April. Plant beautiful ornamental aspect, Fruits with prickly shell, to eat good cut in the middle, holding on with folded paper towel and remove the pulp with a spoon, very delicious pulp. http://www.colecionandofrutas.org/brasiliopuntia.htm (http://www.colecionandofrutas.org/brasiliopuntia.htm)
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: dxgn on December 06, 2014, 02:39:45 AM
Hi all, anyone got any species of optunia pads to sell? Wouldn't mind any type as long they produce fruits,

Cheers,
Jet
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: ricshaw on December 07, 2014, 12:48:23 PM
Just in time for the Holidays!

Opuntia Prickly Pear Spirit
http://venturaspirits.com (http://venturaspirits.com)

Opuntia is a prickly pear spirit, made from the fruit of the Nopal cactus. Its flavor is as singular as tequila’s, an invigorating balance of fresh fruit and desert earth that is all its own. 
Over a ton of sun-ripened California fruit is fermented into wine and then distilled in each batch. This is a new spirit tradition that belongs to California.

(http://static.squarespace.com/static/5122b449e4b03a5603cb29f9/t/5419d2d4e4b07990c7fe280b/1410978524638/Ventura_Spirits_Lineup.jpg?format=1000w)
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: From the sea on December 07, 2014, 07:59:57 PM
When I was working in key west earlier this year I found a Cereus that had fruit almost the same size, the cactus was 25'x30' took up the whole lot it was in. I took a cutting from it the fruit was Fuzzy on the inside, like a ball of twine with seeds, I liked it. It got rid of my headache too.

do you mean fuzzy on the outside?

nope on the inside, like a ball of wool yarn that's kind of juicy and sweet
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: starling1 on December 08, 2014, 07:41:55 AM
Found this large tasty Cereus sp. fruit around the corner, growing on the corner next to the sidewalk of a commercial area. I will update with some photos of the mother plant by this weekend. Fruit is very large especially for Cereus sp... it rivals a lot of good dragon fruit selections in size. Taste, is very sweet sugary pear taste with lower acid, flesh texture is very unique and interesting. I had two others taste the fruit, they all seemed to like it a good amount. The texture is like a fluffy pear with a unique crunch and a some lower moisture content.

Production was lighter, but I saw about +20 large fruits on the plant this year. Considering there is not much pollinators around the area, and the area is part sun. I have some seeds drying now btw.

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-YC8EW1OKizk/VIExusKwdtI/AAAAAAAAHXM/b3WJryg51nM/s640/CAM00724.jpg)

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-k6yzhinIWF8/VIEx5pewGyI/AAAAAAAAHXc/KWuQnt1DY_g/s640/CAM00728.jpg)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ldO61LsBn0Y/VIEx0JYlwvI/AAAAAAAAHXU/T1ER0cEbEhI/s640/CAM00725.jpg)

looks like a standard apple cactus to me. A lot of people in Brisbane have problems getting them to set fruit, I guarantee there is some kind of species specific moth involved in pollination that we don't have here.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: ricshaw on December 08, 2014, 01:21:57 PM
More Just in Time for the Holidays...

PRICKLY PEAR MARGARITA

http://youtu.be/ulC9D3R2Ias (http://youtu.be/ulC9D3R2Ias)

No Comment!!

Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: ricshaw on February 13, 2015, 01:04:35 PM
Today at Edgar Valdivia's Dragon Fruit tasting and garden tour, he had me taste the little dried fruit hanging on a columnar cactus he calls "cactus raisin".

The dried fruit taste just like a "raisin"!

I lucked out...  he gave me a cutting.  My guess it is Myrtillocactus.  Edgar said he got it from a collector in Santa Barbara.

Today my little geometrizans(?) cutting flowered.

(http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x457/Richard_Renshaw/Pitaya/raisin_4956_zpssvefks2h.jpg)
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: ricshaw on February 13, 2015, 01:14:16 PM
Just in time for the Holidays!

Opuntia Prickly Pear Spirit
http://venturaspirits.com (http://venturaspirits.com)

Opuntia is a prickly pear spirit, made from the fruit of the Nopal cactus. Its flavor is as singular as tequila’s, an invigorating balance of fresh fruit and desert earth that is all its own. 
Over a ton of sun-ripened California fruit is fermented into wine and then distilled in each batch. This is a new spirit tradition that belongs to California.

UPDATE:

I was given a bottle of Opuntia Prickly Pear Spirit as a gift.
I can't believe how bad it tastes.  It is undrinkable.
I have contacted Ventura Spirits, but have not heard back from them.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on February 13, 2015, 01:15:08 PM
Ricshaw,

Nice flower, all my plants think its spring now with the heating trend the last month. That sucks to hear the Prickly Pear spirit is crap. Perhaps you have to make your own prickly pear wine to really show off how good the fruit is.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: funlul on February 22, 2015, 05:38:15 PM
I have a Peruvian apple cactus that tastes great and is quite a grand sight when flowering.

Welcome to pick up cuttings if local. Please PM
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on February 22, 2015, 05:39:09 PM
I have a Peruvian apple cactus that tastes great and is quite a grand sight when flowering.

Welcome to pick up cuttings if local.

Funlul,

I would be interested in cuttings, I am in LA coastal area. Welcome to the forums.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: funlul on February 22, 2015, 06:15:04 PM
I would be interested in cuttings, I am in LA coastal area. Welcome to the forums.

Strangely I could not send PM nor email, connection reset. Two different browsers. Will try later, or PM me your contact info.
Posted in the trade forum here (http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=14473.msg183614#msg183614)
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: davidgarcia899 on February 22, 2015, 08:27:44 PM
I haven't read the whole thread so sorry if I'm repeating stuff that's been discuss.

I've become really interested in dragon fruit relatives. So far I've gotten a H. ocampisis & and a ocampisis crossed with a dragon fruit. There's a lot of rare hylocereus that I'm curious to collect and try. Those are probably our best ber for Florida Adam....if you want to help me hunt for them
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: ricshaw on February 22, 2015, 09:03:51 PM
I have never heard of ocampisis.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: Rtreid on February 22, 2015, 11:27:37 PM
I think David means H. ocamponis.

David, let me know what you are looking for. I am also very interested in the rarer species plants and might have some that you are interested in.  One caveat is that some of the plants that I have purchased are incorrectly labeled and I am currently trying to ID them.  Most of what I have is correctly ID'd however.

Richard
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: ricshaw on February 23, 2015, 12:50:59 AM
I think David means H. ocamponis.
David, let me know what you are looking for. I am also very interested in the rarer species plants and might have some that you are interested in.  One caveat is that some of the plants that I have purchased are incorrectly labeled and I am currently trying to ID them.  Most of what I have is correctly ID'd however.
Richard

I get confused now with costaricensis vs. ocamponis.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: starling1 on February 23, 2015, 04:38:16 AM
I think David means H. ocamponis.
David, let me know what you are looking for. I am also very interested in the rarer species plants and might have some that you are interested in.  One caveat is that some of the plants that I have purchased are incorrectly labeled and I am currently trying to ID them.  Most of what I have is correctly ID'd however.
Richard

I get confused now with costaricensis vs. ocamponis.


The Costa Rican is red fleshed, h ocamponis is purple fleshed.

Ocamponis is a lower tier fruit and Is often used as a grafting rootstock.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: stuartdaly88 on February 23, 2015, 06:36:12 AM
Not really practical for cultivation as it takes an incredibly long time to fruit but has anyone ever tried saguaro cactus fruit?
It's very beautiful and apparently has a good taste
http://www.desertusa.com/lil/Saguaro-Fruit-lil.html (http://www.desertusa.com/lil/Saguaro-Fruit-lil.html)
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: starling1 on February 23, 2015, 06:51:27 AM
Not really practical for cultivation as it takes an incredibly long time to fruit but has anyone ever tried saguaro cactus fruit?
It's very beautiful and apparently has a good taste
http://www.desertusa.com/lil/Saguaro-Fruit-lil.html (http://www.desertusa.com/lil/Saguaro-Fruit-lil.html)

Stenocereus gummosus is a good alternative.

Unless you get a massive cutting, chances are you will be dust before you get a saguaro fruit. Some of the cholla cacti have good fruits also.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: stuartdaly88 on February 23, 2015, 07:51:34 AM
Not really practical for cultivation as it takes an incredibly long time to fruit but has anyone ever tried saguaro cactus fruit?
It's very beautiful and apparently has a good taste
http://www.desertusa.com/lil/Saguaro-Fruit-lil.html (http://www.desertusa.com/lil/Saguaro-Fruit-lil.html)

Stenocereus gummosus is a good alternative.

Unless you get a massive cutting, chances are you will be dust before you get a saguaro fruit. Some of the cholla cacti have good fruits also.
Thanks for the info on an alternative :)
Yes I've read 50 years to fruit in the wild and best case scenario 25 years in cultivation for Saguaro . I think it needs to start branching which it only does when rather tall like 10ft! Would still want to have one just for collecting purposes. I killed some 1year old seedlings awhile back and never got over it! I can dream of finding an old already fruiting specimen one day.

I Googled Stenocereus gummosus and the fruit also has that incredibly deep beautiful red almost like gore, Iwould love to try it, new one to the list!
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on February 23, 2015, 10:40:37 AM
You may be able to get the saguaro to fruit earlier grafting to a faster cereus rootstock, and experimenting with plant hormones to manipulate flowering and branching.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: gunnar429 on February 23, 2015, 10:46:05 AM
zands. maybe you should look into a stopsaw to protect your digits.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: Rtreid on February 23, 2015, 12:33:04 PM
I think David means H. ocamponis.
David, let me know what you are looking for. I am also very interested in the rarer species plants and might have some that you are interested in.  One caveat is that some of the plants that I have purchased are incorrectly labeled and I am currently trying to ID them.  Most of what I have is correctly ID'd however.
Richard

I get confused now with costaricensis vs. ocamponis.


The Costa Rican is red fleshed, h ocamponis is purple fleshed.

Ocamponis is a lower tier fruit and Is often used as a grafting rootstock.

Colors are correct, but I have to disagree with ocamponis being a lower tier fruit.  They can be just as good as any undatus or polyrhizus but their main drawback is the nasty spines they can have. 

Interesting that you mention ocamponis as rootstock,  I have never sen it used for the little ornamental cacti they sell here, that is always undatus.  What do they use it as rootstock for?

Richard
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: ricshaw on February 23, 2015, 01:31:18 PM

Colors are correct, but I have to disagree with ocamponis being a lower tier fruit.  They can be just as good as any undatus or polyrhizus but their main drawback is the nasty spines they can have. 

Interesting that you mention ocamponis as rootstock,  I have never sen it used for the little ornamental cacti they sell here, that is always undatus.  What do they use it as rootstock for?

Richard

Valdivia Roja and El Grullo are Hylocereus ocamponis from Mexico.  I have tasted both. Some people like the taste and some prefer the taste of other DF.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: stuartdaly88 on February 23, 2015, 01:43:34 PM
You may be able to get the saguaro to fruit earlier grafting to a faster cereus rootstock, and experimenting with plant hormones to manipulate flowering and branching.
Do toy think Benzylaminopurrine would work it's incredible with other columular cactuses. Iv got many trichocerus macrogonus? What's a vigorous rootstock?
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on February 23, 2015, 02:31:17 PM
You may be able to get the saguaro to fruit earlier grafting to a faster cereus rootstock, and experimenting with plant hormones to manipulate flowering and branching.
Do toy think Benzylaminopurrine would work it's incredible with other columular cactuses. Iv got many trichocerus macrogonus? What's a vigorous rootstock?

Yeah I was going to recommend Benzlaminopurrine to try, I know it causes lots of branching. Trichocereus (Echinopsis) should work well, anything that is a fast grower. Any of the fast growing San Pedro type cactus should work well for a rootstock. Its worth a experiment for sure, I was going to say Stenocereus gummosus is not the fastest grower as well (it does not need large mass to flower and fruit though).

Also note that I have read when cacti are grafted with different species it can create different growth habits, early flowering, and other abnormal changes (all worth the effort if you are trying to coax the cacti into early flowering and fruiting). Most likely due to the different growth hormones and amount of hormones received from the rootstock to the grafted portion of the plant.

If your lucky you may be able to cut the fruiting down to 5 to 10 years. I could see the potential of a good matching fast growing rootstock and some benzlaminopurrine to increase mass and perhaps induce early flowering.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: starling1 on February 23, 2015, 04:07:41 PM
Stuart, I was also going to add that if you're in the market for some hardy cacti which produce very good quality fruit ( better than virtually any columnar type) you might want to look around for some epiphyllums. I have two good ones now, one being red skinned with blushing pink flesh and my most recent acquisition which was bred by a friend of mine in NSW which has red skin and purple flesh. He also sent me seeds of this so I have  them to trade.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: Rtreid on February 23, 2015, 06:47:22 PM

Colors are correct, but I have to disagree with ocamponis being a lower tier fruit.  They can be just as good as any undatus or polyrhizus but their main drawback is the nasty spines they can have. 

Interesting that you mention ocamponis as rootstock,  I have never sen it used for the little ornamental cacti they sell here, that is always undatus.  What do they use it as rootstock for?

Richard

Dr. Douhan did some great work on the genetic characterization of the DF cultivars at SCREC but I think he accidentally lumped El Grullo and Valdivia Rosa as H. ocamponis.   If you go back to the original descriptions published in Britton and Rose (or to Bakeberg)  El Grullo does fit the description of ocamponis, but Valdivia Roja is a closer fit to H. purpusii.

Richard

Valdivia Roja and El Grullo are Hylocereus ocamponis from Mexico.  I have tasted both. Some people like the taste and some prefer the taste of other DF.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: stuartdaly88 on February 24, 2015, 08:39:15 AM
Stuart, I was also going to add that if you're in the market for some hardy cacti which produce very good quality fruit ( better than virtually any columnar type) you might want to look around for some epiphyllums. I have two good ones now, one being red skinned with blushing pink flesh and my most recent acquisition which was bred by a friend of mine in NSW which has red skin and purple flesh. He also sent me seeds of this so I have  them to trade.
Thanks Starling
Sounds awesome Iv never seen purple flesh actually. it must be beautiful! Do you have a picture of it?
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: ricshaw on February 24, 2015, 12:50:27 PM
Dr. Douhan did some great work on the genetic characterization of the DF cultivars at SCREC but I think he accidentally lumped El Grullo and Valdivia Rosa as H. ocamponis.   If you go back to the original descriptions published in Britton and Rose (or to Bakeberg)  El Grullo does fit the description of ocamponis, but Valdivia Roja is a closer fit to H. purpusii.

Richard

Thanks for the input.  I have never heard of purpusii.

http://youtu.be/DsAEhGdLv9Q (http://youtu.be/DsAEhGdLv9Q)

UPDATE:  See http://cactiguide.com/cactus/?genus=Hylocereus&species=purpusii (http://cactiguide.com/cactus/?genus=Hylocereus&species=purpusii)
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: stuartdaly88 on February 24, 2015, 01:56:28 PM
You may be able to get the saguaro to fruit earlier grafting to a faster cereus rootstock, and experimenting with plant hormones to manipulate flowering and branching.
Do toy think Benzylaminopurrine would work it's incredible with other columular cactuses. Iv got many trichocerus macrogonus? What's a vigorous rootstock?

Yeah I was going to recommend Benzlaminopurrine to try, I know it causes lots of branching. Trichocereus (Echinopsis) should work well, anything that is a fast grower. Any of the fast growing San Pedro type cactus should work well for a rootstock. Its worth a experiment for sure, I was going to say Stenocereus gummosus is not the fastest grower as well (it does not need large mass to flower and fruit though).

Also note that I have read when cacti are grafted with different species it can create different growth habits, early flowering, and other abnormal changes (all worth the effort if you are trying to coax the cacti into early flowering and fruiting). Most likely due to the different growth hormones and amount of hormones received from the rootstock to the grafted portion of the plant.

If your lucky you may be able to cut the fruiting down to 5 to 10 years. I could see the potential of a good matching fast growing rootstock and some benzlaminopurrine to increase mass and perhaps induce early flowering.
Thanks for the input I'm pretty familiar with using Benzylaminopurrine but grafting cactus will be a learning kerb!
These guys really are amazing even if.it never fruited I would be proud to have a largish one:)

Wild ones take forever it seems to gain any size at all if this is accurate



(http://s9.postimg.cc/etr6985ej/saguaro_age_chart_2.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/etr6985ej/)


(http://s17.postimg.cc/7xvwt5nmj/img_4576.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/7xvwt5nmj/)
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on February 24, 2015, 02:30:38 PM
Stuart,

Graft it and experiment nothing to lose and lots of potential time to gain!
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: starling1 on February 24, 2015, 05:07:13 PM
Stuart, I was also going to add that if you're in the market for some hardy cacti which produce very good quality fruit ( better than virtually any columnar type) you might want to look around for some epiphyllums. I have two good ones now, one being red skinned with blushing pink flesh and my most recent acquisition which was bred by a friend of mine in NSW which has red skin and purple flesh. He also sent me seeds of this so I have  them to trade.
Thanks Starling
Sounds awesome Iv never seen purple flesh actually. it must be beautiful! Do you have a picture of it?

No pictures yet, but soon. It's been fruiting for years as he did the cross along time ago. It came up one day in a conversation. I was like ' you know I got this good epi ' and then he told me about how he crossed some epi with a  dragon and the fruit turned out to be electric purple and that is was better than any dragon fruit he's tried .I was like ' why the hell haven't you mentioned this sooner!? and he said that he didn't think anything of it or that anyone would care, and didn't even bother taking photos of it ( phil if you're reading this you're awesome but goddamn you). So anyway, I  now have cuttings of this and some seed which he saved.

The cuttings themselves are thin and flat and look exactly like an ornamental epi-- very different than the pink fruited kind I posted a thread about a few months back. Here they both are; the on the left is the pink fleshed, the right is the purple.

http://postimg.cc/image/vca3k5h6r/ (http://postimg.cc/image/vca3k5h6r/)
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: davidgarcia899 on February 26, 2015, 12:57:43 PM
H. purpusii, ive never heard of that one.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on February 26, 2015, 01:54:52 PM
H. purpusii, ive never heard of that one.

David,

Btw, I still have you listed as wanting Opuntia ficus indica 'Torrance PCH#1'. I have not forgotten about you wanting a pad of it, I will be able to update availability in the next month.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: davidgarcia899 on February 26, 2015, 02:49:52 PM
Hey Null, I actually don't know if I want any of those pads anymore, Ive experiment with some other opuntias and they all seem to rot on me
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on February 26, 2015, 03:04:50 PM
Hey Null, I actually don't know if I want any of those pads anymore, Ive experiment with some other opuntias and they all seem to rot on me

In ground or container? I had Torrance PCH#1 fruit in the ground in PSL, sugar sand type soil. It did get flooded a few times (I was not pleased with its progress, because it was getting heavy competition from st augustine grass and weeds. I moved it into a container, which I would suggest as the optimal method to grow for fruit (unless you have a gravel/rock garden area where the plant does not have competition with weeds.

The time that the pad is most susceptible to rot is when there is an open wound or the pad was recently disconnected. I use powdered sulfur on the wound to dry it out and prevent rot issues once the pad is disconnected. The pads native habitat is sandy soil on the side of a ridge very close to the coast, cool coastal marine layer days and higher humidity are common in this area. I don't see it having many issues with humidity as long as its in full sun with good drainage.

For inground planting, I recommend grafting it to native Opuntia sp. rootstock or any of the Opuntia sp. native to hot humid climates. This should show better inground performance with waterlogged conditions and nematode resistance. Not all Opuntia sp. are created equal when it comes to tolerance of humidity and water, Opuntia sp. PARL 342 is more adapted to desert conditions it seems and has horrible rot resistance. I have other PARLs in Florida that seem to be doing good though.

Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: EvilFruit on February 27, 2015, 10:35:16 AM
Does anyone have any idea about Opuntia Littoralis fruit quality ?.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cactus-Opuntia-Littoralis-1-healthy-medium-size-POD-for-quick-rooting-/171664854838?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27f805cf36 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cactus-Opuntia-Littoralis-1-healthy-medium-size-POD-for-quick-rooting-/171664854838?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27f805cf36)
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on February 27, 2015, 11:21:05 AM
Does anyone have any idea about Opuntia Littoralis fruit quality ?.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cactus-Opuntia-Littoralis-1-healthy-medium-size-POD-for-quick-rooting-/171664854838?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27f805cf36 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cactus-Opuntia-Littoralis-1-healthy-medium-size-POD-for-quick-rooting-/171664854838?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27f805cf36)

I have eaten it from trails in Mission Viejo (Orange County), CA. It is tangy and has raspberry flavor, would say the fruit was ok. However the fruit is seedy and has many glochids, and it takes a while to harvest from a plant from all the spines. Its a fruit better for processing if you had a bunch near by and wanted to make jam. The hassle of harvesting and the large hard seeds and seedy fruit take away from the eating experience.

I actually enjoyed Cylindropuntia prolifera fruit better, it had a unique refreshing acidic flavor. I tried some fruit off a trail in Palos Verdes, CA. Opuntia ficus-indica though is hard to match in quality of fruit and edibility of pads.

Cylindropuntia prolifera
 http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=9588 (http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=9588)
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: ricshaw on February 27, 2015, 03:19:07 PM
Rivenrock Gardens Cactus Company posted on Facebook:

"We like to pickle the unopened flower blossoms of some of the Opuntia plants. We did our first blossom picking yesterday and made some quick bread and butter pickles. The rest of the blossoms are sitting in a lime-water bath to get ready for their big debut in a more extensive recipe."

(https://scontent-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/t31.0-8/10947459_10153157474121514_3757733761064746570_o.jpg)


"Cactus blossoms sitting in a lime-water bath, in prep for canning into a pickle recipe."

(https://scontent-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/t31.0-8/1499019_10153157474276514_3630083636969184719_o.jpg)

"These will be triple-rinsed tonight, then packed in ice-water for a few hours. Then into a mix of boiling half vinegar and half sugar along with dill and a bit of kosher salt. Removed from heat and allowed to sit overnight, then reboiled for 30 minutes tomorrow, and packed into oven-sterilized jars with boiled lids and heat-treated in boiling water for 15 minutes.
I will sometimes omit the boiling water bath, as I usually start eating them a few days after making them, and I'll eat the small batches we make in a short time. In those cases they stay in the refrigerator once they cool down a bit. The Bread and Butter pickles are usually that method, as I eat them so fast."

Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: EvilFruit on February 28, 2015, 12:47:49 PM
Does anyone have any idea about Opuntia Littoralis fruit quality ?.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cactus-Opuntia-Littoralis-1-healthy-medium-size-POD-for-quick-rooting-/171664854838?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27f805cf36 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cactus-Opuntia-Littoralis-1-healthy-medium-size-POD-for-quick-rooting-/171664854838?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27f805cf36)

I have eaten it from trails in Mission Viejo (Orange County), CA. It is tangy and has raspberry flavor, would say the fruit was ok. However the fruit is seedy and has many glochids, and it takes a while to harvest from a plant from all the spines. Its a fruit better for processing if you had a bunch near by and wanted to make jam. The hassle of harvesting and the large hard seeds and seedy fruit take away from the eating experience.

I actually enjoyed Cylindropuntia prolifera fruit better, it had a unique refreshing acidic flavor. I tried some fruit off a trail in Palos Verdes, CA. Opuntia ficus-indica though is hard to match in quality of fruit and edibility of pads.

Cylindropuntia prolifera
 http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=9588 (http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=9588)

Thanks for your input.

There is another fruiting Opuntia spp that was grown by the natives in California and Northern Mexico. It has a  big red fruit ( similar to the picture in your Avatar). I heard it was good but I can't remember the scientific name.

Do you know it ?.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on February 28, 2015, 02:28:18 PM
Opuntia robusta? Its not native to ca but naturalized. Has large tasty fruit. Also Opuntia engelmanni which is native, think fruit is a little smaller and just ok. I am not sure how your prickly pear diversity is in Dubai, I am sure you have some decent fruuting selections?
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: EvilFruit on February 28, 2015, 03:22:27 PM
Opuntia robusta? Its not native to ca but naturalized. Has large tasty fruit. Also Opuntia engelmanni which is native, think fruit is a little smaller and just ok. I am not sure how your prickly pear diversity is in Dubai, I am sure you have some decent fruuting selections?

None, I went to over 20 nurseries to find dragon fruit and I found nothing. Besides, they don't have any idea what type of prickly pear they have. Anyway, I found a prickly pear cactus with a red fruit near Al mamzar beach park so, I tried it.The fruit was so bland like eating a cucumber  :'(. Most cacti we have in here are for ornamental only. That's why I ordered prickly pear pads from a guy called Chris in Malta and It should arrive this week.

Yes, I mean Opuntia robusta. I Think I have asked you for a pad before, right ?.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: ricshaw on April 15, 2015, 10:31:03 PM
Anybody know anything about Opuntia albicarpa?

I am looking for prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) with the "white" fruit (Tuna Blanca).
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: starling1 on April 16, 2015, 03:50:40 AM
Daley's Nursery here in Australia has set a precedent by stocking fruiting epiphyllums.

Here is one listing, it was bred by a friend of mine. Unfortunate that it is listed as a 'Dragonfruit', but I guess they do that so it gets a look in.

http://www.daleysfruit.com.au/Dragon-Fruit-Tyalgum-Purple-Pitaya.htm (http://www.daleysfruit.com.au/Dragon-Fruit-Tyalgum-Purple-Pitaya.htm)

Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: Rannman on April 16, 2015, 06:14:35 AM
Hey Starling.  Have you tried the fruit from that Epi? Is it as good as Daley's say it is.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: joaave on April 16, 2015, 09:52:19 AM
Trichocereus smrzianus


(http://s1.postimg.cc/rd37xd8rf/tri08187487_1473220854117524332_n.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/rd37xd8rf/)
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on April 16, 2015, 11:16:35 AM
Those epi fruiting plants are really interesting. Seems like we need some focus over here in the states on breeding Epis and other cactus that have potential (especially since a lot of these fruits, will need to replace many avocado and citrus groves in the future over here in CA).
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: ricshaw on April 16, 2015, 12:56:11 PM
Daley's Nursery here in Australia has set a precedent by stocking fruiting epiphyllums.
Here is one listing, it was bred by a friend of mine. Unfortunate that it is listed as a 'Dragonfruit', but I guess they do that so it gets a look in.
http://www.daleysfruit.com.au/Dragon-Fruit-Tyalgum-Purple-Pitaya.htm (http://www.daleysfruit.com.au/Dragon-Fruit-Tyalgum-Purple-Pitaya.htm)

I wonder how big the fruit is.

I know a couple of CRFG Dragon Fruit growers that are experimenting with adding epiphyllum to their Dragon Fruit hybrids.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: ricshaw on April 16, 2015, 12:59:02 PM
Those epi fruiting plants are really interesting. Seems like we need some focus over here in the states on breeding Epis and other cactus that have potential (especially since a lot of these fruits, will need to replace many avocado and citrus groves in the future over here in CA).

We need a list of epiphyllum varieties that produce decent fruit.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: starling1 on April 16, 2015, 07:13:48 PM
Those epi fruiting plants are really interesting. Seems like we need some focus over here in the states on breeding Epis and other cactus that have potential (especially since a lot of these fruits, will need to replace many avocado and citrus groves in the future over here in CA).

I honestly believe that epi's are one of the best and most untapped food sources in existence. The fruits really are as good or better than dragonfruit, and they haven't really had any serious breeding for fruit quality yet.

The added bonus is that they are small plants and will  reliably fruit in shade. You could grow dozens of them in hanging pots beneath a patio or whatever, and because the soil doesn't really dry out in low light conditions the way it does in full sun, they wouldn't require a lot of water and the yields would be incredible.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: BMc on April 16, 2015, 07:19:17 PM
Im unhappy to report that the 'curly sue' monstrose Epi has very ordinary fruit. Like clag glue. Plus, they are a magnet for a boring insect and ants, so are hardly worth the trouble if you are after the fruit.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: starling1 on April 16, 2015, 07:55:30 PM
Im unhappy to report that the 'curly sue' monstrose Epi has very ordinary fruit. Like clag glue. Plus, they are a magnet for a boring insect and ants, so are hardly worth the trouble if you are after the fruit.

Bummer.

So no point even keeping this for purposes of hybridization?
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: ricshaw on April 16, 2015, 09:38:14 PM
I honestly believe that epi's are one of the best and most untapped food sources in existence. The fruits really are as good or better than dragonfruit, and they haven't really had any serious breeding for fruit quality yet.

The added bonus is that they are small plants and will  reliably fruit in shade. You could grow dozens of them in hanging pots beneath a patio or whatever, and because the soil doesn't really dry out in low light conditions the way it does in full sun, they wouldn't require a lot of water and the yields would be incredible.

I have only tasted a couple epi fruit and none have tasted anything close to being as good as a regular white-flesh Dragon Fruit IMO.

I have tasted a unique tasting Dragon Fruit hybrid that was good and had epi genes in its background. See 2014 Pitahaya (Dragon Fruit) Festival Reply 18 & 20 http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=11655.0;all (http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=11655.0;all) .

Both Edgar and Leo (CRFG Dragon Fruit growers) have mentioned the epiphyllum Cadet as a variety used to pollinate DF. http://www.mattslandscape.com/detail/?plant_name=Cadet (http://www.mattslandscape.com/detail/?plant_name=Cadet)
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: gunnar429 on April 18, 2015, 07:57:22 PM
Starling, which epi's have you had that were as good as a dragonfruit?

Thanks!
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: starling1 on April 18, 2015, 11:54:22 PM
Starling, which epi's have you had that were as good as a dragonfruit?

Thanks!

Stay tuned gunnar, I'll be doing an epi report on some fruit discovered cropping in Melbourne this week.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: greenman62 on April 19, 2015, 10:23:46 AM

i head these were good...

Cereus  validus
Similar to the common apple cactus but with an orange colored fruit. The baseball sized fruits have white, edible flesh with a mildly sweet flavor. The plants themselves also make attractive landscape specimens.
https://www.seedman.com/cactusseeds.htm (https://www.seedman.com/cactusseeds.htm)
http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/content/orange-apple-cactus.htm (http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/content/orange-apple-cactus.htm)

Cereus   jamacaru
http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=12514.0 (http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=12514.0)
http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/content/pleated-cereus.htm (http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/content/pleated-cereus.htm)
http://www.cactiguide.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=31135&p=278265&hilit=jamacaru#p278265 (http://www.cactiguide.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=31135&p=278265&hilit=jamacaru#p278265)
http://www.cactiguide.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=35029&p=307446&hilit=jamacaru#p307446 (http://www.cactiguide.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=35029&p=307446&hilit=jamacaru#p307446)

Cereus Peruvianus
http://tastylandscape.com/2013/04/24/a-very-tasty-cactus-cereus-peruvianus/ (http://tastylandscape.com/2013/04/24/a-very-tasty-cactus-cereus-peruvianus/)



grown from seed (first 3 pics)
supposedly  validus and/or jamacaru
---
(http://s21.postimg.cc/5pva7cesj/image.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/5pva7cesj/)

(http://s21.postimg.cc/pyint2e3n/zzcz.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/pyint2e3n/)

(http://s21.postimg.cc/kkjvliodf/image.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/kkjvliodf/)

---
all my columnar cacti

(http://s21.postimg.cc/okr0xreub/image.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/okr0xreub/)
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: ricshaw on April 19, 2015, 12:50:49 PM

i head these were good...

Cereus  validus

Cereus   jamacaru

Cereus Peruvianus

How can you tell them apart?
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: gunnar429 on April 19, 2015, 03:34:02 PM
Starling, which epi's have you had that were as good as a dragonfruit?

Thanks!

Stay tuned gunnar, I'll be doing an epi report on some fruit discovered cropping in Melbourne this week.

Ok, cool.  I have one called "Tabasco" that was gifted to me when I placed an order for DF from Matt's Landscape.  I wasn't even sure epi's fruited...so definitely interested in your update.  Thanks.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: Rtreid on April 19, 2015, 04:32:38 PM

i head these were good...

Cereus  validus

Cereus   jamacaru

Cereus Peruvianus

How can you tell them apart?

Ricshaw,
from left to right are C. validus, C. jamacaru and C. peruvianus.

(http://s16.postimg.cc/696950g41/IMG_1968.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/696950g41/)
validus is the one with the very long spines and jamacaru is similar to peruvianus but has deeper grooves on the wings

Cheers,
Richard
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on April 19, 2015, 05:07:22 PM
Richard and Greenman,

Nice columnar Cereus sp., update with the fruit pics :). Cereus sp. going to become more popular with Californians since the drought restrictions and cost of water going up.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: ricshaw on April 19, 2015, 05:36:45 PM

Ricshaw,
from left to right are C. validus, C. jamacaru and C. peruvianus.

(http://s16.postimg.cc/696950g41/IMG_1968.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/696950g41/)
validus is the one with the very long spines and jamacaru is similar to peruvianus but has deeper grooves on the wings

Cheers,
Richard

Thanks!!

The C. jamacaru and C. Peruvianus confuse me.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: starling1 on April 20, 2015, 05:08:01 AM
Richard and Greenman,

Nice columnar Cereus sp., update with the fruit pics :). Cereus sp. going to become more popular with Californians since the drought restrictions and cost of water going up.

The world needs a seedless, thornless Opuntia fruit--the high quality, red fleshed kind. The sooner something like this gets created, the more people will move to this hardy, eco friendly and sustainable crop.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: Rtreid on April 20, 2015, 06:33:46 PM
Richard and Greenman,

Nice columnar Cereus sp., update with the fruit pics :). Cereus sp. going to become more popular with Californians since the drought restrictions and cost of water going up.

The world needs a seedless, thornless Opuntia fruit--the high quality, red fleshed kind. The sooner something like this gets created, the more people will move to this hardy, eco friendly and sustainable crop.

I agree with you on this, but I am even more in tune with your belief about epi's really needing some development for fruit quality.  The potential is there, but most of the epic growers I know did not know or care that the fruit was edible. They are only grown for their flowers. 

But an attractive plant with showy flowers that can be kept small and not a water hog. What more can you ask for in a fruiting plant!

I am anxiously awaiting your update.

Cheers,
Richard
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: starling1 on April 29, 2015, 05:45:19 AM
 Picked up a decent sized cutting of this cereus today. Check out the vibrant purple fruit--quite large.

http://www.kew.org/science/tropamerica/imagedatabase/large1/cat_single1-813.htm (http://www.kew.org/science/tropamerica/imagedatabase/large1/cat_single1-813.htm)
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: Rtreid on April 29, 2015, 12:57:18 PM
Nice addition Starling1. Do you have any information on what the fruit is like?

Richard
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: ricshaw on May 01, 2015, 12:25:55 AM
I took a picture of my three N. cochenillifera cactus.

(http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x457/Richard_Renshaw/Pitaya/cochenillifera_5155_zpsx0ywjl1t.jpg)

The guy who gave me the cuttings calls the one in the front N. cochenillifera 'flat tip'.

He called the one on the Left in the back N. cochenillifera 'round tip'.

The one on the Right is N. cochenillifera 'variegated'.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: ricshaw on September 16, 2015, 12:47:13 PM
I have planted 11 different thornless Opuntia ficus indica on the hill behind my house. The idea is to have a mini Opuntia fruit trial.

Maybe someday there will be a thornless cactus patch with different fruit.

(http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x457/Richard_Renshaw/Pitaya/opuntia_5472_zpsqxpnyfgg.jpg)


The eleven collected varieties on the hill.

(http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x457/Richard_Renshaw/Pitaya/hill_opuntia_zpsfaakeiq8.jpg)
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on September 16, 2015, 01:24:02 PM
Looking really good, and I like the selection you have. I just recently went and sampled some fruit from some new selections.

http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=4698.50 (http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=4698.50)

Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: ricshaw on September 16, 2015, 01:48:11 PM
Looking really good, and I like the selection you have. I just recently went and sampled some fruit from some new selections.

http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=4698.50 (http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=4698.50)

I saw that.  The last two look interesting.  PARL 254 is at the top of my wish list.   ;)
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: ricshaw on October 25, 2015, 08:57:27 PM
I found this Opuntia today in Pacific Beach, California.

(http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x457/Richard_Renshaw/Pitaya/pb_5544_zpsvhhvffgx.jpg)

The owner is my sister. My brother-in-law offered to pick me some fruit.

(http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x457/Richard_Renshaw/Pitaya/pb_5546_zpskqdqzsan.jpg)

The cacti is thornless and the fruit was red.

(http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x457/Richard_Renshaw/Pitaya/pb_5548_zpsddgjqf2o.jpg)

(http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x457/Richard_Renshaw/Pitaya/pb_5550_zpsawho3eya.jpg)

I chilled one of the tunas and cut it open.

(http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x457/Richard_Renshaw/Pitaya/pb_5552_zpslydmuhiz.jpg)

To be honest...  the fruit was not very sweet and bland tasting. The seed count was lower than some other tunas I have tasted.
Maybe it was picked too late.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on October 25, 2015, 10:26:45 PM
I don't think it was picked to late. The sweetness should still be apparent if its a good prickly pear. It may also be an off year for that selection, it looks similar to Torrance PCH#1. I harvested Torrance PCH#1 in January after it was sitting on the plant for about 3 months after coloring up. Keep watch out for other good selections, I think with Torrance PCH#1 I got lucky with the great fruit qualities it has.

Btw, a good amount of fruit from the Redondo Beach orange prickly pear still looks good after about 2 months :). I am going to cut it up this week and see if its still good.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: gnappi on October 25, 2015, 11:17:08 PM
I'm going to follow this thread as I've just recently acquired a taste for "tuna" and have found that samples from "wild" cactus to not be as good as those I've bought in a flea market or grocery store.

I've also noticed on wild cactus some are not fruiting and others that are very small are. To that end I have a couple of cuttings from a really small sample that was fruiting profusely with no care. I'll see what happens with it.

Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on October 26, 2015, 01:00:41 PM
The Florida wild prickly pear is most likely no Opuntia ficus-indica. The other Opuntia sp. usually are not as good for quality of fruit, but have other good traits such as pest resistance.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: Rannman on May 03, 2018, 04:26:46 AM

(https://s7.postimg.cc/qu4qbo63b/72_AD6_F5_C-26_EA-47_B8-_B62_A-_CCB9_C495_C8_EC.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/qu4qbo63b/)

(https://s7.postimg.cc/cnozggidj/9_AD0_C9_DA-_DF7_A-479_F-9_AEC-51_C0_BA6_B9937.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/cnozggidj/)

Was thinking of tearing out my Cereus peruvianus plants but they finally put out some fruit. Good size, but ordinary flavour at room temperature. Put some in the fridge to get cold and what a difference a few degrees make! Good watermelon flavour,with a shaved ice texture! I will keep growing these!
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: KarenRei on May 03, 2018, 08:48:00 AM
This thread is great (I've been working recently on cactus fruits for my database; if I remember to, I'll sum up the info I've gathered so far in this thread). BTW, has anyone actually tried Burbank's Opuntia fruit - are the tunas actually tasty?  BTW, from what I've read, the reversion to glochid bearing often comes in response to water stress; apparently opuntias become thornier the more water-starved they get.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: Ulfr on May 06, 2018, 06:43:06 AM
Planted some koubo/Peruvian apple cactus today :)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?t=11s&v=rc4geRz_SDU
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: dmwong93 on May 06, 2018, 07:35:00 PM
Null, have you heard of this cactus before?

Eulychnia acida - Cactaceae - Copao - Fruta de um cactus, com sabor ácido, da região semi-desértica do Chile - Vicuña - IV Region - Coquimbo - Chile - 23.01.2009 - Foto de Anestor Mezzomo

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-S9V98K89YDg/SYg9NleeZkI/AAAAAAABtU0/ono4STOx2AI/s512/DSC03483.JPG)

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-wPrGiZFHeQU/SYg9MmrOAGI/AAAAAAABtUo/E03GqtW_X1w/s640/DSC03482.JPG)

https://picasaweb.google.com/101936771881917391876/Frutas24Chile#5298552265208915522
Can thing type of cactus be propagated by cuttings like peruvian torch?
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: nullzero on May 06, 2018, 09:22:50 PM
Yes it should root with properly calloused cuttings.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: stuartdaly88 on June 26, 2018, 03:43:21 PM
Any new news on the tastiest of cactus?

I just got seeds of:

Stenocereus martinezii
Stenocereus pruinosus
Stenocereus thurberi
I have some nice stenocereus queretaroensis already (thanks to Nullzero ;D )

Myrtillocactus geometrizans
Carnegiea gigantea
Polaskia chichipe

Heard the polaskia may be pretty good:)
Also wondering if hybrids of the different Stenocereus would fruit? Surely there must be amazing fruits stenocereus hybrids out there already? But I couldn't find any info.

One last thing I'm wondering is about micro grafting cactus. I've seen on cactus groups pics of people grafting tiny month old seedlings and cutting the pain of slow seedling growth time down big time. Any One tried this? Any hints and tips?
I'm keen but also don't want to waste and kill new baby cactus out of impatience!
 
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: So_Cal_Mike on December 21, 2018, 03:27:01 PM
First time tasting this cactus fruit. Tasted sour/lemony not unpleasantly so.
I’m not sure what type of cactus it is.
(https://i.postimg.cc/ykdRtTdF/66-CE0-E52-65-CA-4981-BD05-1-FC3738-DDACF.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ykdRtTdF)

(https://i.postimg.cc/mzBzwYJ1/75620-B3-E-DA18-4-B60-9-CE1-288-FFF9-F70-DD.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/mzBzwYJ1)

(https://i.postimg.cc/1Vzgx999/908-CF06-B-5-A81-459-C-8258-589-F31-BB7051.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/1Vzgx999)

(https://i.postimg.cc/WFRgcz8m/305-F2751-10-C0-490-B-93-DF-FEDC3390-A83-E.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/WFRgcz8m)
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: IndigoEmu on December 21, 2018, 06:51:42 PM
Anyone in Florida have access to cuttings from quality Peruvian apple cactus? I’ve had fruit from one plant a couple years back that could rival any top tier dragon fruit. Haven’t tasted any like it since. A friend’s 13 foot plant has fairly bland fruit, which is a shame since it’s fruited twice this year and produced over 130 fruit! I’ve seen plenty of plants shrug off freezes here without an issue.
Title: Re: Cactus fruits that taste good (sweet), other than Dragon Fruit/Pitaya
Post by: Recher on February 27, 2019, 05:06:52 PM
By far the best cactus fruit I have eaten, and the only one I score above 90 was a Mammalaria species. The fruit was about 2/3 small pea size. The flavour intense concentrated sweet alpine strawberry.