Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Messages - SandyL

Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 6
1
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Dragon Fruit thread.
« on: September 30, 2019, 11:46:06 PM »
Has anyone heard of the variety Godzilla? Is it sweet , tart, brix score? Thanks!

2
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Dragon Fruit thread.
« on: September 16, 2019, 10:11:49 PM »




These which I believe to be the Golden Yellow variety are starting to pop up in stores now. Spotted these in a Asian market. Kinda pricey if I must say. I wonder what other varieties are they going to be importing in the future.
Oh these are from Vietnam.

3
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Dragon Fruit thread.
« on: July 27, 2019, 06:03:35 PM »
I'm stumped about one of my plant. It's currently 5 ft tall and have 3 buds growing. But I noticed the stems went from plump to skinny. It's the S8. I have another S8 that is about 4 ft tall with 2 buds. But the stems on that on is still plump. Is there a reason why it goes from being plump to skinny. Am I not watering enough? I water them max 2 times a week , sometimes one.
Skinny stems, ones that look more like actual branches and less like 3 sided 'finned' dragon fruit stems are usually caused be a lack of sunlight in my garden. My particular growing scheme means I have a lot of undergrowth if I don't keep things trimmed as much as I should and the new growth that is under eves or the plants canopy, meaning its shaded all day, will grow just as rapidly in length, but they don't have the plumpness to the branch as would be typical. Having said that, the internal woody core of the plant, its main circulatory '"artery" will still be of normal size and growth capacity. Think of it as a skinny kid with normal bones; the plant looks weaker but everything's still working. Now, if you have a main stem or runner that has this going on, as soon as it does manage to get back into a sunny area, it will resume growth normally, so you can allow these types of stems to remain if you want to use them for main runners or to shape your plants. As soon as normal conditions resume, normal growth should follow.
Of course, this is how it works here. It is possible that you might have a situation that, if sunlight isn't the issue, you might be lacking in a particular nutrient that the plant needs for proper development, but that would be on a case by case basis, and you would have to see what works for you. Or just go with an all in one type fertilizer and weed out the problems that way.

Thank you Rob! I think in my case you might be on point that it might be lack of nutrients. I have other varieties planted in the same pot as the other no longer plump S8. They all get full sun. The others are plump but not fruiting. I think you got a point it might be nutrient deficiency possibly by using all it's energy on fruiting and me not having a regular fertilizing schedule. Thanks again!

4
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Dragon Fruit thread.
« on: July 22, 2019, 03:28:10 PM »
I don't recall if I've ever asked this question but if I did, I'm sorry. I forgot the response
   Well a relative of mine wants to grow some DF in his backyard. The issue is , he lives in Daly Ciry, CA. Just wondering has anyone had any luck growing them over in that area or know if it'll grow there. I think there zone is 10b.
Daly City should be a very good location to grow DF, as it eliminates (mostly) the 2 conditions that inhibit healthy plants....too much heat (103+) and too much cold (34 and below). Costal cities tend to do well with dragon fruit, especially once they are established, as the aerial rooting system lends itself to the foggy mornings. As long as there is no issue with a lack of pollinators in the area (bees, etc.) then the plants should do well once they are past the cutting stage. To get them established, or to root cuttings, a warmer, and sunnier, spot would be preferable, such as against a western facing wall, so the plants can soak up additional heat radiation that the backing surface absorbs. Even a few hours a day on a cheap heating mat will help speed up maturity for newly rooted cuttings. Just make sure the soil has plenty of drainage, Nor Cal winters can be quite wet. Above ground containers/pots are probably preferable.


Thank you so much Rob!! I'll pass the info over to my relative! 😊

I just started growing some in pots in Redwood City (~15 miles away) earlier this year... weather is a bit less temperate than Daly City but mine have been very happily growing several inches a week this summer. 

On a related note, they will probably be 5-6 feet tall by September/October, when it'll start getting cooler and less sunny up here.  I've got a single stem going up - will it start branching out on its own eventually, or should I cut the tip to encourage more lateral growth?  If so, is it better to do that at a certain time of year, or does it not matter?

You should cut the tip off when it gets to the height you want. Then it'll start branching off and you could do that anytime.

5
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Dragon Fruit thread.
« on: July 21, 2019, 03:15:54 AM »
I'm stumped about one of my plant. It's currently 5 ft tall and have 3 buds growing. But I noticed the stems went from plump to skinny. It's the S8. I have another S8 that is about 4 ft tall with 2 buds. But the stems on that on is still plump. Is there a reason why it goes from being plump to skinny. Am I not watering enough? I water them max 2 times a week , sometimes one.

6
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Dragon Fruit thread.
« on: July 21, 2019, 03:12:08 AM »
I don't recall if I've ever asked this question but if I did, I'm sorry. I forgot the response
   Well a relative of mine wants to grow some DF in his backyard. The issue is , he lives in Daly Ciry, CA. Just wondering has anyone had any luck growing them over in that area or know if it'll grow there. I think there zone is 10b.
Daly City should be a very good location to grow DF, as it eliminates (mostly) the 2 conditions that inhibit healthy plants....too much heat (103+) and too much cold (34 and below). Costal cities tend to do well with dragon fruit, especially once they are established, as the aerial rooting system lends itself to the foggy mornings. As long as there is no issue with a lack of pollinators in the area (bees, etc.) then the plants should do well once they are past the cutting stage. To get them established, or to root cuttings, a warmer, and sunnier, spot would be preferable, such as against a western facing wall, so the plants can soak up additional heat radiation that the backing surface absorbs. Even a few hours a day on a cheap heating mat will help speed up maturity for newly rooted cuttings. Just make sure the soil has plenty of drainage, Nor Cal winters can be quite wet. Above ground containers/pots are probably preferable.


Thank you so much Rob!! I'll pass the info over to my relative! 😊

7
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Dragon Fruit thread.
« on: July 03, 2019, 09:27:04 PM »
What is this Palora Yellow I've been seeing on the forum? Is it the ones that's sold at the markets now? Cause those are already bigger than the standard SM we've been accustomed to seeing.

8
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Dragon Fruit thread.
« on: July 02, 2019, 03:29:51 PM »
I don't recall if I've ever asked this question but if I did, I'm sorry. I forgot the response
   Well a relative of mine wants to grow some DF in his backyard. The issue is , he lives in Daly Ciry, CA. Just wondering has anyone had any luck growing them over in that area or know if it'll grow there. I think there zone is 10b.

9
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Dragon Fruit thread.
« on: July 22, 2018, 08:51:59 PM »


Great find!!

Some people try to root the small cutting.

One person I know tried to tissue culture a small piece of stem.

Most people I know try to graft the small piece of stem onto a rooted Dragon Fruit plant.
[/quote]

Thanks!
I was surprised myself to find one with a niece piece of the stem still attached.
I'm going to try to root the cutting, since I'm not that experienced with the latter of the 2 methods.
The fruit itself was still sweet and delicious even though the skin had lots more green than the ones I usually purchased.
I'm going to be looking to see if I can find more with the same size stem I got this time around to try the grafting method.
Crossing my fingers and hope I find more.
I think the cashier thought I was crazy to have bought such green fruit...lol

10
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Dragon Fruit thread.
« on: July 21, 2018, 09:49:00 PM »
Bought this yellow dragon at the grocery store with a very lengthy piece of stem, about 2 to 2 1/3" inches long






11
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Dragon Fruit thread.
« on: June 07, 2018, 02:40:20 AM »
Got a Bud at bottom of the dragon fruit



Nice!! Hope yours set and gives you fruit!! I just planted my S8 but no buds on that one yet.

12
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Dragon Fruit thread.
« on: May 31, 2018, 02:51:06 AM »
I don't know much about the Haughton variety, other than I think its one of the 2 parent varieties of the S-8 plant, but I do know that the S-8 Sugar Dragon variety, which your plant looks quite similar to, is self fertile, and a very good pollinator for all other varieties Ive heard of. Does this plant have a single thorn in most points, thick and woody, like a rose's thorn, not spiny like a traditional cactus? Darker green skin, but leaning a bit more towards a greyer green as opposed to more of a leafy, emerald green? Its kinda hard to get a scope of the overall plant from the closeup.


That's what I heard too!
I'm not sure about the thorn. I tried looking for the thorns but there's none left. But the plant itself is like what you described, green but leans toward the grey side.



I've got about 75% self pollination and self fertilization on my Houghton this year. If you pollinate with it's own pollen you will get nearly 100%. Good luck. You can save the pollen for a while in the fridge also.


Hey Mark!!!
How you doing? Out already have flowers! I envy your weather   😁
Thanks sooo much for the cuttings and I can't believe it already set out a bud!
In about 2 weeks I guess as mentioned, I'll be able to see if the bud took or not and I'll definitely pollinate it! Hopefully I will have fruit to try this year!

13
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Dragon Fruit thread.
« on: May 30, 2018, 08:56:11 PM »
I don't know much about the Haughton variety, other than I think its one of the 2 parent varieties of the S-8 plant, but I do know that the S-8 Sugar Dragon variety, which your plant looks quite similar to, is self fertile, and a very good pollinator for all other varieties Ive heard of. Does this plant have a single thorn in most points, thick and woody, like a rose's thorn, not spiny like a traditional cactus? Darker green skin, but leaning a bit more towards a greyer green as opposed to more of a leafy, emerald green? Its kinda hard to get a scope of the overall plant from the closeup.


That's what I heard too!
I'm not sure about the thorn. I tried looking for the thorns but there's none left. But the plant itself is like what you described, green but leans toward the grey side.






14
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Dragon Fruit thread.
« on: May 29, 2018, 02:36:41 AM »
Its a flower bud. Its very young so it might not STAY a flower bud, especially if its your first one. You can tell if you look at it closely as the new growth looks like overlapping scales. A new branch will typically be a bit more triangular, and less rounded as what you're seeing. Again, it might revert back to stem growth, but if it hangs on for the first 2 weeks or so, it should remain a flower.

Here's what you'll see if you lose the flower due to not enough flowering hormones.



And here's what that will become if it's allowed to mature. Basically the flowers seem to be 6-sided stems, rather than 3, and if they revert back, they keep that hexagonal structure until either they decide its enough or the fruiting hormone bottoms out. I dont know if anyone has done any direct recearch on this phenomenon, but its pretty cool, and btw, harmless for the plant, if you decide to allow the six sided branch to continue.


Ah... Thank you!

I've actually had 2 buda revert back to a stem and it turned into those 6 sided ones from a NOID white variety. I removed it though.

But this is the first bud for me for this year and it's from a cutting I received last October I believe. It's about 16 inches tall and I just placed it in it's permanent spot beginning of this month. So I was kinda surprised since I'm still kinda new to growing DF, that it's possible it could be a bud. But the cutting did look like a really mature cutting though. I guess that might be the reason.
Hopes it stays a bud and blooms and maybe it'll be able to try a fruit from the Houghton variety. Hopefully I have pollen to cross pollinate if need be.

15
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Dragon Fruit thread.
« on: May 29, 2018, 01:01:24 AM »
It could be either one I've had some new growth convert in to flower buds. I have some Sugar Dragon cuttings that are flowering got them 5 months ago






Wow! Nice!!... Those must've been really mature cuttings!
Do you happen to know if the Houghton needs cross pollination?

16
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Dragon Fruit thread.
« on: May 28, 2018, 09:19:39 PM »



Noticed this bright red nub on a Houghton cutting I acquired end of last year from a nice member on their forum. I've heard that new growth on the red dragon fruit usually is red. Is this the same with Houghton or could this be a flower bud?

17
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Dragon Fruit thread.
« on: May 10, 2018, 02:04:56 PM »
Hi Sandy, they still grow ok in the shade? When are they old enough to go full sun?

They're doing ok. They get morning sun and afternoon shade when the sun's the hottest. Since they're still seedlings, I find it best to harden it off. These are the ones that I had recently planted outside and they were in the house in front of a bright window last month.
But I also have some that are doing great and those get sun from morning till sunset. But I slowly acclimated these to the sun. I had them get morning sun and afternoon shade for a few weeks first
 Then when they got a little bigger and thicker, I slowly let them get more sun.
But I've also read that the yellow dragon are more sensitive to the cold and heat. It isn't really hot where I'm at right now. But when it gets to the 80s, I plan on just giving them morning sun and afternoon shade and that'll be a good 5 hrs of sun for them.

18
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Dragon Fruit thread.
« on: May 09, 2018, 07:39:32 PM »
I'm growing some yellow DF from seeds too and some of mine got sunburned cause I let it get full sun. Now it only gets morning sun.

19
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Dragon Fruit thread.
« on: April 22, 2018, 07:02:45 PM »
I did try it. Was slightly underwhelming but given the plant is quite small and it has been struggling due to the very dry weather, it was ok. Hopefully next season will be more productive. The fruit was only the size of a chickens egg but I was just pleased that it was a pink fleshed Megalanthus variety!



Yeah, hopefully next year plant will be healthier thus hopefully produces better tasting fruit.   😁

20
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Dragon Fruit thread.
« on: April 19, 2018, 03:01:09 PM »





Finally got a fruit to set on my Megalanthus x unknown variety, (Yellow x 68, Matt’s Landscape)! Only a very small fruit, possibly due to lack of cross pollination 🤔🤔🤔🤔, not sure if it is self fertile or not.
Was happy to see it had hot pink flesh(not obvious in photo), but flavour was ordinary.
Hopefully next season will be better. Knowing it’s a megalanthus with pink flesh will probably encourage me to spoil the plant a bit!


Nice looking fruit. The seeds look like the size of the megelanthus. Have you tried it yet?

21
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Dragon Fruit thread.
« on: January 06, 2018, 10:31:41 PM »
Stopped by at the grocery store and noticed they were selling 2 different sizes of the yellow dragon. They had the smaller one, about the size of a guava. And this one, which I bought. It was I think 14 oz, so almost a pound. It was being sold at $8.99/ lb and the smaller one was $6.99/ lb. I wonder why the price difference. I’m wondering if it’s due to the size or could the bigger one be the giant yellow. But it still tastes good. 😋 I
I also see that it's getting to be more readily available especially in Asian maekets. I just found it being sold in another market.


22
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Dragon Fruit thread.
« on: December 17, 2017, 10:09:59 PM »
Here you go, I’m not sure if this is the same seller from years past but he has seeds available.

http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=26031.0

Simon

Thanks Simon.
Ohh... that’s the guy I bought the Peruvian Giant yellow seeds from. It just sprouted a couple days ago.
Is the Peruvian giant the same as the one from Ecuador?
Now I just gonna wait a couple years to see what size fruit I get.

23
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Dragon Fruit thread.
« on: December 17, 2017, 05:17:22 PM »
I know Edgar is the expert but I believe he is wrong. I state this because a forum member here has grown the giant variety here in California and fruited it to large size. He posted pictures on this forum but I forget under what thread title.

We should know in a few years because many people ordered seeds from Dragon.

Simon

Ah.. this gives me hope. Good to know. Cause planted some Peruvian Giant yellow, so hopefully in a few years , I’ll have fruit which hopefully is bigger than the regular S.M.

Dragon? Is there a way I can order seeds from Dragon?

24
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Dragon Fruit thread.
« on: December 17, 2017, 02:35:54 AM »
Correction, I just looked at the date , he posted it on nov 21 of this year
Here’s the link to the video
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wPiwQfK5cz0

Wow, seven months from flowering to ripe fruit!

Yup. Compared to red skinned dragon fruit. That’s why it’s so expensive at the markets

25
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Dragon Fruit thread.
« on: December 15, 2017, 02:45:33 PM »
Oh, here’s the pic


Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 6