I was never a big fan of Dragon fruit but since we have been growing our own here at Tullamore Farm in the Scenic Rim I can’t eat enough of them. We have mainly Reds and besides the amazing flavours they are really nutritious. Saw this idea on YouTube some time ago and just loved the funky look. We have 10 on posts like this and all are continuing to thicken up and are quite productive.
For those who are space challenged or who may need to move in the future, growing in large pots is a practical option. Dragon fruit are a member of the Cactus family and don’t need heaps of watering but anything grown in pots tend to dry out quicker.
We fertilize them in April and October with those in pots receiving either organic chicken manure pellets or blood and bone while those out in the orchards receive our home made compost. We always ensure we keep a good layer of woodchip around the base of the plants to help retain the moisture.
Dragon fruit can be grown from cuttings but like most fruit trees you should always ensure you are starting with the best possible plant. The fruit are expensive to buy, so select well when planting yours. Their flowers are quite large and extremely attractive but only last about 24hours and they always attract masses of bees.
Like most fruit trees they respond well to pruning and we prune ours in May each year. This encourages them to throw out more downward hanging tendrils come spring. We also grow Dragon fruit up 2 metre posts in the traditional manner. I never tire of walking past them and in particular when they flower or have fruit. Do you like the look?
