Dragon Fruit Musings

I give a dragon fruit update and discuss the different dragon fruit cultivars I grow. The dragon fruit varieties I discuss are Columbian Supreme, Condor, Aztec Gem, Frankie's Red and Trish. I discuss the various strengths of the cultivars and give my recommendations about which dragon fruit you should grow.
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[@dougs_urbanfarm]

The frankies that you gave me is going well, will have to steal an Aztec gem cutting. I have been out collecting pollen from my white to pollinate my darkstar and delight.

[@PracticalPrimate]

Anytime Doug :) let me know how the dark star is!

[@griffinc3263]

That's good news about the Frankie's Red - I have a small one in a pot currently. There is also a purple-megalanthus, which is said to be quite similar to the Frankie's Red.

[@PracticalPrimate]

I have hard something about that Griffin but haven’t ever seen it. Would be interesting for sure!

[@griffinc3263]

@@PracticalPrimate I believe a grower at Noosa has some. A variety I'd recommend as well would probably be Pink Panther, they seem to be quite similar to Aztec Gem.

[@velocecarriola9214]

The Colombian does not like the cold, it becomes stressed and becomes susceptible to disease, frost will hit it hard. Although it is self fertile, it's pollen does not exhibit much vigor which can result in no pollination of other varieties or a small fruit yield from them. Any sort of stress such as too hot, too cold, too wet, too dry will render certain varieties more prone to disease than others, most of the time it is o a aesthetics which can be a problem for a home garden as this is important. I know this variety is grown commercially n the Glasshouse Mountains and is prone to at ants and other insect damage. S-8 or otherwise known as Sugar Dragon has pollen with vigor, it will flower and fruit profusely right through the season pollinating just about every other variety, cross pollination is also good for self fertile varieties producing larger sweeter fruit. It is a smaller red fruit and can take some time to root. Dark star is a great variety which does well in Sth East QLD it is a hybrid but is self sterile so will need to be pollinated, the Colombian will pollinate it however the S-8 has a far higher strike rate. It is an amazing tasting fruit. Also resistant to insect and cold damage. ISIS/Aussie Gold and Scott's purple are other interesting varieties, both need to be pollinated.

[@PracticalPrimate]

Great info thanks! :) yes I am considering planting s8/sugar dragon for the reasons you mention. Sounds like a great cultivar. I have Aussie gold here in a pot too, I may double up some of my posts with two cultivars. I wonder if s8 would be vigorous enough to hand with Trish on the same post?

[@velocecarriola9214]

@@PracticalPrimate I think the Trish/prickly red is far more aggressive than S-8 in more ways than one.. not only will the top be over grown but the root zone also. You could dig out the Trish roots from the side of the post you are planting the S-8 and cut back the top once the S-8 reaches the top?

[@Coolclimatetropicalfruits]

Nice mate I have the same rusty fungus and had it bad this year with the rain I gave it a copper fungicide because I had it mixed at the time for peaches and nectarines and it maybe held it back for a little while at most Not sure how to tackle it You could always graft on the Trish or maybe multiple

[@PracticalPrimate]

Thanks mate. Yeah good points, the rust doesn’t seem to worry it much. Not sure on the Trish, I’ll see how the fruit are after hand pollinating and make the decision after that I reckon.

[@Wallabynge]

Thanks for the warning about Trish. Was about to make that mistake. My list at the moment is voodoo, sugar dragon, pink panther, lemonade, purple megalanthus. As a fallback, I'd like ones that flower all the time, so I can keep it within view. I'd like a purple flower one as well. My main issue is living in a harsh area, which got the fires recently and killed eucs. Very little is worth growing if it ends up being like a pet that you have to take care of all summer. You even have to choose your breed of mango. I accidentally discovered the Nam Doc Mai, which is a thai one that's more resistant to black blurk. I'm eyeing off the Glenn mango as well. Mangoes are one fruit that can survive drought. Fuyu persimmon is bomb proof, but not pest proof. Given up with citrus - far too hungry and pesty. Isabella grape is also bomb proof, and makes for a pergola. I have a great seedling variant of grummichama, but most of them arent 43C tolerant. Hooroo.

[@KloySnaehkaraoke]

Use organic Neem oil for treatment of fungicide

[@AnnoyingNeighborPhilippines]

That place looks like philippines

[@sharmisharu3588]

Wow really good this i am in india where u are

[@PracticalPrimate]

Thanks! I am in Australia (Brisbane)

[@sharmisharu3588]

@@PracticalPrimate ok great this plant cutting available?

[@dianastarodub7592]

Give to your plants superthrive vitamin solution ..this solution is good with all fertilizers..use everytime you water your plants..and your plants will be healthier and they will be resistant for all types of fungus and rust..

[@christineoryemalalobolubwa2339]

Taste it before getting rid of it...😂😂