EatTheWeeds: Episode 144: Cereus, Dragon Fruit

www.eattheweeds...
www.eattheweeds...
www.eattheweeds...
In this video Green Deane shows you the edible fruit of the Cereus cactus. Commercial versions are sold as "Dragon Fruit." Like this video? 135 of Green Deane's You Tubes are available on DVDs: www.eattheweeds...

[@MisterThomasPAINE2]

This is STILL the best channel on KZbin. Another great video, Deane.

[@BoltRunner]

MisterThomasPAINE2 post mire

[@blakeinkzoo]

I love that you dumpster dive too Dean! Forage in the woods, fields, and behind stores. Hahahaha :) Happy Hunting

[@robertkelly1200]

That passiflora spp. makes one potent dye, even though it is edible and small I find more utility from its deep indigo color. Diluted in water the berry juice of the passiflora spp. makes a weaker blue dye. So strong a dye it is that you can easily stain your hands for several hours if left unwashed.

[@Jesses001]

I know first hand that cactus are found in all kinds of environments. I grow up in New Jersey. We had a large ground covering cactus with large paddles. The inner central pulp was edible, though a bit slimy if not cooked. I thought myself and one other person I know where the only ones to have a pile of discarded granite sitting around ha. Nice floor by the way; One of a kind to say the least.

[@JaceNigga]

Do you teach classes in this field? Botany has always been a fascinating subject to me and I learn very well from you. Normally this isn't true with previous teachers/professor's. I've just recently discovered Pyracantha growing wildly nearby that if not for your videos I would have ignored it assuming it was a poisonous look a-like. So, thank you for these videos Greene! I hope you keep at them as they are both educational and fun to view.

[@chunfu2]

That's is NOT Dragonfruit! That's Cereus repandus, a cactus fruit, or the Peruvian Apple Cactus.

[@EatTheWeeds]

Correct, it is not cultivated Dragon Fruit. But it is an uncultivated similar version.

[@chunfu2]

***** It doesn't even look like a dragonfruit. One type needs to climb, another can support itself.

[@lummoxlewis70]

Great vid. That flooring job is awesome

[@EatTheWeeds]

Thanks. I was beginning to wonder if anyone even saw it. I used a mider saw with a masonary blade to trim the pieces. Then it was just a puzzle to make them fit.

[@chunfu2]

Dragonfruit have a completely different genus compared to Cereus, so Dragonfruit is not a commercially breed variety, just a different genus.

[@EatTheWeeds]

Different species, but used the same way.

[@chunfu2]

EatTheWeeds Taste the same, I suppose?

[@WendyCzechAutismFamilySavers]

***** Hylocereus are the most typical dragonfruit or pitaya/pitahaya, but cereus peruvianus IS also referred to as a dragonfruit, even though c.peruvianus is not an officially accepted name. Cereus repandus IS referred to as a pitaya, as well. Selenicereus megalanthus is also called dragonfruit. cesandiego.ucdavis.edu/files/55065.pdf. UCCE has been doing extensive research into the cultivation of dragonfruit (to phase out avocado) in Southern California...Why ^that dude is so upset is beyond me. I, myself have 15 different variety. UCCE has been doing genetic and DNA and I'll go by what they say....because I too must be stupid citizen :) Angry man needs to do his own research.

[@chunfu2]

Wendy Czech I'm not angry. It's just that Cereus does not equal to Dragonfruit even though they are closely related. Ur just poiting out as that both have the same name.

[@chunfu2]

***** I'm not saying which is better. I'm saying it is different.

[@capitannemo8583]

Oh, you gotta eat it together with SKIN!!! What a waaaste pal 😐 There are many of them in Cuba and they are delicious! Muuuch better than dragonfruits as to my liking... Cubans say they are being used for medicinal purposes (not sure for what in particular though).

[@thenrylee]

144 videos? That's gross...... Sorry. Sometime I just can't help myself.

[@EatTheWeeds]

Maybe I should just stop there.

[@thenrylee]

EatTheWeeds Please don't stop on my account. You are one of my favorite channels. Keep up the good work and keep eating more weeds. (I noticed I left an s off sometimes in my previous comment. I'll keep working on my typing and my jokes.)

[@naokikashima9349]

After watching your videos I am faithfully eating the weeds around my house. I changed my icon, but I'm still a huge fan of your work and your videos.

[@FusionDeveloper]

It would be neat if you made new videos with 1080p or better quality, where you compare a ton of similar looking plants and how to spot the differences. I will check out your UFO section, maybe I will take a bunch of pictures and upload for ID. (update: I applied to register, now just waiting for acceptance).

[@FusionDeveloper]

I've never seen a dragon fruit cactus grow that fat and upright. There are also Yellow fruits that are covered in thorns and I heard it is sweeter and also a Red dragon fruit that is Red inside. If you want a red Dragon Fruit with white inside plant, you can collect the seeds from a single fruit (cost about $4, seasonal), and grow probably 1,000 or more cacti from it. Separating the seeds, while leaving food behind seems impractical, so just plan on the part you collect seeds from, as being sacrificed. I've mixed in water and drank the water, but being watered down doesn't taste good. I did this and gave some away and was given a large dragon fruit cactus plant 2 years after starting from seeds. I've also seen the plants for sale within the last month. I think it is neat to see the plant for sale, but i have PLENTY of them already that I got for free. I love premade dragon fruit juice from the store, but fresh dragon fruit runs through my body TOO FAST (in a bad way). I talked to someone who said they had the same issue. They look awesome, don't taste that great, so buying the juice seems like the best option, or growing as an ornamental or sharing.

[@djgiga2]

Dragon fruit is yum!

[@Tee643]

they hybridize readily, so it can be near impossible to tell the species apart. they also spread naturally, not just from people, are cold tolerant of course, and they do come in spineless forms. the fruit taste vary greatly and in production but are always pretty to look at. cultivars are "Peach" And "Kiwi", very hard to find.

[@robertkelly1200]

That passiflora spp. makes one potent dye, even though it is edible and small I find more utility from its deep indigo color. Diluted in water the berry juice of the passiflora spp. makes a weaker blue dye. So strong a dye it is that you can easily stain your hands for several hours if left unwashed.

[@chunfu2]

Deane, can you tell me if you grow this cactus, and where did you video graphed it?(country, maybe state, and is it your neighbors?) I would REALLY like to know the growing conditions of this cactus. Thank you for replying!

[@EatTheWeeds]

All examples were taken in Florida, central and south. One was a regular lawn, another was a dry field, and the third was a desert landscape but we get plenty of rain here.

[@sunshine885]

San Pedro cactus. Cereus has flat “leaves” and climbs. A lot is misinformation.

[@solarwonder]

i too thought this was called peruvian apple. but i did not have much chance to dissect it or compare its finer details

[@Shuggies]

Green Dean!!! So glad to see you again.!!) some of your vids i just cant acsess for reason... But this one loaded right up...!) question.. If finding trimming of this plant. Will it root easily or will it require sime special planting tecnique.?? Thanks.!) & good show...

[@EatTheWeeds]

Yes, the trimmings will root easily.

[@seecanon5840]

Paddle cactus gives the tunias also eatable as well as the paddles.

[@OffGridInvestor]

i think collectively they are known as "cacti". well at least I think they are.

[@EatTheWeeds]

Thanks. It depends on what language you want to default to: English, Dead Latin, Greek... Opuntia, for example, is Greek and said with a T not a soft C. Knowing the plant is what's most important.

[@MrUgahcanada]

Hey there Green Dean, how far north do you know of cacti growing? Would they be native in, say, New York?

[@EatTheWeeds]

My article on the main webstie talks about that. Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont do not have any native cactus.

[@acykat2069]

Hard cutting boards are murder on knives!

[@asupremum1246]

I can't understand why anyone would call this dragon fruit. It doesn't even have the characteristic green scales of pitaya fruit (dragonfruit). I know the fruit of this cactus instead as cactus apple which seems more appropriate. I have a 15' tall specimen of the plant in a corner of my yard. It only fruits way up high so I never have gotten a chance to taste it. It's the tallest specimen I've seen around.

[@greendeane1]

I agree, I have no idea why the commercial version is called Dragon Fruit. Blame some marketing department somewhere, I suppose.

[@asupremum1246]

@@greendeane1 , well it's "fiery" red with green "reptile like" scales

[@sidneywhite749]

Not a dragon fruit as I know =pitaya

[@Cruiser052]

It's been so long that I had actually forgotten about being subbed to you. I'm looking forward to watching this as soon as KZbin cooperates.

[@Cruiser052]

I only know of two cactus fruit, the prickley pear and dragon fruit, but I never got around to finding out what species the dragon fruit came from. Thanks Dean, I'm going to keep an eye out for Cereus now. Are there any other Cacti that we should know about?

[@EatTheWeeds]

Cruiser052 Nopales pads and fruit are edible.

[@GrandpaD78]

Glad to have you back!

[@happybuddyperson]

I grow Opuntia humifusa. They make fruit in Ontario, and the pads are edible when despined. They grow slow, and are very ornamental.

[@xafania1]

Great Green Deane!

[@BoingotheClown]

Why so Cereus?

[@FusionDeveloper]

It looks so delicious. I know what your talking about with cactus seeds being hard and breaking teeth, like the prickly pear cactus seeds.

[@bluewaterpines8323]

Great video.someone stole my beautiful cereus plants and my turkey tail mushroom logs from my patio.boo hoo.

[@chrisjen8816]

I've been missing you Green Dean.

[@archangelg1748]

yup

[@propperdad]

love your videos, please never stop.

[@FatGuyWithAKatana]

oh i was gonna joke about being serious but never mind. i shared your videos with my brother who's real big into cooking stuff, he seems interested.