Alice Dragon Fruit

“Alice dragon fruit” named after Alice Snow, who was a member of the California Rare Fruit Grower organization. It is a medium-sized, semisweet fruit that usually weighs between 0.2 and 0.45 kg. When the fruit is fully ripe, the outside skin is a bright hot pink, which makes it one of the most eye-catching kinds.

Description

“Alice” (also called pitaya, pitahaya, hylocereus Alice, hylocereus undatus, night blooming Cereus, strawberry pear etc.) is a tropical fruit that is easy to grow and comes from Central and South America. It is in the subtropical cactus family. But for this variety to set fruit, it needs to be cross-pollinated. It is a deep pink or red color and has small scales on the skin. The inside of the fruit is white and has small black seeds. This fruit is very juicy, and you can eat it fresh or used in smoothies, salads, or desserts.

Dragon fruit, also known as pitaya, is a tropical fruit that is becoming more and more popular in the United States. This fruit is unique because it has a flavor that combines sweet and tart flavors. Some people say that dragon fruit tastes like a mix of kiwi and strawberry. Others say that it has a more subtle flavor that reminds them of honeydew or watermelon.

Dragon fruit is a hardy crop that can grow even when the weather gets very bad because of climate change. Dragon fruit production helps to fight poverty by giving rural families a good way to make money from their home gardens and empty lots. If a family can pick a few kilograms of fruit, they can sell it at the market right away. In the same way, the flowers, peels, and the fruits of the dragon cactus can be used to make money for the family.

With the money from the sale, the family can meet its basic needs. It can also solve the problems of fruits being too expensive and people not getting enough food. Dragon cactus can be grown in home gardens so that even low-income families can have access to its tasty and healthy fruit.

Uses and benefits

The fruits can be eaten as they are, or they can be made into ice cream, cookies, candies, jam, wines, shakes, special drinks, or flavors for all kinds of drinks and food. Flowers can be used to make soups, lumpia, and other dishes. The pulp from the skin can be made into embotido, pickles, jam, or boiled to make drinks that are good for you. You can make beauty soap from the stems and skin pulp.

How to plant

Dragon Fruit grows best in soils that drain well and in full sun to part shade. This cactus needs to be watered often, and you shouldn’t let the soil dry out between waterings.

The vine will grow from the plant’s root if you keep the plant in full sun and a warm temperature. Once the root has grown, new vines will start to grow from it.

Get a Dragon fruit from the grocery store that is grown organically and scoop out the seeds. Before you plant the seeds, you should first wash them and let them dry for a night. Just put Dragon seeds in compost or potting mix, and the seeds should sprout in two weeks.

When the plants reach about one meter tall, cut off the shoots. Before the shoots reach the crown, cut the tops off of them so that more shoots can grow. Train the shoots to spread out, making a structure that looks like an umbrella.

Soil nutrient requirements

How to grow a Dragon fruit plant and what it needs? This dragon plants can grow in any soil that drains well, but they do best in slightly acidic soil with a pH level between 6 and 7.

It does best in sandy soil, but if that’s not an option, just make sure the soil drains well.

Irrigation

If it’s not raining, water the dragon cactus twice a week and right after applying fertilizer. If it is raining, don’t water it. Wet the posts to encourage aerial roots to grow from the underside of the stems. These roots will help the plants climb up the posts.

Pruning

Cut back the stems to get an umbrella canopy that is open, easy to handle, and full of flowers. Take off the new shoots that are growing from the base of the plant. These can be used to start new plants.

Weeding

Weed by hand within 30 cm of each post, and use a brass cutter to cut the weeds between the posts.

Pest Management

Ants eat the dragon cactus’s stems and fruits. When scale insects eat the stems, they start to rot. Only spray soap solution or insecticide on the parts of the plant that are hurt. Fruit fly larvae eat the fruit, which makes it go bad.

Use pheromone traps made of methyl eugenol to catch this pest. You can use plastic, cloth, or paper bags to pack the fruits. Use the color of the bags as codes to figure out when the harvest is. If a plant has a disease caused by fungus, remove the diseased parts or spray it with a fungicide.

Harvest

Dragon fruit season usually starts in late April, but June and July are when production is at its highest. The harvest season starts in November, but some fruits can continue to be picked until December. The cactus plants all bloom at the same time 8 to 10 times a year. Because of this, the harvest also takes place every 8 to 10 months.

After being picked, fresh fruits are sorted, and those that meet quality standards are put in paper boxes and sent to market. Fruits that aren’t very good are used in the processing.

Nutritional value

Pitahaya is low in calories and high in fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants. One cup of dragon fruit has only 62 calories and 5 grams of fiber. Dragon fruit is also a good source of vitamin C and antioxidants, providing 36% and 79% of the Daily Value (DV), respectively. Remember that antioxidants can help protect the body against cell damage!

This plant is also a good source of vitamin C, vitamin B6, and minerals such as potassium and magnesium. Pitaya may help improve heart health by reducing bad cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Dragonfruit may also help protect against cancer and improve eye health.

The Enchanting Alice: My Journey with the White Pearl of Dragon Fruits

For years, my farm has been a symphony of greens – the sprawling emerald blanket of cacti, the jade tendrils reaching for the sun. But a few seasons ago, I decided to add a vibrant melody to this chorus. Enter the Alice dragon fruit, a captivating variety that stole my heart (and taste buds) with its stunning looks and delicate flavor.

Now, I’m not gonna lie, venturing into new territory can be daunting. It’s like planting a seed of uncertainty alongside your precious seedling. But the Alice, with its bright pink peel that resembles a sunset cast on dragon scales, was too tempting to resist. Those fiery scales, by the way, are more aesthetic than prickly. They’re soft to the touch, unlike the spiky armor of some other dragon fruit varieties.

The real magic unfolds when you cut into the Alice. Unlike its red-fleshed cousins, the Alice reveals a pearly white interior, like a moonlight serenade captured in a fruit. The black seeds, scattered throughout, resemble tiny musical notes waiting to be played. The first bite? A revelation. The flesh is unbelievably sweet, with a subtle floral hint that lingers on your tongue like a fragrant memory. It’s juicy, but not messy – think of a pear with the tropical flair of a kiwi.

Now, growing the Alice is a process that requires a delicate touch. These cacti are finicky fellows, thriving in warm, humid environments. Think of them as divas – they need their temperatures just right, not too hot, not too cold. And forget about throwing them in the ground and hoping for the best. They need well-draining soil and support structures to climb, like trellises or poles. Picture a jungle gym for pampered cacti.

The payoff, however, is more than worth the extra effort. The Alice produces abundantly, with multiple blooms throughout the season, each one transforming into a jewel-toned fruit a few weeks later. It’s like having a front-row seat to a never-ending fruit fashion show.

Michael Gorelov

But the beauty of the Alice extends beyond aesthetics. It' a nutritional powerhouse. Packed with antioxidants and vitamins, it's a health nut's dream. Plus, its low-calorie count makes it a guilt-free indulgence.

Here’s the thing, though: the Alice is more than just a fruit; it’s an experience. It’s a conversation starter at farmers’ markets, a burst of sunshine on a gloomy day, and a delightful addition to any fruit salad. I’ve even experimented with incorporating it into smoothies and salsas, the vibrant pink peel adding a touch of whimsy to the dish.

So, if you’re looking to add a touch of the exotic to your life, consider the Alice dragon fruit. It’s a testament to the fact that sometimes, the most beautiful things come in the most unexpected packages. And who knows, it might just become the star of your own agricultural symphony.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Alice Dragon Fruit is a unique and interesting fruit that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. It is a great source of nutrients, and it has many health benefits. I highly recommend giving this fruit a try if you have the opportunity. Thanks for reading!

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