This variety is the first hybrid (H. Stenopterus x H. Guatemalensis) in the Asunta Series. It was made by Edgar Valdivia, who is a member of the California Rare Fruit Growers group.
Description
The flower is pink (the inner petals of this beautiful flower range from pink to purple) and can’t reproduce on its own. It needs to cross-pollinate, and the flowers might need to be opened by hand. Edgar Valdivia wanted to make the fruit bigger because it was smaller than the other ones in the series. He did this by pollinating it with the large Condor variety.
Origin: | California |
Peel color: | Green |
Flesh color: | White / light purple to pink |
Mature height: | 4 - 10 ft. |
Sun: | Full to part sun |
Hardiness: | Around 30 degrees |
Water: | Low-medium (1-4 times weekly during dry months when established) |
Flavor: | Sweet, cinnamon comes through in the taste. |
Brix: | ~18 |
Pollination: | Self-sterile, requires x- pollination |
Days to harvest: | ~60 |
Growth rate: | 4 out of 5 |
Weather tolerance: | 4 out of 5 |
Fruit production: | 3 out of 5 |
Flavor: | 5 out of 5 |
Home planting: | 4 out of 5 |
Commercial planting: | 3 out of 5 |
Stems are thick and short, and there is only one thorn. It produces a lot. Very hardy plant that can handle heat and sun. It starts producing fruit at a young age and blooms earlier than most Dragon Fruit, in early May. It keeps producing fruit all summer and fall, until November 7–16.
If you live in a warmer climate or are an urban gardener with limited space, you can grow this dragon fruit cultivar in a pot. It is easy to grow and does well in containers. You can move it to a pot and keep it there for the winter to protect it from frost, since pitaya plants can only handle short periods of freezing temperatures (below 28 F is bad) and frost.
How to plant
This dragonfruit variety comes from a cactus, which means it likes to be in the sun and heat. It will do better if you plant it in a dry, sunny spot. If you live in a hot area, you should choose a spot that gets some shade.
The dragon fruit plant is a climbing cactus, so it needs something to climb on. As the plant gets older, it usually grows aerial roots from its branches and finds something to climb. So, if you want to grow dragonfruit, you should find something to hold up your plant. Put a strong trellis on it or build an arbor.
Choose sandy, loamy soil that drains well if you want to grow dragonfruit. It would be fine to mix sand with garden soil. It can grow in poor soil.
Since the pitahaya is a cactus, you should water it like you would other succulents: carefully and in small amounts. Only water when the soil is dry.
Conclusion
Almost anywhere on Earth, you can grow this dragon fruit variety. It needs to be protected in places that get very cold, because it grows best in warm places with mild winters. It can be pretty resistant to drought and can live in very dry conditions.
However, the plant seems to like regular watering (in soil that drains well), and this seems to help it make better fruit. Yes, pitaya plants can grow even if they aren’t taken care of, but they’ll do much better in rich, well-drained soil with a lot of water.