The species Selenicereus setaceus is native to Brazil and is also known as “Pitaia do Cerrado” or “Saborosa”, but some producers have called it “Baby Cerrado” (“Pitaya baby” or “Tasty”).
Description
As we say Baby Cerrado is a type of the South American Selenicereus setaceus. It is a subspecies of the Brazilian Cerrados. This type grows naturally in the states of Minas Gerais, Bahia, Goiás, Distrito Federal, Mato Grosso, and Tocantins on rocky mountains, old tree trunks, and sand soils of high fields.
Baby Cerrado’s growth is a darker green color, and it has three very small but strong spins. Once a plant is established, it can grow quickly.
| Genus: | Hylocereus |
| Plant type: | Cacti |
| Self-pollinating: | Self-sterile |
| Outside color: | Red |
| Pulp color: | White |
| Taste: | Good flavor |
| Soil pH: | Neutral |
| Exposure: | Full sun to shade |
| Water: | Little water |
| Soil: | Rich organic matter plus sand |
| Flavor: | 4 out of 5 |
| Appearance: | 5 out of 5 |
| Fruit production: | 4 out of 5 |
| Home planting: | 3 out of 5 |
| Commercial planting: | 3 out of 5 |
When flower buds open, “hairy buttons” come out. As the buds continue to grow, the hairs at the base of the flower are replaced by spins. Compared to other Hylocereus species, the flowers and flower stigmas were small.
Since this variety is self-sterile, it needs another flower to pollinate it, so it can make fruit.
When the sun goes down, the flowers start to open. When the sun comes up, they wither away. As the fruit grows, the spins turn bright pink, which stands out against the bright green skin. When the fruit is ready to be picked, its skin is dark red and has loosely connected spins that can be easily brushed off.
The average brix of the fruits that were tested was 18, and the fruits from years two and three were even better, with brix ratings of 20 or more. Fruit weight from 100 to 300g and tastes sweet and tropical at the same time.
The Baby Cerrado: A Dragonfruit Worth the Chase
Let me tell you, farming ain’t for the faint of heart. It’s a constant dance with Mother Nature, a gamble on sunshine and rain, and a battle against critters with an insatiable appetite for your crops. But then there are those moments, those victories that make the dirt under your fingernails and the sweat dripping down your brow all worth it. And that’s exactly what the Baby Cerrado dragon fruit brought to my farm.
Now, I’ve been raising these exotic beauties for over a decade. Seen my fair share of the pinks, the reds, the yellows – you name it. But the Baby Cerrado, that was a whole new story. Here’s this fruit, lookin’ like a magenta hot air balloon that crash-landed on your cactus vine. The skin’s a vibrant pink, the kind that could put a flamingo to shame, and it’s dotted with these tiny emerald spines that give it a wild, almost prehistoric vibe. But the real magic lies beneath that eye-catching exterior.
Growing this little gem, though, wasn’t a walk in the park. It’s a finicky creature, this Baby Cerrado. Needs just the right amount of sunshine – too much and it gets sunburnt, too little and it just sits there sulking. And don’t even get me started on watering. Too much, and it throws a tantrum by rotting from the inside out. Too little, and it shrivels up faster than a forgotten birthday balloon. It took a lot of trial and error, folks. Countless hours spent tinkering with the irrigation system, adjusting the shade levels, whispering sweet nothings to the vine (well, maybe not that last one). But slowly, surely, I began to understand its rhythm, its needs.
And let me tell you, the reward was sweeter than any dragon fruit I’d ever tasted. The first time I harvested a batch that was perfect – plump, vibrantly pink, and bursting with that unique flavor – it felt like winning the agricultural lottery. Here I was, a simple farmer, holding a fruit that was as rare as a four-leaf clover, and it had sprouted from my own two hands.
Now, the Baby Cerrado might be a bit of a diva, but the effort is absolutely worth it. It’s a conversation starter at farmers markets, a showstopper on dessert plates, and a flavor experience unlike any other. It’s a testament to the fact that sometimes, the most beautiful things require the most care. So, if you’re looking for a challenge, a chance to grow something truly special, then the Baby Cerrado might just be the dragonfruit for you. Just be prepared to put in the work, because this little beauty won’t give up her secrets easily. But when you finally crack that perfect fruit open, the taste of victory – and jasmine – will be well worth it.
Conclusion
This plant comes from South America, where it grows on old trees and rocky outcroppings. A fast-growing and vigorous plant, it produces annually a large amount of sweet tasting and very attractive fruits. It can be cultivated in almost all Brazilian territory. There are several variations of this species, some of them being the object of research as potential commercial cultivation.
Undemanding plant, develops and produces fast, within one year. It only needs a structure about 1.5 m high to grow, establish itself, flower and fructify. Its own pollen can be used, but the success rate is 30%. That is, every 10 flowers that are hand pollinated can yield only 3 fruit.
