In this topic, we will talk about a variety of dragon fruit called L.A. WOMAN. It’s not the most popular variety (we’ll tell you why), but you should know more about it.
Description
The dragon fruit plant, also called pitaya/pitahaya (sometimes called the “moonflower” or “Lady of the Night”), is a cactus vine that grows well in dry places. Because it grows on other plants, it does best in soil with a lot of organic matter.
The flowers are white and can be as big as 30cm or even bigger. When they bloom (come out around November or December), they smell sweet and are very pretty. Only one night, the flowers bloom. They are bell-shaped and smell good when they are in bloom. When the flower is pollinated, a pink egg-shaped fruit will grow.
| Plant type: | Perennial / vine / fruit |
| Zones: | 9a-11 |
| Size: | H: 6'-20'; W: 6'-20' |
| Fruit: | Red |
| Flower color: | White |
| Flavor: | 2 out of 5 |
| Appearance: | 5 out of 5 |
| Production: | 3 out of 5 |
| Home planting: | 2 out of 5 |
| Commercial planting: | 2 out of 5 |
Dragonfruits are also called cactus fruits. They are related to orchid cacti and epiphyllum plants. Epiphyllums are known for having flowers that are big and showy. Most people eat the fruit raw, and it tastes best when it’s cold. You can also drink it as a juice. The flesh is sweet and sometimes goes into a tropical sorbet with mango.
It is true that the big difference in color between the inside and outside of this variety is what makes it so popular with growers and consumers all over the world. The stems are triangular and have tiny spines along the ribs. If you want even bigger fruit, you should thin out the buds, which are very full.
If this is your first time growing Dragon Fruit, this isn’t the best choice. The main reason for this is that this variety is not self-pollinating, which means that it won’t make fruit unless it is pollinated by hand.
Conclusion
This is a very pretty but not very useful cultivar. It has a smooth, mild flavor that is sweet and refreshing, but it tends to leave a bad taste in your mouth. The fruit size is usually between 0.75 and 1.5 pounds.
This variety does need to be cross-pollinated to set fruit, making V. Jaina the best alternative for a white-fleshed fruit.
