In Nicaragua, you can often find red-fleshed dragon fruits growing in volcanic soil, which makes them much sweeter and tastier. One such hybrid called Nicaraguan red we would like to talk about in this article.
Description
The species guatemalensis in the genus Hylocereus is the one that grows in Nicaragua. This type of Dragon Fruit has a thin, bright purple skin and bright purple flesh. It comes from a large Dragon Fruit plantation in Nicaragua that grows dragonfruit for sale.
The average size of the fruits is between 0.75 and 1 pound, and they taste sweet and tropical. Many people are surprised by its mild taste, which is similar to that of melon or pear, with a similar texture and a hint of tartness. Some people call it the “Kiwi fruit of Nicaragua”.
| Genus: | Hylocereus |
| Plant type: | Cacti |
| Self-pollinating: | Self-fertile |
| Outside color: | Bright purple |
| Pulp color: | Bright purple |
| Brix: | 18.5-19.5 |
| Water: | Little water |
| Soil: | Rich organic matter plus sand |
| Flavor: | 5 out of 5 |
| Growth rate: | 4 out of 5 |
| Fruit production: | 4 out of 5 |
| Home planting: | 5 out of 5 |
| Commercial planting: | 4 out of 5 |
| Weather tolerance: | 4 out of 5 |
The growth of the stem is very typical and similar to other types of H. guatemalensis. The cactus can be trained to grow into a tree or bush for easy harvesting, or, if left to grow on its own, it will form a beautiful vine with big flowers that only open at night if it is left to grow wild.
The growth is a bit smaller and more segmented, so I would suggest giving this variety more support if you want to grow it. From bud to bloom took 21 days, and from bloom to fruit took another 32 days.
Pitaya season in Nicaragua is from May to November, with the best months being June, July, August, and September. This variety can pollinate itself.
Conclusion
The Pitahaya is a strange-looking fruit about the size of a softball. From June to November, you can buy Nicaraguan red dragon fruit. Its reddish pink skin and scaly leaves that overlap each other will catch your eye. Even more interesting is the magenta-colored fruit with tiny black seeds on the inside (quite different to the white flesh of the Vietnamese Dragon Fruit or the Middle Eastern yellow).
