Main centres: | 1-3 business days |
Regional areas: | 3-4 business days |
Remote areas: | 3-5 business days |
Pitaya is more commonly referred to as the "dragon fruit". It is an extremely beautiful fruit that has dazzling flowers and an intense shape and color. The dragon fruit of this variety is white in color (some types of this fruit are pink or yellow). The skin of the dragon fruit is a thin rind.
The skin is usually covered in scales, and the center of the fruit is made up of a red or white, sweet tasting pulp. Dragon fruit is cultivated in tropical regions around the world. It flourishes in hot regions with a heavy rainfall. Periods of cold will kill the plant, and it loves the high temperatures found in tropical countries. The flowers of the dragon fruit plant only bloom at night and usually only live for one night.
Pollination happens at this time to allow the fruit to emerge. The flowers of the dragon fruit give out a very beautiful scent, and the smell can fill the night air wherever the plant grows. The dragon fruit is best eaten by cutting the fruit in half and scooping the flesh out. The flavor is very refreshing and sweet. Dragon fruits are delicious chilled and can be served in fruit juices and fruit salads or made into jam. They can also be juiced and added to alcohol to make a very delicious drink. They are said to be rich in Vitamin C and water soluble fibre.
Planting is easy: Simply push the cutting 1cm deep into a pot with well draining medium and keep warm, or place cutting in a bed on it's side, it'll form roots. Water very sparingly, in fact it's often unnecisary to water cuttings till they have rooted.
Rooted cuttings can be planted into a sunny position of well drained soil. Providing a trellis for the Dragon fruit to climb up is a good idea. If placed close to a tree, it will often climb up against the tree too! here at the South coast some are making use of palms and strelitzias to attach their airial roots.