Gragon Fruit ( Pitaya )

Fruit Warehouse  | Gragon Fruit ( Pitaya ) | If not otherwise Stated, this article's content refers specifically to the pitayas of Hylocereus species, or "dragon fruit". After thorough cleaning of the seeds from the pulp of the fruit, the seeds may be stored when dried. Ideally, the fruit must be unblemished and overripe. Seeds grow well in a compost or potting soil mix - even as a potted indoor plant. Pitaya cacti usually germinate Between 11 and 14 days after planting shallow.

A pitaya (/ pɨtaɪ.ə /) or Pitahaya (/ ˌ pɪtəhaɪ.ə /) is the fruit of Several cactus species, most importantly of the genus Hylocereus (sweet pitayas). These fruits are commonly known as dragon fruit - cf. Chinese long huǒ guǒ (火龙果 / 火龙果) "fire dragon fruit" and long zhu guǒ, "dragon pearl fruit", meaning Vietnamese thanh long "sweet dragon", Indonesian and Malaysian dragon fruit, "dragon fruit", Lao mark mang gohn (ຫມາກ ມັງ ກອນ) for "dragon fruit", and Kaeo mangkon Thai (Thai: แก้วมังกร) 'crystal dragon'.

Once the plant Reaches a mature weight 10 lbs, one may see the plant flower. Pitaya cacti flower overnight, usually wilting by the morning. Self-fertilization will not Produce fruit. This limits the capability of home growers to Produce the fruit. The most cacti Thrive in USDA zones 10-11, but may survive outdoors in zone 9a or 9b.

To prepare a pitaya for consumption, the fruit is cut open to expose the flesh. The flowers can be eaten or steeped as tea. The skin is not eaten, and in farm-grown fruit it may be polluted with pesticides. Ingestion of significant amounts of red-fleshed dragon fruit (Such as Costa Rica Pitaya) may result in pseudohematuria, a harmless reddish coloration of the urine and faeces.