Pop
GOES THE
Dragon
Fruit
Colorful, healthy, delicious, and well-suited to thrive in
a hydroponic setup, dragon fruit are quickly becoming
popular among indoor growers. by Dr. Lynette Morgan
Vividly colored and clad in scales,
dragon fruit, also known as pitaya, is
an exotic fruit growing in popularity for its
purported health benefits. While native to
the tropical rainforests of Central and South
America, dragon fruit have been cultivated
in Asia for more than 100 years and are now
being identified as a potentially profitable
commercial greenhouse crop. With skin colors
ranging from deep red, pink, or yellow, the flesh
is succulent, sweet, and flecked with small black
edible seeds. Plants are prolific and fruit size is
typically between 12-15.5 ounces, however, some
cultivars can produce fruit of up to 31 oz. Usually
eaten as a fresh fruit with flesh which ranges
from white to deep red, pitaya can also be used
in juices and smoothies as well as jellies, ices,
yogurt, and similar dishes.
36
Maximum Yield