Hylocereus undatus

While you may not initially equate “cactus” with “edible,” the dragon fruit, also known as pitaya, is indeed borne on a cactus. When the fruit is cut open, the flesh is revealed to be snow-white and peppered with tiny, edible black seeds throughout — quite a contrast to the exterior. The flesh is mildly sweet, some say comparable to a melon. A source of calcium, fiber and vitamin C, the dragon fruit is widely cultivated throughout much of the tropics, This vine-like cactus likes to climb, and is considered a semi-epiphyte, so providing some means of support is essential if you grow it. it grows up an approximately six-foot-tall T-shaped wooden support. It grows best in moist, tropical or subtropical climates. Plants grow quickly and should be given a strong support to climb on. Grows well in sandy well drained soils. Even though it is a cactus – it is a tropical one and requires fair amount of water for fruiting well. This cactus develops some pretty thick and heavy stems, so your support will need to ultimately hold quite a bit of weight. Use twine or bands of fabric to help attach it to the support, avoiding wires that can cut into the weighty stems. Eventually the stems will grow aerial roots to grip onto the support. Keeping soil well drained can be a challenge during the rainy season, but one way to help maximize drainage is by planting the dragon fruit in a raised mound with manure and vermicompost to form the mound of one foot high. Fruit ripen four to five weeks after flowering, You can harvest the fruit when it’s an intense, fiery red.