My 9 year old son, who is Chinese and up to 3 months ago had lived all
his life in Hunan Province, China, is missing being able to buy and eat
Dragon Fruit (Pitaya) in the UK, though I understand they can sometimes
be seen in shops. We looked up information about them on the Internet,
and discovered that we have a chance of buying some seeds within the
UK, which he wants to do in order to try to grow them.

I've warned him it might be difficult, because of the size to which
they eventually grow, and also because we will have to grow them
completely indoors. He is fairly determined to give it a go, and I'm
interested anyway, and so we'll try to do this. Has anyone reading my
message ever tried to grow these plants at all? If so, what kinds of
success have you had, and what hints might you have that would help us?
Many thanks.

For those of you who are not sure what plant I am referring to, here
are some websites that give some limited information about them.

http://tinyurl.com/qzum6

http://tinyurl.com/pqd5y

http://tinyurl.com/muzq6

--
David D Stretch: Stoke-on-Trent, UK.
Delete DELETE in the above email addresses to email me

David D Stretch <ddstretchDELETE [at] mugwort.demon.co.uk> writes
>My 9 year old son, who is Chinese and up to 3 months ago had lived all
>his life in Hunan Province, China, is missing being able to buy and eat
>Dragon Fruit (Pitaya) in the UK, though I understand they can sometimes
>be seen in shops.

Try
http://www.oakleaf-european.co.uk/featured/thailand.htm
They sell pitaya wholesale and have a on-line shop which doesn't include
pitaya, but invite you to email them if you want something in
particular.

> We looked up information about them on the Internet,
>and discovered that we have a chance of buying some seeds within the
>UK, which he wants to do in order to try to grow them.

You may be able to find plants in a specialist cactus nursery - would be
quicker than going from seed. Perfectly possible to grow and flower here
under cover.
>
>I've warned him it might be difficult, because of the size to which
>they eventually grow, and also because we will have to grow them
>completely indoors.

Best in a greenhouse - not only will they need the warmth, they'll need
good light too.

Keep them dry when temperatures are low over winter.

It's a long time since I grew one of these - have certainly achieved the
fruit but didn't eat it - it's rather decorative, and other cacti fruit
aren't that exciting - refreshing but not a particularly distinctive
flavour.


--
Kay

"David D Stretch" <ddstretchDELETE [at] mugwort.demon.co.uk> wrote in
news:xn0emhxsh1wgv2r000hctetrsdd [at] ku.oc.trowgum:

> My 9 year old son, who is Chinese and up to 3 months ago had lived all
> his life in Hunan Province, China, is missing being able to buy and eat
> Dragon Fruit (Pitaya) in the UK, though I understand they can sometimes
> be seen in shops.

Try Waitrose; they seem to have them fairly often.
There's one on my worktop at the moment (half price,
so I hope it is ripe :)

"David D Stretch" <ddstretchDELETE [at] mugwort.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:xn0emhxsh1wgv2r000hctetrsdd [at] ku.oc.trowgum...
> My 9 year old son, who is Chinese and up to 3 months ago had lived all
> his life in Hunan Province, China, is missing being able to buy and eat
> Dragon Fruit (Pitaya) in the UK, though I understand they can sometimes
> be seen in shops.

Are there any Chinese shops near you?
They should surely stock the fruit?
Found this company that imports it. They might be able to tell you where tis
available:~)
http://www.oakleaf-european.co.uk/featured/thailand.htm

>We looked up information about them on the Internet,
> and discovered that we have a chance of buying some seeds within the
> UK, which he wants to do in order to try to grow them.

You will probably get it to grow, but I'm not sure it will fruit in our
climate.
Jenny


> I've warned him it might be difficult, because of the size to which
> they eventually grow, and also because we will have to grow them
> completely indoors. He is fairly determined to give it a go, and I'm
> interested anyway, and so we'll try to do this. Has anyone reading my
> message ever tried to grow these plants at all? If so, what kinds of
> success have you had, and what hints might you have that would help us?
> Many thanks.
>
> For those of you who are not sure what plant I am referring to, here
> are some websites that give some limited information about them.
>
> http://tinyurl.com/qzum6
>
> http://tinyurl.com/pqd5y
>
> http://tinyurl.com/muzq6
>
> --
> David D Stretch: Stoke-on-Trent, UK.
> Delete DELETE in the above email addresses to email me

David D Stretch wrote:
> My 9 year old son, who is Chinese and up to 3 months ago had lived all
> his life in Hunan Province, China, is missing being able to buy and eat
> Dragon Fruit (Pitaya) in the UK, though I understand they can sometimes
> be seen in shops.

Our Tesco has been stocking them fairly regularly of late. We tried one
a while back just to see what it was like, and were rather disappointed.
It was quite bland, but I have a feeling it would be nice made into a
sorbet (and put back in the pink skin).

Rhiannon

Many thanks to all who have replied. I am aware that we might not be
successful in getting the fruit, but the fun is trying it to see, isn't
it? That's what I'm telling my son, anyway.

Thanks also for the ideas of how to get some. We don't have a Waitrose
near enough to look there, but I think I'll do a tour round some of the
bigger Tescos and see what turns up.

Once again, my thanks for the help.

--
David D Stretch: Stoke-on-Trent, UK.
Delete DELETE in the above email addresses to email me