Dragonfruit (Pitahaya) and other unusual...

General tips / questions on seeding & planting

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Elmigo
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Let's talk about dragon fruit and other unusual plants for use in the kitchen garden! People in some areas may find it easy to grow them. In my area they are excluded completely, not the right climate, which makes growing them a bit challenging indoors.

It started as a tiny little experiment and when I say tiny little, I really do mean tiny little! These were my dragon fruit seedlings when they were barely even a couple of weeks old after sprouting. The tallest may have reached about half an inch in height at this point.

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Now it has been three months since I've put the seeds in the soil mix in those tiny containers. Because they have very fragile roots (dragon fruit has a tiny root system), I cannot transplant them untill their roots have filled up the little container space. They must stand here for at least a year or something. This is what my tiny seedlings look like now, 3 months after sprouting:

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Elmigo
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Also very interesting is this little guy! If you blow it or there's wind, the leaves fold inward to protect itself. This is the starfruit or Averrhoa carambola. It produces delicious fruit and this seedling comes from a local store bought starfruit. The internet says they don't germinate when they're more than a week old, these seeds were about half a year old. Always be stubborn :lol:

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After 2 and a half months this is what it looks like. Each new shoot on it multiplies the number of leaves. I find it so fascinating how nature does math so easily!

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Last edited by Elmigo on Mon May 13, 2019 7:47 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Diane
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Love those dragon fruit babies. XX
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Westi
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Freaky little things aren't they Monika? Look alien like even, but they are from our planet! Loving the fact Elmigo is posting his experiments as it is so interesting & who knows, in generations to come our future families may be growing & eating these!
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Elmigo
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It may take several years for those to set fruit, if they live that long considering they're in a completely strange environment and climate. Would love to share it when I'm still active on the forum by that time. I really love to know who else likes to stretch the boundaries of planting zones, and how you succeeded so far!
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Diane
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I tried getting a crop of tiger nuts a few years ago - came to the conclusion that we aren't tropical enough here in Dorset. However, I might just try again as we're definitely getting warmer.
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Elmigo
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Diane, that's amazing! I have never thought about those. In fact I did not even know they existed untill now (oops) but when it's warmer... They don't seem to grow too large as I'm looking for pictures so perhaps a tiny DIY greenhouse or something may do the job too! That is even possible on my overproductive balcony :lol:
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Primrose
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Enjoy seeing all these experiments and the photos, and how boundaries are being stretched.
Please do keep at it. Maybe one of these days we'll be opening a bottle to join you in celebrating the first picking of your first fruit. Even if that doesn,t happen it will still be an interesting learning experience to share with you.
Elmigo
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Let's hope they live untill then!

This little one has a very special story! Years ago I smuggled the seeds across the continent on a plane from Greece, back to the Netherlands. :lol: This is the carob tree, it makes bean like fruits that turn brown and then fall off.

Anyone knows any recipes they are used for? I have no idea...

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