I'd like to introduce Charlotte she currently has no dragon fruit growing but is keen to grow dragon fruit in her Melbourne back yard.
Charlotte is a trained horticulturist who is happy to experiment growing some tropical species in frost prone environment.
What suburb and state are you located?
Hawthorn, a suburb about 6km east of Melbourne's CBD.
How long have you been an avid gardener for?
About 20 years. I'm a transplanted Queenslander and fell in love with gardening when we settled in Melbourne. I love the changing seasons here.
What is your history with gardening and horticulture?
I started making over our very neglected garden when we bought our house a couple of decades ago, then did some short courses. This led to me studying horticulture, working in nurseries and then starting my own garden maintenance business. Now I work full time as a horticulturalist and I'm a keen organic gardener at home too.
What drew you to Dragon fruit?
I'm trying to grow a very diverse range of fruit in my garden and have been introducing some warmer climate produce like chokos and avocados. With Melbourne's climate warming I expect that some of the existing apple and stone fruit trees in my garden, which need a lot of chill hours to fruit, may not be as productive in coming years.
Can you please walk me through your history with dragon fruit?
It's totally new to me, though I've seen it growing in a few Melbourne gardens so I'd like to give it a try.
What was your 1st dragon fruit experience eating?
I lived in Hong Kong for a while and first tried it there. I must admit that I found the seeds a little bit off putting!
What was your 1st dragon fruit experience growing?
None as yet.
What is your Favorite variety and why?
TBA.
Best tip for growing dragon fruit. Biggest no, no for growing dragon fruit.
From the reading I've done I'm saying don't overwater and watch out for rust : )
Biggest challenge for growing dragon fruit you have had?
I'm expecting it to be protection from the cold. I have a sheltered, north-facing courtyard with a brick wall to act as a heat sink. That's where I'll be growing the cuttings. But it may turn out to be over-watering as I tend to fuss a bit too much over most of my plants!
How do you fertilize?
I'll be using homemade compost, I have chickens so it's rich in nitrogen.
How many varieties do you currently have?
0!
What soil did you pot your cutting in?
I'm planning to use a commercial cacti and succulent mix topped with some homemade compost.
