Question Dragon fruit structures

[DTK]

Hi folks, I have been away for a while so greetings to all!

I am keen to see how growers of dragon fruit support their plants. I have seen Mark's original video on building a trellis, searched this forum and watched countless YouTube videos. I am keen to see what people are finding successful now and would delighted to see relevant pictures and videos.

 

[JP 1983]

Dont have any pics but I once knew a Vietnamese fellow who would use old car tyres nailed to an X beam, which itself is nailed to the top of a 6ft post. The cactus can grow up the post until it grows through the tyre, at which point you trim the top to encourage split tip growth. The new growth splays out over the tyre, dangling down towards the ground. After every fruit is harvested, you chop that limb back and another grows out and splays over the tyre (chopped limbs can be planted or given to friends as gifts). Good luck!

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

We have a dragonfruit farm near us actually. Below is a picture of what their setup looks like. THey've been going for many, many years and it's been working a charm. Some of them are completely overgrown to the point where the trellis isn't even visible anymore.

I think they are simple starpickets with wire between them, with a wooden beam (or more often bamboo pole) resting atop. For the really overgrown ones they used hardwooden poles instead I believe, which have been there since the beginning of time (figuratively, haha).

(Picture below belongs to Forest Dragon Fruit Farm in Forestdale/Brisbane, but our local orchard uses the same idea).

 

[DTK]

Dont have any pics but I once knew a Vietnamese fellow who would use old car tyres nailed to an X beam, which itself is nailed to the top of a 6ft post. The cactus can grow up the post until it grows through the tyre, at which point you trim the top to encourage split tip growth. The new growth splays out over the tyre, dangling down towards the ground. After every fruit is harvested, you chop that limb back and another grows out and splays over the tyre (chopped limbs can be planted or given to friends as gifts). Good luck!

Thanks JP.

 

[DTK]

We have a dragonfruit farm near us actually. Below is a picture of what their setup looks like. THey've been going for many, many years and it's been working a charm. Some of them are completely overgrown to the point where the trellis isn't even visible anymore.

I think they are simple starpickets with wire between them, with a wooden beam (or more often bamboo pole) resting atop. For the really overgrown ones they used hardwooden poles instead I believe, which have been there since the beginning of time (figuratively, haha).

(Picture below belongs to Forest Dragon Fruit Farm in Forestdale/Brisbane, but our local orchard uses the same idea).

Thanks Mandy. I have the growing on a side fence and looking to tidy them up.

 

[DTK]

Sounds fantastic. You have been working. I look forward to updates

 

[Juvan99]

Hi folks, I have been away for a while so greetings to all!

I am keen to see how growers of dragon fruit support their plants. I have seen Mark's original video on building a trellis, searched this forum and watched countless YouTube videos. I am keen to see what people are finding successful now and would delighted to see relevant pictures and videos.

Hi, I am growing dragon fruit commercially, although, not very long I did do about a years worth of research before I started planting because I stay in arid area instead of the preferred sub tropical climate.
Two best ways I have found was the traditional 4 plants spaced around a central pole and growing up towards a circular structure like a tire. The leaves then hang down arounf the structure. The second is trellis planting, meaning the plants will grow up and then sideways, like the picture sent by another member. I chose the trellis method but modified it a little so my leaves will form a "shelf" on two sides of the trellis angling them for picking. For the past year they have been growing on small support poles, fencing poles, I am now adding the shelf structure. Should be done by weeks end then I can add a few photos to clarify my explanation.
Kind regards
Juvan

 

[JP 1983]

This guy does some decent DIY dragon fruit frames

 

[kaltemrix]

I recreated one basically the same as above with some cheap wood. Pretty sure I first saw it on the Epic Gardening Channel. Its nothing great (by any stretch of the imagination) but it gets the job done.