Dragon Fruit Is in Bloom! And Our Figs Are Ready for Harvest
daiwa-zdSummer at Daiwa Fruit Park is a wonderful time of year, with our plants growing happily and full of life.
We have two exciting updates from the farm this season♪
First, our dragon fruit plants are blooming again this year!
And second, our figs have grown beautifully and are now ready to be harvested.
Dragon fruit may still be a relatively unusual fruit in Japan.
But did you know that its flowers are surprisingly beautiful and look a lot like the famous Queen of the Night cactus?
In this article, we’ll introduce you to the fascinating flowers and fruit of the dragon fruit plant, as well as our delicious figs, which are now coming into season.
Do Dragon Fruit Flowers Really Look Like the “Queen of the Night”?
One of the first things you’ll notice when you see a dragon fruit flower is its impressive size and beauty.
The large white flowers open wide, with a delicate appearance that is reminiscent of the Queen of the Night flower. In fact, both the Queen of the Night and dragon fruit belong to the cactus family.
Even more fascinating, both plants have something in common: their flowers bloom at night.
A flower that is still a closed bud during the day gradually begins to open as night falls.
When the flower finally spreads its large petals, it makes a truly spectacular sight. It is a beautiful and special moment to see.
What Exactly Is Dragon Fruit?
You may have heard the name “dragon fruit” before and wondered, “What kind of plant is it?”
Dragon fruit is a fruit that comes from a type of cactus.
Its appearance is certainly distinctive. The fruit has bright red or pink skin with green, leafy scales that curl around the outside. It is said that this unique appearance is one of the reasons it came to be known as “dragon fruit.”
When you cut it open, you’ll find white or deep reddish-purple flesh filled with lots of tiny black seeds.
While its appearance is certainly eye-catching, the flavor is surprisingly light and refreshing, with a juicy texture.
Dragon fruit can be enjoyed fresh on its own, chilled for an especially refreshing treat, or blended into smoothies.
Our Figs Have Grown, and Harvest Has Begun!
We also have another piece of good news from the farm.
Our figs have grown beautifully, and we have now begun harvesting them.
The fruits on the branches grow larger day by day, and we carefully harvest them as they reach the perfect stage of ripeness.
One of the best things about fresh figs is their soft, almost melt-in-your-mouth texture when fully ripe.
The flavor and texture can also vary depending on when the fruit is harvested. So during fig season, it can be fun simply to look at the fruits and wonder, “Which ones are ready to eat today?”
So Much to Discover at the Fruit Park This Summer
At Daiwa Fruit Park, you can experience the changing seasons up close and see how our plants grow throughout the year.
When you watch dragon fruit develop from beautiful flowers into fruit, you may discover something new and fascinating about this unique plant.
“Wow! So this is how dragon fruit grows!”
“I never knew that’s where figs grow!”
We hope you’ll enjoy these little discoveries and surprises during your visit.
At Daiwa Fruit Park, we offer guided tours of our Tropical Fruit House, mainly on Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays.
With a staff member as your guide, you can see the plants up close while learning about how they are grown and discovering more about the fruits themselves. It’s a fun experience for the whole family and a great way to spend a day together.
Tours may also be available on weekdays depending on the date, so please feel free to contact us for more information.
The plants you can see and the scenery around the farm change with the seasons.
Come visit Daiwa Fruit Park and discover the flowers and fruits that you can only experience at this special time of year♪
