A Tropical Vine Perfect for Florida

While meandering through back roads to avoid traffic on the way to a South Florida shopping mall one day, I came upon a man sitting on a chair next to boxes overflowing with this strange looking pink fruit. Intrigued, I pulled over.

The gentleman was a homeowner with an overwhelming number of dragon fruit growing in his backyard, so he decided to sell them for next to nothing to get rid of them. I’d never seen anything like it before, but was fascinated by its spiky yet soft skin and vibrant color. It was decidedly the most exotic looking fruit I had ever seen. I’ve since learned there also is a rare, yellow-skinned variety.

If you have a sturdy trellis and lots of sun, you too can grow dragon fruit. Also known as pitaya and strawberry pear, this delectable fruit is red, magenta, pink or white inside, with a soft, seed-speckled pulp that makes it sweet and crunchy like kiwi, but there is a lot more of it to enjoy.

Dragon fruit is indigenous to South and Central America, but today it is one of the most exported fruits from Vietnam, which explains why it’s frequently sold for $5 a fruit in our local markets – all the more reason to grow it yourself. The fruit grows on a vining cactus and a fully grown plant can weigh more than 300 pounds, so reinforce those trellis posts with concrete!

The plant loves lots of sun, well-drained soil, fertilization and regular watering during flowering and fruiting (summer and fall). Given proper conditions, dragon fruit plants can live up to 20 years and produce more than 200 pounds of fruit a year. Doubly exciting are the stunning and scented, large white-and-yellow blossoms this night-blooming cactus produces, which can grow nearly a foot long. The fruit comes after the flower fades.

The flesh is wonderfully light and refreshing in the heat of summer. Because I prefer to eat it chilled, I pop my dragon fruit in the refrigerator whole then slice and peel it like an avocado when ready. Like watermelon, once you get started, it’s hard to put it down and you are always left wanting more. I like to eat dragon fruit alone, but it’s popular in fruit or savory salads. Some people use it in smoothies, in homemade sorbet, or in jellies, jams and sauces.

Full of vitamin A, calcium, fiber and magnesium, yet light in sugar, feel free to enjoy dragon fruit with reckless abandon.

Emily Cardenas is the executive editor of the Biscayne Times. She previously worked as a producer at WTXF in Philadelphia and at WSCV, WFOR and WPLG in Miami.