Dragon Fruit (Pitaya) Progression – Edible Garden in Florida

Dragon Fruit (Pitaya) Progression – Edible Garden in Florida  

Dragon Fruit (Pitaya) 

Dragon fruit is in the family of cactus. It likes dry and tropical warm weather with some rain. There are some home growers who plant them in their edible garden in Florida 

Dragon Fruit Progression 

Our friend gave us some cutting last year. My husband Andy planted it at our backyard.  Last month we harvested two dragon fruits.  The climbing plant has many branches,  and Andy has  several different plants started now, some in pots with a trellis and some directly in the ground (around base of palm, and in back staked to 4x4s with metal rebar to support branches as they grow). It also can be grown from seeds. 

It takes about one and a half to two years to get fruit if you start with the cutting of a branch and bury it about a third of the way into your soil.  You will first get a new bud – possibly several. 

In about two weeks the bud will turn into a flower. It blooms overnight and wilts by midday. 

From there, the fruit will form starting out green about a month and a half, then turning to red. The weight of a mature fruit ranges from 5 – 21oz.

We wait at least a week to pick after they turn red.  

They taste like a kiwi/strawberry, and the white variety looks like a poppy seed cake. 

 Edible Garden - Dragon Fruit Nutrition 

The fresh, delicious and healthy dragon fruit is low in calories. It is high in Vitamin C and a good natural source of anti-oxidants. Those small seeds have an amount of healthy fat and protein in them, which is not an issue for cholesterol. It also has dietary fiber.

If you eat the red flesh dragon fruit, it may result in reddish of coloring in your urine and feces, which is harmless.   

Dragon Fruit Garden and Care 

Beware of overwatering, it can cause the flowers to drop and the root will rot. It will not survive long freezing temperature. You may have to cover the plant for protection.  It is commercially planted in farms at Homestead Florida and the fruits are available at grocery stores.

This information is the courtesy of Kwee Huset of Kwee Huset Realty. For more tips on edible garden in Florida for your new homes call 941-716-3090