Spineless Prickly Pear Cactus - Nopales (Opuntia sp.)
Spineless Prickly Pear Cactus is high on the list of the most resilient plants we work with. A must have support plant for any food forest system that has little to no access to water. Like all cacti, spineless prickly pears have the amazing capability to retain moisture and nutrients in their pads; not only do they survive, they THRIVE in the driest of conditions.
In the context of a food forest, think of them as living reservoirs that are able to supply water and nutrients to nearby plants during periods of extreme dryness. One common technique is to chop up/blend a few pads until you make a slurry with the mucilage. This slurry can then be used as a natural source of irrigation and fertilizer to young plants.
The pads are edible and highly nutritious for both humans and livestock. The young, tender pads have much less mucilage than the more mature ones. This variety produces small reddish/pink flowers and tiny fruit that aren’t very edible.
Site Preference: Prefers drier, sunnier conditions but can tolerate a fair amount of shade and moisture. This flexibility in growing conditions is what makes prickly pear a superstar in the food forest!
Propagation: Half bury mature pads either upright or horizontally. Make sure the soil is packed in and the pad is firm and not moving. New sprouts should emerge in a few days.
Caution: Although this cactus is spineless, there is still a small chance of encountering tiny prickles called “glochids” on the plant. They are few and far between but irritating if they get stuck on your skin. They seem to be more prevalent on mature pads and on the flowers.
Opuntia sp.
Spineless Prickly Pear Cactus is high on the list of the most resilient plants we work with. A must have support plant for any food forest system that has little to no access to water. Like all cacti, spineless prickly pears have the amazing capability to retain moisture and nutrients in their pads; not only do they survive, they THRIVE in the driest of conditions.
In the context of a food forest, think of them as living reservoirs that are able to supply water and nutrients to nearby plants during periods of extreme dryness. One common technique is to chop up/blend a few pads until you make a slurry with the mucilage. This slurry can then be used as a natural source of irrigation and fertilizer to young plants.
The pads are edible and highly nutritious for both humans and livestock. The young, tender pads have much less mucilage than the more mature ones. This variety produces small reddish/pink flowers and tiny fruit that aren’t very edible.
Site Preference: Prefers drier, sunnier conditions but can tolerate a fair amount of shade and moisture. This flexibility in growing conditions is what makes prickly pear a superstar in the food forest!
Propagation: Half bury mature pads either upright or horizontally. Make sure the soil is packed in and the pad is firm and not moving. New sprouts should emerge in a few days.
Caution: Although this cactus is spineless, there is still a small chance of encountering tiny prickles called “glochids” on the plant. They are few and far between but irritating if they get stuck on your skin. They seem to be more prevalent on mature pads and on the flowers.
Opuntia sp.
Spineless Prickly Pear Cactus is high on the list of the most resilient plants we work with. A must have support plant for any food forest system that has little to no access to water. Like all cacti, spineless prickly pears have the amazing capability to retain moisture and nutrients in their pads; not only do they survive, they THRIVE in the driest of conditions.
In the context of a food forest, think of them as living reservoirs that are able to supply water and nutrients to nearby plants during periods of extreme dryness. One common technique is to chop up/blend a few pads until you make a slurry with the mucilage. This slurry can then be used as a natural source of irrigation and fertilizer to young plants.
The pads are edible and highly nutritious for both humans and livestock. The young, tender pads have much less mucilage than the more mature ones. This variety produces small reddish/pink flowers and tiny fruit that aren’t very edible.
Site Preference: Prefers drier, sunnier conditions but can tolerate a fair amount of shade and moisture. This flexibility in growing conditions is what makes prickly pear a superstar in the food forest!
Propagation: Half bury mature pads either upright or horizontally. Make sure the soil is packed in and the pad is firm and not moving. New sprouts should emerge in a few days.
Caution: Although this cactus is spineless, there is still a small chance of encountering tiny prickles called “glochids” on the plant. They are few and far between but irritating if they get stuck on your skin. They seem to be more prevalent on mature pads and on the flowers.
Opuntia sp.