Nopal growing cactus of the genus Opuntia also known as Prickly Pear cactus, Nopal perennial plant and also used as ornamental plant, can grow in mediterranean, desert, subtropical, temperate, tropic climate and growing in hardiness zone 8+.
Mostly refer to the Prickly pear without a lot of spines and more tender branch mostly the fruit are the part that eat in those spices.
Nopal cladode
Stem is edible and called cladode some refers them as leaves, harvesting all year when the cladode young.
Flower color orange yellow or pink, fruit are also edible but mostly not use for eat, fruit color mostly red.
Nopal for sale – Seeds or Plants to Buy
Requirements for Nopal growing and care:
More than -10C
What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seed / Vegetative Reproduction
Is it necessary to use vegetative reproduction?
Yes
Difficulties or problems when growing:
Spines
Recommended planting season?
Spring / Summer / Autumn
Pests and diseases:
Slug, snail
Pruning season:
Autumn / Winter
How to prune:
old stems that don’t bring new stems
Size of the plant?
2-4 m, 6-12 feet
Growth speed in optimal condition:
Slow growing
Water requirement:
Small amount of water
Light conditions in optimal condition for growing:
Full Sun / Half Shade
Is it possible to grow as houseplant?
No
Growing is also possible in a planter /flowerpot / containers:
Yes, but not recommend to let it grow too much
Blooming information
Bloom season:
Spring
General information about the flower
Orange yellow or pink flowers
Thinning the bloom:
Mostly there is no use for the fruit, in the shape of the fruit
Pollination is done by:
Bees
Edible Fruit
Fruit harvest season:
Summer
Fruits pests or diseases:
Slug, snail
What can be done with big quantities of Nopal fruits?
Eat raw, juice, jams
Work requirements on the fruit:
Pick the fruit is hard (the spines can be loose when try to pick them) recommend to pick the fruits with sunglass
How long does it take to bear fruit?
2-5 years
Scientific name:
Opuntia
