Nopal

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